Bed bugs are no fun. Whether they have infiltrated your home or business, they are one of the most annoying pests to deal with. They are harder to get rid of than most other pests, too.
With many pests, the right pesticide can be applied and you can get rid of them pretty easily. Bed bugs are not such a simple thing to get rid of. All the DIY solutions in the world might not be enough to tackle the issue.
A pest control professional will use a specific process to ensure your home or business is no longer infested with bed bugs. It starts with an inspection of the infestation area, coming up with a treatment plan, and monitoring the situation with follow-up visits, as needed.
How do You Get Bed Bugs?
Many people get bed bugs from other places. They might end up in your home or business from your clothes, luggage, bags, or personal belongings. If you purchased clothing at a thrift store, you might bring bed bugs home with you.
Unlike other common pests, bed bugs are not attracted to unsanitary conditions. instead, they are attracted to the carbon dioxide from their hosts. This means you will likely become the primary transportation for bed bugs.
Common Signs that You Have Bed Bugs
If you’re not sure what to look for, it can be hard to tell if you have bed bugs. A few of the common signs include:
- Egg Shells or Shredded Skin Where they are Hiding – Bed bugs will leave shredded skin and waste that looks like eggs shells where they hide. If you see anything that looks like dust around your bed, it might be a sign of bed bugs.
- Blood Stains – Random blood stains on your bed sheets or pillows may be caused due to squishing a bed bug. They will be full of blood after eating and if you squish them, this can cause a bloodstain.
- Dark Spots – While these are harder to notice, if you see dark spots on your mattress or bedding, it could be bed bug excrements.
- A Musty Odor – Bed bugs come with a musty odor that smells like rotten raspberries. With a very severe infestation, this is easy to detect. If it’s not as severe, you might not notice the odor.
How Pest Control Professionals Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Most home remedies and over-the-counter treatments won’t do much if you don’t know how to properly get rid of bed bugs. This is one pest better left to the professionals. When you hire professionals to get rid of bed bugs they will:
- Inspect the Area – They have to determine where the bed bugs are and how bad the infestation is before moving forward.
- Choosing a Treatment Plan – Depending on the type of infestation, a standard treatment might be used including removing pillows and linens, vacuuming, steam cleaning, using pesticides, and using encasements. If it’s more severe, a heat treatment may be used to get rid of bed bugs.
- Follow-Up – In some cases, follow-up treatments will be necessary to get rid of bed bugs.
Your pest control professional may also use treatments with isopropyl alcohol, bed bug sprays, or another type of treatment. It will depend on the situation and how bad the bugs have become.
With the right treatment, you can return to living without bed bugs. If you think you might have bed bugs, Ratchet Roach is ready to help you. We can get rid of your bed bug issue and get you back to normal.