Guide to Systematically Battle Bed Bugs
Treating Bed Bugs as part of a cycle is key to gaining control, see below to find out where you should begin!
DETECTION - TREATMENT - PREVENTION
I think I might have bed bugs, what are some warning signs?
- A sweet, musky odor
- Rust-colored spots on bedding or mattresses
- Bites, similar to mosquito bites
- Adult bed bugs in the mattress folds or on the wall behind the headboard
*Adult bed Bugs, In General, Are:
- About the size of an apple seed
- Long and brown, with a flat, oval-shaped body (if not fed recently)
- Balloon-like, reddish brown, and more elongated (if fed recently)
I have Bed Bugs, what now?!
- Remove all clutter from the suspected infected area/room
- Vacuum vigorously and thoroughly
- Remove all bedding and was with hot water and dry with high heat
- Treat large household items like mattresses and furniture with a bed bug treatment kit
- Treat open, infested areas (like bedrooms) with an EPA registered fogger for bed bugs
- Treat cracks and crevices with an EPA registered aerosol, liquid spray or powder
Recommended Hot Shot Bed Bug Products:
How do I prevent an initial infestation or worse yet, a reinfestation?
- Move beds and furniture several inches away from the walls. Bed bugs cannot jump or fly.
- Make sure bed skirts and blankets do not reach the floor to allow bed bugs easy access to the bed.
- Discourage reinfestation by keeping clutter picked up, washing bedding and upholstery regularly and do not buy used furniture.
Planning a trip? Take these precautions:
Prior to travel:
- Spray your luggage with a product with a product registered to treat bed bugs and for use on luggage. Allow to dry completely.
- Pack dirty laundry in plastic bags which you can take directly to the laundry room at home.
Returning home:
- Do not unpack luggage inside. Unpack outside in the garage, laundry room or utility room.
- Remove the laundry you placed in sealable bags in the hotel and throw it immediately in the dryer on the highest heat setting possible
