Trying to get rid of bed bugs is like trying to fill a bucket that has holes in it. When you pour water in, it drains out onto the ground. If you don't patch the holes, there is no way you're going to keep water in that bucket. When you get rid of bed bugs, you're not going to keep them out if you don't understand how they got into your Virginia home in the first place. But this is only half the battle. First, you have to get rid of them. And that can be hard. Let's take a look at how this works.
How You Got Those Bugs
Bed bugs are hitchhiking bugs. But they don't hitchhike into your homes like ticks or fleas. Bed bugs don't live in your yard, and they don't prefer to feed on animals. They got a taste for human blood a long time ago and now they almost exclusively feed on humans. This is important to understand because anything you do to keep other pests out of your home will have no impact on bed bugs. These insects bypass your exterior pest protection by hitching a ride in with a neighbor, a friend, a relative, or even by coming in on you or someone else in your home. This makes it hard to keep them out. But you can keep them out. Here are some helpful tips.
- Always do an inspection when you stay the night somewhere.
- Put laundry items in a sealed bag, such as a garbage bag sealed with a bread tie.
- When you return from staying the night somewhere, wash and dry all your clothing.
- If you find an item that has white eggs in the creases or other tight, hidden places, put the item in the dryer for 30 minutes if you can. Otherwise, put the item outside of your home.
- When outside of the home, refrain from putting bags, clothing, boxes, and other items near items placed down by others.
- Always inspect secondhand furniture and items borrowed from others.
- Do routine inspections of beds, furniture, and baseboards in your home.
What To Look For
Knowing what bed bugs look like and what signs they leave is your secret weapon in preventing an infestation. Take some time to look at pictures of bed bug eggs, nymphs, and adults with your family. When inspecting your home, look for black feces, tiny white eggs, shed insect skins, brown stains, or black stains. You'll find these signs in dark places and tight spaces.
Getting Rid Of Bed Bugs
Keeping bed bugs out of your home is hard, but not nearly as hard as trying to eliminate these bugs once they get into your home. There are a few reasons bed bugs are so tough to get rid of. Here are a few of the big ones.
- Bed bugs are resilient insects that can develop a resistance to chemicals.
- Bed bugs hide in gaps, cracks, and creases.
- Bed bugs don't just hide in beds; they get under carpets, behind baseboards, and even inside walls.
- Bed bugs reproduce quickly.
- Bed bugs have been living with humans since the dawn of recorded history; they're good at it.
What Works To Kill Bed Bugs
The most effective solution for bed bugs in Virginia is to reach out to a licensed and experienced pest management professional. Find out if you're in our service area. The service team at Albemarle Termite & Pest Control uses industry-leading products and methods to arrest bed bug infestations. There's no guesswork. We get the job done.