You’ve had suspicions for weeks and finally, the itchy little bites on your arms and legs confirm it — you’ve got bed bugs. While your first thought may be to torch your home and everything you own, you don’t need to jump to drastic measures. By taking the proper steps you can contain your infestation and not have to throw out everything you own. Here’s what to do when you have bed bugs and how to get rid of them for good.
1. Don’t Panic
For many homeowners, the discovery of bed bugs is a complete nightmare. Yes, the thought of sleeping while tiny bugs feast on your blood is disgusting, but they can’t harm you. Unlike other insects that can carry and pass disease, bed bugs cannot transmit anything to you. With that in mind, try to keep your cool and know that this is a totally treatable situation. Take a breath, maybe a shower, and head over to HomeStars to start your search for someone who can take care of this problem for you.
Note: If you live in a condo or apartment, call your property manager or landlord to handle the situation for you. If your unit has bed bugs, it’s likely others do as well. Depending on where you live, your landlord may be responsible for making sure your unit is rid of the bugs.
2. Get In Touch With a Pro
The best thing you can do for your home and your sanity is to get a pro in asap. They have the special tools and chemicals required to properly treat and kill all bed bugs and their eggs in your home. While you may be swayed by items online that promise they can get rid of the bugs at half the cost, you’ll end up spending more in the long run if you go down this route. While your DIY methods may work temporarily, eventually you will have to call a pro to properly deal with the situation.
3. Try To Contain It
Bed bugs can spread quickly and easily throughout your home. Once you discover you have bed bugs, do not invite people over to your home as they may take a bug home with them. Conversely, do not go to other people’s homes, especially to sleep. While you may be itching to get out of your home, doing so will only put others at risk.
Anything that can be put in the laundry should be washed and dried on the hottest setting possible. Pay special attention to your bedding when washing. For items that you can’t launder, put them in tightly sealed plastic bags.
When it comes to sleeping in your own home, you have a few options. You can either continue to sleep in your infested bed as this will limit transferring bugs to other rooms in your home. Alternatively, you can sleep in a guest room or on your couch. Just keep in mind that this could further spread bugs into these rooms. Depending on how bad your infestation is, this choice is up to your own personal comfort. Another option is sleeping on an air mattress while the situation is dealt with.
4. Preventative Measures
Once you’ve had a pro come in and to get rid of the bugs and their eggs, listen to their aftercare recommendations. They are the subject matter experts after all. They may make recommendations such as buying a mattress cover or feet that your bed frame can rest on. Tip: Wooden bed frames are easy for bugs to crawl up. If you want to invest in a new bed after this experience, consider one made out of metal or a similar material instead.
While the discovery of bed bugs can send many homeowners into a panic, now that you’ve read this article you’re prepared to handle them. Keep calm and call in the pros to handle the situation. At the end of the day, investing in their services is the best way to get rid of these bugs once and for all. If you need to get a bed bug expert into your home, simply click on the banner below to get in touch with pros in your area who can help.
