Most people have heard of bed bugs and dread ever finding an infestation in their home. However, while bed bugs have a bad reputation, you might not know what these pests look like or how they get around. There are a lot of misconceptions about bed bugs, so we’ve put together a guide that gives you all the information you need including how to prevent these troublesome pests in Davenport and the surrounding areas.
First of all, knowing how to identify bed bugs is the first step to removing an infestation if you have one. Despite what you may have heard, bed bugs aren’t invisible and are actually around the size of an apple seed. They are reddish-brown and oval-shaped, and they are usually flat except after they’ve just eaten.
Secondly, it’s important to note that bed bug infestations can happen to anyone, and they don’t just invade dirty homes. This is because bed bugs get around by hitchhiking on items like backpacks, suitcases, and purses. So, while they don’t latch onto people, they can be picked up nearly anywhere by grabbing a ride on the items you carry with you.
Where Are You Likely To Pick Up Bed Bugs?
One of the big problems with bed bugs is that you can pick them up nearly anywhere including other people’s homes and pretty much any kind of business. However, there are some hotspot establishments and areas where you’re more likely to find bed bugs. These hotspots include medical facilities, hotels, schools, buses, airports, and laundromats.
While it can be difficult to prevent picking up bed bugs in these spaces, there are a few things you can do including:
Avoiding putting down your luggage especially near beds or other upholstered furniture
Carrying laundry in plastic bags if you’re using shared facilities
Checking bedding in lodging establishments for signs of bed bugs
Can You Get Bed Bugs Any Other Way?
There is one other common way that bed bug infestations start, and it's through purchasing secondhand items that are already infested. While mattresses are one of the main things that bed bugs invade, they can also be found on sheets, pillows, box springs, curtains, and other furniture.
The best way to avoid bringing bed bugs into your home in this way is to inspect second-hand items for signs of an infestation. These signs include brown stains from excrement, rusty stains from dried blood, and bits of discarded eggshells. If you do see any of these indicators, it’s best to not purchase these items as even if the infestation seems to be gone it might not be.
What Should You Do If You Get Bed Bugs?
Trying to prevent bed bugs is important, but prevention is never going to be 100% effective. Bed bugs are a particularly difficult pest to keep out because they are so small and can be found in so many places. If you do wind up with bed bugs in your Davenport home, the professionals at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators can remove the infestation efficiently and safely. Our technicians use tried and true bed bug removal techniques to eliminate every single bed bug and keep the infestation from returning.
Discover more about our dependable residential and commercial pest control options by calling us today or using our online contact form.