What keeps you up at night? Realistic things like paying the bills, kids being successful in school, or a big meeting at work? Or is it something more unrealistic like monsters in the closet, an alien invasion, or some sort of blood-sucking vampire making you its next meal during your sleep? Now, if your imagination runs in this direction, it might be difficult to get to sleep. However, it would be even more difficult if you realize that a bed bug infestation might just be your nightmare come true.
Bed Bugs: Hitchhiking Monsters
If you understood how bed bugs travel and how they survive, you’d realize that they are straight out of a horror film. Their main goal is to find a sustainable food source. Once they’re in a house, they’ll come out at night to feed on human blood. But how do they get into a house in the first place? The surprising truth is that bed bug infestations occur most often after traveling. Think about it. When you walk into a hotel room, how do you unpack? Suitcase on the bed or the couch? But while you’re unpacking, if there are bed bugs in that couch or bed, then they’ll be jumping into your suitcase before you even realize you have a problem. By the time you call the front desk and head to another room, you’ll likely be taking those bed bugs home with you.
You see, bed bugs love to cling to anything that can get them closer to their next meal. They’ll enter your home by hitching a ride on your clothes, shoes, used furniture (that’s a big one), and luggage. The problem is that everyone else might be carrying bed bugs in their luggage as well.
Consider typical traveling activities like rolling your bag through an airport or bus terminal, or even stowing your bag in a luggage storage area. How close is your bag to other bags? And what are the chances that those other bags have bed bugs on them?
Signs Of An Infestation
Bringing in luggage without checking thoroughly for bed bugs is risky…almost as risky as bringing in used furniture. So how can you buy something on Facebook Market without worrying about incurring a bed bug infestation?
Here are a few signs of bed bugs that you’ll want to keep an eye out for in your home and on any sort of furniture you’re bringing in:
- Dark/rust-colored stains: Bed bug living habits and excrement will leave these stains behind. They’re much easier to see than the actual 5mm-long bed bugs.
- Bloodstains: Oftentimes, blood will appear at the site of feeding, on the mattress or on the sheets.
- Musty odor: Bed bug excrement, with a large infestation, will create a thick, musty odor in the furniture. Whether it’s a mattress, couch, or office chair, if it smells funny, don’t bring it in. (As a matter of fact, that might be a good rule in general, regardless of bed bugs).
Eradication Methods
If you do wind up with bed bugs after your next vacation or your next used furniture purchase, it’s going to be okay. Don’t try to use home remedies. They’ll simply waste your time and money. You see, bed bugs live under the surface of furniture. Therefore, any home remedies like vacuuming or sprays will only get the top layer of bed bugs, and possibly leaving hundreds of bed bugs and eggs in hiding.
For a bed bug eradication method that comes with guaranteed results, call the pest experts at Augustine Exterminators right away. You’ll never regret trusting the professionals. Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control options.