Bed bugs in a house are a fairly common complaint for our exterminators. These insects are great hitchhikers and will travel on trains, buses, airplanes and on your clothes and luggage. A clean house doesn’t make you exempt from bed bugs as most people associate these pests in unhygienic surroundings.
Protecting your Bed and Mattress against Bed Bugs
Bed bugs feed on human blood and their bites can be painful, itchy and uncomfortable. There are a few why you can protect yourself from these pests while you sleep whether or not you have an existing infestation.
First, inspect your mattress, bed and box spring thoroughly to see if you have bed bugs. If you have obvious signs of being bitten, you still need to make sure that the culprit isn’t some other insect such as fleas or ticks. Use a flashlight.
Next, get a protective mattress cover that also wraps the box spring. If you already have bed bugs in your mattress, they will eventually starve or suffocate to death between the mattress and the casing. A light colour casing is preferable since it will contrast the bug’s natural brown colour and make them easier to see. Make sure that the mattress cover is specifically designed to protect against bed bugs.
Wash your bedding regularly and heat-dry. High temperatures, above 45 degrees Celsius, kill bed bugs. Avoid throwing your dirty clothes on the floor. Vacuum your bedroom regularly to pick up stray bugs and consider installing door sweepers at the bottom of your bedroom door. Seal any cracks and cervices that the insects may use to get into your room.
Finally, consider placing a bed bug trap under your bed.
These options work both for preventing bed bugs and for managing an existing infestation.
Call a Professional Exterminator
Bed bugs are difficult to exterminate even for professionals. They often require multiple treatments and more than one method depending on the extent of the infestation. DIY bed bug removal is rarely successful. Many of these over-the-counter products are not as effective as advertised and are potentially harmful to small children and pets especially if not used according to directions.
A bed bug exterminator in Toronto relies on specialized knowledge and concentrated pesticides which are not available to anyone besides licensed exterminators due to strict chemical control laws and guidelines. He will also do follow up treatments if necessary and seal your home to prevent the problem from recurring. Hire a pest control company that offers a warranty for the extermination of at least six months.
