Bed Bug Control and Bed Bug Extermination

You’ve probably heard the phrase “don’t let the bed bugs bite” when you were a kid, and then you grew up and you realized that bed bugs were real. That was a terrifying realization for me, and I was picturing the possibility of terrible monster bugs in my bed. These little bugs do feed on human blood, however unlike many people think, they are very common and have nothing to do with how clean – or not so clean- your home is. Often times, they gain entry by stowing away in luggage, clothing, or other furniture that you bring into your home. These guys can repopulate quickly, so if you have one pregnant bed bug, you’re going to have a problem. Bed bugs are also extremely resilient and can survive for about three months in an abandoned house with no food source.

Bed bugs are also resistant to most pesticides, in fact using pesticides on them can often have the opposite effect and just cause them to leave that area and move into a new spot in your home, continuing to reproduce. This is why the best way to combat bed bugs is to keep them from entering your home originally. One of the best times for bed bugs to invade is after a trip, if where you stayed had bed bugs they could easily attach themselves to your luggage and move into your home from there. Make sure you inspect all of your luggage when you get home, and throw your clothes into the dryer on high heat to kill any bed bugs that may be hiding. You also always want to change your sheets and pillow cases on a regular basis to prevent infestations.

If you do have to resort to using pesticides, it is best to use isolated pesticides rather than “bombs” as they will not be able to reach into the crevices where bed bugs like to hide. If you are unable to treat with pesticides, extreme heat or cold can also prove effective in getting rid of bed bugs. However, if the infestation gets to be large enough, you may have to have a fumigation done of the entire house.