Bedbug Preparation

Bedbugs are small, flat insects (often times brownish in color) that only feed on human blood. Very little is known about these insects to the common person so here are a few facts:

• Bedbugs are visible to the human eye
• bedbugs can survive many months without a single meal. In some cases over 1 year
• Bedbugs are nocturnal insects, which is why people tend to be bit at night while sleeping
• Bedbug bites are often painless
• Bedbugs DO NOT spread disease
• Bedbugs have very flat bodies which allows them to crawl and hide in small, narrow areas easily.
• Female bedbugs can lay up to 5 eggs per day

Contrary to regular belief, bedbugs are prone to all styles of living. It does not matter how clean you are ; you can still receive bedbugs, however, cleaner homes are less susceptible to bedbugs.

So what do I need to do before the treatment?

Below is a list of several things you need to do before the pest control technician comes to treat your house. This list may seem like a lot of chores but you need to ask yourself “DO I want any chance of these bedbugs coming back?” if not then here is what needs to be done.

• Put all clothes in trash bags and tightly tie them closed. After the treatment, you will want to put all of those clothes in the dryer on high heat for at least 40 minutes. This will ensure that all bedbugs on your clothes will be killed. NOTE: Obviously you will need some clothes to wear for the next couple of days. Take a few pairs of clothes, and put them in the dryer on high heat for at least 40 minutes. Places these clothes in an area where you do not experience any bedbug activity.
• Remove all bed sheets, pillowcases, and blankets and place them in trash bags as well. After the treatment, you will want to put these in the dryer on high heat for 40 minutes.
• Place Bed and box frame covers on all beds. Make sure that the covers are not torn because bedbugs will be able to navigate through those small areas back into the box frame.
• Vacuum all areas of your house (carpet areas, the couch, in-between sofa cushions, box frames, mattress etc.) You want to do the most detailed vacuuming where you see the most activity. Empty the filter immediately into a trash bag and throw it away as soon as possible.
• If you are experiencing bedbugs in the bedroom areas, DO NOT start sleeping elsewhere such as the living area. The reason for this is that bedbugs can detect levels of carbon dioxide that humans breathe out after every breath. If you move to a different location in the home/apartment they will find you (bedbugs are more mobile than you think). This in turn increases the level of the bedbug infestation. At this point, bedbugs are just something you will have to live with temporarily.
• Make sure that all items are fully bagged and put away. The apartment should look as if only the furniture has been moved in. The messier the apartment/home, the harder the situation is to control.

All these steps are necessary in order to achieve a proper and precise treatment for bedbugs. Remember the messier the living area, the harder it is to treat and/or eliminate the problem.

Call us at 281-698-0085 if you have questions.