Bed bugs are creepy, pesky crawlies that hide in our home’s crevices waiting patiently for an opportunity to feed on us in the cover of darkness. Female bedbugs lay nearly 300 eggs at a time which puts the prospects of killing them manually seem too farfetched. In fact, expert exterminators will tell you for free that the ultimate way to deal with them is preventing an infestation in the first place.
It is possible to protect your bed from bedbugs even when living in areas with a problem if you follow the following precautionary measures:
- Encasements – cover your mattress and box springs with anti-bedbug encasements. These are special covers designed to prevent bedbugs from reaching the mattress as they move about trying to quest their bloodthirst. As long as the encasement is not ripped or torn, the bedbugs will keep to the exterior, where you can easily find and get rid of them.
- Pesticides – These are most useful in protecting against infestation rather than killing off bugs that are already hiding. If your bed is not already harbouring bedbugs, use EPA registered products according to instructions and they will definitely prevent new bugs from making a home on your bed or mattress. You need to repeat pesticide applications because the dry residues barely work. Experts often advise users to be cautious while using pesticides against the bedbugs because repeated applications on the sleeping surface could lead to health problems.
- Vacuum – use a high suction vacuum to clean the bed and mattress as part of your routine. This is an effective method of preventing dust and eliminating new bedbugs from other parts. It is wise to use a separate vacuum for the bed as the one used for other rooms could already be infested. Canister vacuums or those with hoses and crevice tool attachments are best compared to brushes and bristles which eggs easily cling to.
These are the most practical methods of protecting your bed from bedbugs but if it is too late, you might consider discarding the entire bed. Do this safely to avoid creating a bigger problem and once you clean out the entire bedroom, bring in a new bed and follow the measures above to prevent another infestation. Make a habit of warming the sheets before you sleep and making the bed in such a way that the sheets do not touch the floor. Such simple measures will ensure peaceful sleep without worrying about nasty bedbug bites in the morning.