Everyone has heard the rhyme, ‘Goodnight, sleep tight, and don’t let the bed bugs bite.’ Bed bugs can be annoying and a nuisance, but are they dangerous or just embarrassing? And how can they be removed? Batzner Bed Bug Services has perfected the bed bug removal process and knows the dangers and habits of bed bugs.
Bed bugs are small, oval, brownish creatures about the size of an apple seed. They feed on human and animal blood, however, they do not spread diseases like ticks do. Bed bugs are almost impossible to evict from the home without a professional. They can cause lack of sleep, stress, anxiety, itchy welts and are easy to spread to other parts of the home or to friend’s and family’s houses.
Bed bugs leave small, itchy bites not unlike those of a flea or mosquito, however, bed bug bites do not have a red spot in the center of the welt. Do not scratch the bites, because they may become infected and grow to a nasty welt up to half an inch wide. The welts are not dangerous, but are extremely uncomfortable and can be embarrassing. Many people avoid those with homes infested with bed bugs; they are easy to spot because the bugs feed in rows and pathways, causing huge groups of welts.
In order to confirm a bed bug infestation look at the seams around the mattress, sheets, and blankets. Check for tiny eggshells, red or black spots on sheets or nighttime clothing, or inside things like upholstery and wallpapers. Bed bugs have glands that release a musty, offensive odor, which is another main indicator of infestation.
If a bed bug infestation is confirmed do not go sleep in another part of the home. Sleeping in another part of the home only causes the bed bugs to come looking for another source of food. These bugs are adept in their hunt and will locate the new bed, which causes other parts of the home to be infested. Do not throw away the infested mattress or clothing and do not try to wash clothing without first completely enclosing the infested items in a sturdy, sealed plastic material. Throwing away infested items without covering them holds just as great a risk to spreading the infestation, because bugs can fall off during the removal process and find new hiding places. For infested clothing, when at the dryer, carefully remove items from the plastic bag and place items in a dryer on medium heat or higher for a minimum of 15-20 minutes. Make sure that the dryer is filled ONLY to ¾ capacity. DO NOT OVERLOAD. When discarding infested mattresses and furniture, render them unusable or destroy so that no one tries to recycle them out of the dumpster.
So how does one gain bed bug control? When not consulting a professional, the best way to deal with bed bugs is by using a vacuum with an open ended hose and one that has a bag, instead of a filter. If a bristle head is used, bed bugs can attach to the wires and re-infest the home. The filter has the same risk, as eggs or bugs can be hard to see and can stick to the filter when emptied. Adding talcum powder before and after vacuuming will reduce the survival rate of the bugs. Smashing the bugs when seen is encouraged, however it may leave stains on surfaces.
Ultimately, bed bug control should be left to professionals. Canine Inspections for bed bugs is the number one way to become bed bug free.
Dogs can smell and locate viable eggs and live bugs; if the canine smells no live bugs it is much more likely the infestation is cleared. Batzner has specially trained canines that can detect the scent of live bed bugs and viable eggs and is three times more likely to locate an infestation than a human alone. Batzner also offers three forms of treatments, including chemical treatments, fumigation, and thermal (or heat) remediation. Using a combination of these best practice bed bug eradication techniques is the best way to eliminate the annoying creatures.