Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped, and brownish pests that are commonly found inside a house. They are commonly active during the night, when their food which is humans and other animals, are sleeping. These blood-sucking pests’ pure intentions and the main reason for living is only to suck the blood of their food and only their food. Therefore, dirt does not attract them, and it does not mean your place is filthy if there are bed bugs. Bed bugs do not fly, but they can make their bodies flat to fit into the spaces where they hide. In fact, adult bed bugs already have flat bodies. Despite not having a pair of wings, they can still move quickly over your house’s floors, walls, and ceilings. You will not immediately see them because they are small and can get into your house undetected. Once they are inside, they usually hide, and they do not build and have nests like other pests. They usually hide in your mattresses, bed box springs, bed frames, and headboards.
Now that you know what a bed bug looks like, how would you know that you already have a bed bug infestation if they can come undetected, hide, are small, and have no nests? Luckily, there are bed bug infestation signs that you can look out for. This includes bloodstain or dark spots on your mattresses or pillowcases, bed bug eggs shell, shed skins, and musty odor. In addition, seeing bed bugs themselves, even live or dead bed bugs, is one of the most critical signs of infestation, and it can prove that bites seen on the skin are from bed bugs.
Once they are inside your house, they can bite you, usually on the skin that is visible when you are sleeping. So if you suspect that house is infested with bed bugs, what can you do to remove those bed bug-infested items? Do you just throw it away? The answer is no. Apparently, there is a proper way to dispose of your bed bug-infested items.
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Items bed bugs can infest
Before you remove anything from your house, you must first identify the items that bed bugs usually infest. Below are the household items that are commonly infested with bed bugs.
- Luggage
- Carpets
- Couches
- Beds
- Lamps
- Tables
- Mattresses
- Bedding Sheets
- Bed Frames
- Wallpaper
- Curtains
- Drawers
If you suspect that you have a bed bug infestation, you can check these items first to determine if there are bed bugs.
Disposing of bed bug-infested items
If you find out that one or some of your household items are infested with bed bugs, you should remove them as it is. Follow the steps below to dispose of your bed bug-infested items properly.
- Wrap the item/s with plastic wrap and seal it up with tape. Seal every possible entryway like holes with tape.
- Remove the item/s from your property and render them unusable. If you leave the item/s outside your home to wait for the garbage truck to pick it up, some people may get it and use it for themselves. To avoid infesting another area, make sure that the bed bug-infested items are no longer usable.
- As mentioned above, you can wait for the garbage truck to pick up the bed bug-infested item/s, but you can also hire a garbage removal company immediately to dispose of the item/s for you. Additionally, you can travel to the landfill and dispose of the item/s by yourself.
What happens if you don’t dispose of them properly
If you do not dispose of the bed bug-infested items properly and just dispose of them as it is without covering them, then you will increase the likelihood of another bed bug infestation. Bed bugs do not have wings, but they can jump from one place to another. That is how they travel and infest different areas. If you do not seal all the bed bugs when you throw the item/s away, they will just come back or infest another area.
Prevent bed bugs in the future
Now that you know how to properly get rid of bed bug-infested items, you should know how to prevent them in order to not get bed bug bites and damage your furniture. You should take action even if it is still an early stage of bed bug infestation. Below are the ways how to get rid of bed bug infestation and keep your home bed bug-free.
- Remove clutter – Clutters are one of the perfect places that bed bugs love to hide.
- Vacuum – Clean your house using a vacuum cleaner to suck up the bed bugs, as there can be thousands of them, and they are all small, making it hard to get rid of them.
- Repair or remove peeling wallpaper – Bed bugs can also hide behind your peeling wallpaper. Remove this and change the wallpaper into a paint if possible to reduce their hiding place. You can also try to repair them by gluing them back to the wall.
- Be wary of used or secondhand items – You do not know where these items came from or if they were thoroughly cleaned before selling them. Bed bugs are known to infest these kinds of items. Therefore, do not buy used or secondhand items as much as possible.
- Check newly bought items – It can be a great preventative measure to check every new item that you will take with you in your home. Additionally, items, like mattresses or beds, that were delivered to your house through a vehicle should be checked as well. Bed bugs can also hitchhike in different vehicles, and sometimes used items and new items are transported using the same vehicle. It is better to check these items first before placing them inside your home.
- Be extra careful when traveling – When you travel, you increase the risk of having contact with bed bugs. Bed bugs love to stay where their food is. Therefore, they are usually found in hotel rooms where many people are staying. When you travel and stay in a hotel room, check the room first if there are any bed bug infestation signs, cover and seal your luggage with a plastic bag, and do not leave your clothes just lying on the floor or bed. On the other hand, once you arrive home, it is best to open your suitcase outside and wash every item you bring back home as much as possible.
- Call a bed bug extermination – Engaging with bed bug control services ensures full resolution of your infestation issue and guarantees its prevention in the future. Pest control specialists offer more proficient solutions compared to bed bug sprays. Therefore, employing a nearby pest control firm is the most effective measure against bed bug infestations.
Conclusion: Bed bugs can infest various household items, and their presence isn’t a sign of uncleanliness but of their adeptness at traveling undetected. Recognizing early signs of infestation and disposing of affected items correctly is vital. Prevention, such as decluttering, being cautious with used goods, and thorough inspections during travel, helps ward off these pests. In severe cases, seeking professional extermination is the most effective solution. Being proactive and informed is essential for a bed-bug-free home.
