A Guide to Bed Bugs

It’s a topic that might make some shudder, however, that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. While many people may associate bed bugs with being dirty or lack of cleanliness that isn’t necessarily true. If you are looking for some sound advice on dealing with these pesky and unnerving little things than our guide to bed bugs is a must read for you.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are teeny tiny little pests that feed off of your blood while you sleep. These nasty little critters are difficult to detect. This is because they are incredibly small, great at hiding, and come out to feed while you’re asleep.

Oh, did we mention that you also won’t feel them as they suck your blood? Crazy right? These are nasty unhygienic pests to have around. Which is why it is so important to keep a close eye for them and take action quickly if you see any sign of bed bugs, because they can multiply very quickly. No one wants a bed bug infestation.

Do I Have Bed Bug Bites?

Waking up with what you believe may be bed bug bites on your skin? Lots of tiny pests can leave bug bites. It can be difficult to determine where any irritation has come from without talking to a doctor.

Even then, many different skin irritations show up can be difficult to determine on appearance alone what is causing the issue.

However, we will go through the details on what a bed bug bite looks and feels like. However, if you do think you are getting bit by bed bugs it is best to talk to your dermatologist and get someone in to check your home for bed bugs right away.

Typically you will find bug bits on readily available skin that shows while you’re sleeping. Such as your neck, face, hands, arms, legs, chest, and feet. They typically a good number of bites that either are in a line several inches apart or in a zigzag pattern.

Most bed bug bites are described as having some form of irritation. It can vary from slight swelling and itchiness, to a slight burning sensation.

What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?

• Slight raised red itchy bump with clear center
• Burning or painful sensation from red spot
• Itchy red bump with a dark center, surrounded by light red swelling
• Bites appear in a zigzag or line pattern
• Small red bumps that are surrounded hives or blisters.

Do I Have Bed Bugs?

Here are a few of things to look for, if you think you might have bed bugs.

• Look for dark red, brown, and cream spots in the crevices of your mattress. These are caused by Bed Bed droppings.
• Check between your box spring and your mattress
• Looking underneath your box spring near staples and near tags.
• Look for small spots of blood from bites that has dried and stained sheets or pajamas.
• White or clear skin/dust. This is skin shed by the nymphs as they mature
• Bed bug bites on your skin

Full Inspection

Bed bugs are really good at hiding, they love to squeeze themselves into very small dark spots that are hardly ever seen or touched.

What should you be looking for when inspecting your mattress for bed bugs? Keep an eye out of course for the bugs themselves, nymphs, eggs, and dropping.

Nymphs are baby bed bugs that are small and cream colored. While the eggs are smaller and white. The dropping tend to be a dark brown or cream color. While the bed bugs themselves are dark brown.

UV lights are also a tool that can help you see the signs of bed bugs better than daylight. First get a UV lamp or flashlight. Then get your bedroom as dark as possible, then look in the same crevices under sheets and so on. You may find the UV Light reveals shed skin, eggs, and even the bed bugs themselves.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs:

1. Identify where all of the infested areas are.
2. Contain the infestation from spreading.
3. Remove and throw away or deep clean all infested furniture, carpet, linens, and rugs. 
4. Do not bring items back into infested area until it has been fully treated. 
5. Treat all infested areas – kill the bugs. We suggest hiring professionals.

Hire A Professional

Here is the good news, you don’t have to take care of bed bugs all by yourself. In fact, you are much more likely to be successful if you hire someone to help you get rid of bed bugs then if you try and handle it all yourself.

Remember, bed bugs are masters at hiding themselves. They know if they can stay hidden, they are more likely to survive. So they are incredibly good at staying hidden. Also, they don’t only stay in your mattress or box spring. They will hide in carpeting, under rugs, and even under floor boards. Anywhere they can squeeze their tiny bodies in order to stay hidden.

Hiring a professional can help you can all the tools you need in order to exterminate and eliminate all of the bed bugs and their eggs so that you don’t end up with a full of infestation. The earlier you hire a professional, the less it will cost as well. It is much harder to get rid of bed bugs later on.

How To Treat Infested Bedding & Linens:

• Wash your infested linens and clothing in HOT water for 30 minutes. Be sure to stick with like colors as colors may bleed. Also, note that some items may be ruined as high heat can often harm certain fabrics.
• Dry the linens on the highest heat setting for 30 minutes. Again, keep in mind that this may ruin or shrink some items, keep this in mind as a last attempt in order to keep your items from being thrown out.
• Use a high heat steam cleaner on furniture like your mattress, couches, chairs, and any other fabric furniture that cannot be washed.
• Pack items like pillows or cushions into dark air locked bags and seal them shut. If you can, leave them outside in the heat (95°+) During cold climates, it can take several months to kill bed bugs with this method.
• Put smaller items like stuffed animals and so on, in a deep freezer. 0°F (-17°C) Keep at this temperature for at least 4 days.

You May Also Like How A Clean Bedroom Means Better Sleep.

How to Avoid Getting Bed Bugs Again:

Do not put things from outside onto your bed. This include sitting on your mattress with the clothes you wore during the day, or put things like book bags, luggage, or coat on a mattress. This is how bed bugs travel from home to home, finding a new mattress to live in and new people to feed on.

• Fully Encasing Mattress Protector – Buy a mattress protector that is fully encasing and made to defend against bed bugs. These encasement’s have special zippers and go around your entire mattress. The zippers are specially made to keep bed bugs from being able to get in or out. So if even a single egg survives treatments, they won’t be able to grow up and start a new colony. Check out this Mattress Encasement by Brooklyn Bedding for full protection.
• Get a Box Spring Encasement – Bed Bugs love box springs. They are basically a bed bug hotel, plenty of wood corners to call home, and it is hardly ever moved or cleaned. Which means they can set up camp and have lots and lots and lots of bed bug babies. Not fun. Be sure to get an encasement for your box spring as well as your mattress.
• Bean Plants – The leaves of bean plants like kidney and green beans have developed something called tri-combs on their leaves. These are tiny hooked hairs that trap small pests like aphids that typically eat bean plants. These defensive leaves also works on bed bugs. Growing these plants and putting their leaves around your bed can trap these bed bugs and keep them from munching on you as a snack. There is a scientist working on creating a synthetic fiber that works in the same way.

Where To Buy Bed Bug Products Discretely:

We know that this is not only something you want to broadcast if it happens to you. We also know that you will want to take care of it properly as soon as possible. Which is why finding a company that not only has an array of products made just for bed bugs, but also discretely ships is ideal.

Luckily BedBugSupply.com is just that. This online company offers everything from mattress encasement options, steamers, sprays, powders and everything to help prevent and monitor your home. All with free two day express shipping  to get to you even quicker. No need for embarrassment or delays in taking care of ridding these little bugs for ever.

A Guide to Bed Bugs – Final Thoughts

Keep in mind that the best possible way to get rid of an infestation is to completely get rid of any and all infested items. We understand this can be a very expensive process. Replacing a mattress alone can be a big deal, let alone replacing carpet, clothing, furniture etc.

Which is why we suggest contacting professionals at the first sign of bed bugs. They can help diagnose whether or not you have an infestation as well as take immediate action in order to save as much of your items as possible. We hope our tips on getting rid of bed bugs has been helpful. We hope you have a goodnight, sleep tight, and… well already you know the rest.