Do you feel like bed bugs are taking over not just your bedding but your peace of mind as well? Do you find it difficult to deal with these pests?

These bugs are one of the most commonly occurring pests which are tough to find and control when it comes to residential pest control.

The right way to approach bed bug control is to know a few things about these bugs first. For instance, you need to know how to identify their presence and what measures you should take to curb their infestation effectively.

This guide is a perfect answer to all of these questions, and will help you take the appropriate approach for efficient residential pest control. Take a look –

Bed bugs are tiny six-legged brown oval-shaped wingless insects that thrive on the blood of humans and animals. Adult bed bugs tend to have flat bodies that are roughly the size of apple seeds but their bodies tend to swell after feeding and attain a reddish brown colour.

How to Find Bed Bugs and Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

If you find yourself waking up at night with itchy spots on your skin then the chances are that you may have bed bugs. Here’s how you can identify the presence of bed bugs by looking for these simple indicators:

• A weak odor similar to that of a rotting fruit
• Pale yellow flakes on your bedding
• Dark reddish stains on your bed sheets
• Remaining shed skins, eggs shells and spots in the areas where bed bugs may hide

How to Get Rid of Bed Bug Bites and Treat Them?

You can prevent bed bugs from entering your home by moving your bed away from any other points of contact such as other furniture, the wall and your nightstand so that the only thing that your bed is touching is the floor with its four legs.

Bed bug bites usually start to itch after a couple of hours but it is important that you don’t scratch them as this will break the skin that surrounds the bite which increases the chances of infection.

Here’s what you need to do to treat bed bug bites:

1. Wash the bites with water and soap
2. Apply a corticosteroid cream on the bitten area
3. Check if there are any allergic reactions

But the best way to stop bed bugs from biting is to not feed them by removing yourself as you are the food source and let the bed bug infestation starve off.

You can starve the bed bugs off by washing the infested items in your home such as the bags, sheets and blankets after which you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove any of the remaining eggs or bed bugs that you may have missed.  You can further steam inside your mattress, sofa and head boards to kill the eggs and bed bugs upon contact.

6 Steps You Can Take to Curb Bed Bug Population

Here are 6 simple steps you can take to find and get rid of bed bugs and curb the bed bug population::

• Declutter Frequently

Bed bugs can hide and thrive easily amongst clutter and make it harder for pest control professionals to find them. The entire treatment could mean nothing, if your home has a lot of clutter.

• Check Mattress and Box Spring Encasements

The box springs in your bed are a common congregation point for most bed bugs in most cases as there are a lot of cracks and spaces for them to hide and breed in. So it is best for you to check the stapled areas where the fabric is connected for bed bug colonies.

• Some DIY Non Chemical Treatment

If you don’t want to resort to chemical treatment and are looking for some DIY non chemical treatment then you can also wash your bedding in hot water at a temperature of 120 degrees or more for about 30 minutes.

• Steaming, Heating and Cold

Steam any of your clothing at high heat for a minimum of 45 minutes to kill off any bed bugs that may be present. Applying steam helps to kill off bed bugs and eggs as well. Applying heat to your items is also a great way to kill off any bed bugs. Freezing is also another way to kill off any bed bugs and is effective in killing off any pesticide resistant bed bugs.

• Vacuuming and Sealing

Run your vacuum through your mattress, under the bed frame and on the bed as well as on the headboard. Be very thorough in vacuuming and don’t miss any cracks and crevices in which bed bugs and their eggs may possibly be hiding. Make sure to dispose of your vacuum bag properly outside of your home though. You can also seal your infested items in specially made bed bug encasements which helps prevent bed bugs.

• Seek Professional Services

It is always best to hire professional pest control services for bed bug treatment. We handle the pest situation with a systematic approach, starting with a careful examination of your home.

If you are struggling with a bed bug infestation, get in touch with our team of professionals at Take Care Termite and Pest Control in Tracy, CA today! They will offer you the best possible treatment option to help you get rid of bed bugs effectively and permanently.