Jan 18, 2023 | Bed Bug
The new year is here and it’s time to get your vacations planned for the upcoming months. Don’t let those vacation plans get ruined by bed bugs! These pests are highly efficient hitchhikers and can move quickly and climb easily into luggage or anything left on a bed in just one night. Hotels and Airbnb’s are the perfect home for bed bugs and are typically where they can be picked up. Here are some tips to prevent bed bugs while traveling!
Detailed Inspection
Once arriving at your home away from home during your vacation, be sure to inspect anything and everything where a bed bug could be hiding. Look for live insects, blood stains, and eggs throughout the room. Typically, with larger infestations, you will notice a sweet, musty odor.
The best place to inspect is the mattress you will be sleeping on. Be sure to take the fitted sheet off the corner of the bed, lift the mattress, and check all the crevices with a flashlight. Other hiding places include baseboards, behind picture frames, and even cracked or ripped wallpaper.
Elevation is Key
Before using the luggage rack, which you should always use, inspect it for bed bugs. Once cleared, you should then use the rack to keep your luggage elevated off the ground. Keep the rack away from the wall so bed bugs can’t easily climb into your bag.
Checking Out
When beginning to pack for check out, examine your luggage and clothing to make sure you haven’t picked up any extra baggage. A good tip to know is once home, unpack in your garage or outside of your living areas, and put clothes directly in the dryer, as heat is a deterrent for bed bugs.
If you suspect you have returned home from vacation with hitchhikers, reach out to your local, licensed pest control company and receive a FREE bed bug inspection today!
Nov 21, 2022 | Pest Control
Contrary to popular belief, pests don’t just disappear when colder weather sets in. Overwintering pests are those that find a warm place to shelter during the winter, most often inside your home! Some household pests thrive year-round because the warmth, water, and food supply in your home allow them to survive even in the harshest weather conditions. Some common winter pests include rodents, roaches, spiders, and bed bugs. For this reason, it’s important that you don’t forget about winter pest control! Here are a few of our favorite winter pest control tips you can use to make your home pest-free.
- Seal cracks and crevices outside your home to keep pests from being able to get in, especially where pipes and utility lines come into the house.
- Replace any loose mortar.
- Replace weather stripping around doors and windows.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet from your home and elevate it if possible.
- Keep your home decluttered.
- Use plastic storage instead of cardboard when possible.
- Eliminate moisture and standing water in and around your home (leaky pipes, clogged drains).
- Use door sweeps.
- Repair or replace screens on windows and doors.
- Use chimney screens.
- Ventilate and keep attics, basements, and crawlspaces dry.
- Clean up any food and crumbs.
- Invest in routine pest control from a professional pest control company.
You May Also Be Interested In:
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Prevent Bed Bugs this Holiday Season
Where Do Rodents Go In Winter?
Why Identifying Spiders is Important for Prevention
Preventing Common Wildlife
Nov 16, 2022 | Bed Bug
Typically, when temperatures begin to drop, that means many bugs go into a sort of hibernation mode. This isn’t necessarily the case for bed bugs. Being predominantly indoor pests, they tend to survive the colder months. It’s also a big time for them to spread because of all the holiday travels, so always be aware of any pests that could ruin your holiday fun.
There are many ways that bed bugs can spread from one location to another. They will climb into our belongings and can lay their eggs in them. We will then carry these items from a location of infestation to a new location. Even if your bags or items are left outside, it will take a while for them to be harmed by the cold, as they are more resilient to the cold than they are to the heat. And since they will be hiding in our items, they will be protected from the wind and cold air.
Here are some tips to follow while travelling, so you can prevent bed bugs from home with you.
- Don’t put your clothing or luggage directly on the bed. This will allow any present bed bugs to climb into your bag.
- Use metal luggage racks at all times, since bed bugs find it more difficult to climb metal surfaces.
- Use small plastic bags to pack clothing.
- They can also be found on airplane and train seats, so be aware of your surroundings while travelling.
If you believe you have picked up bed bugs while on your travels, be sure to call your local pest control company and they will be able to assist you with a customized plan of action.
Aug 1, 2022 | Bed Bug
It’s time to unpack and get back to normal after all the summer vacations we were able to conquer. Hopefully, you came back to a stress-free situation that didn’t involve bed bugs; but if you weren’t one of the lucky ones, here are some tips to rid yourself of those unwanted pests.
Identify the Problem
Identify the pest to make sure it is indeed a bed bug. If you live in an apartment building, be sure to notify your landlord immediately, as they might have the responsibility of providing treatments. If you are in a single-family home, inspect all areas of your home to understand the extent of the infestation.
Develop a Plan
So, you have bed bugs, now what? Keep records throughout the whole process. Note dates and exact locations where these pests were found. This will help you track progress and to know where to target your removal efforts. You should be checking for at least a year after you’re done to make sure they are all gone.
Keep the Infestation from Spreading
Be sure to keep the infestation from spreading by implementing these tips:
- Purchase protective covers that seal mattresses and box springs. The bed bugs will get trapped inside and die.
- Discard furniture responsibly if you can’t eliminate the bed bugs completely. Destroy the furniture so others won’t be tempted to bring it home. For example:
- Use spray paint to mark furniture with “Bed Bugs”
- Rips covers and remove stuffing from furniture items
- Seal furniture or other items in plastic bags to ensure the bed bugs are trapped
Prepare for Treatment
Preparing for treatment is very important, whether treating bed bugs yourself or with professional help. If you plan on treating them yourself, ensure the methods you select are safe, effective, and legal. Avoid treatments that don’t work, like rubbing alcohol, kerosene, or gasoline, which are highly flammable. Sticky traps are also not effective in stopping bed bugs.
Some useful treatment solutions are:
- Heat treatments: You can put items in the clothes dryer on high heat to eliminate these pests.
- Cold treatments: If your freezer can go to 0 degrees, then keeping items in them for a couple of days could be effective.
- Steam cleaners: If the steam can reach temperatures of at least 130 degrees, then it can be effective for cracks and fabrics.
The best solution for bed bugs is to contact your local pest control company. These professionals will have access to highly effective treatment methods. They will provide you with a bed bug control plan that is right for you and your property.
Jul 5, 2022 | Pest Control
Packing is typically the most dreaded part when it comes to moving. Some popular pests that can be present at your current or new home include roaches, bed bugs, and fleas. It’s important to know how to avoid them when you’re moving out or in. Whether it’s a cockroach sneaking into your home, a bed bug hitchhiking from a recent hotel stay, or fleas leftover at your new home, we can help!
Discover how to avoid each pest and get rid of these unwanted roommates!
Cockroaches
Cockroaches can be difficult to get rid of, so being adept at keeping them away is key. To prevent these nasty pests in your new home, thoroughly inspect all boxes before packing away your belongings. Once moved into your new home check the perimeter of your new house for small cracks and crevices and seal them off with caulk to keep the roaches from being able to enter.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are the type of pest that warrant a call to a pest control company. These invasive pests can be difficult to remove yourself, and you don’t want to wait for the removal process to start. If you need to stay in a hotel while moving be sure to inspect any furniture or bedding you sleep on or bring into your home. This means checking the bed frame, mattress, and even headboard for bed bugs or the telltale brownish-red spots they leave behind.
Fleas
Fleas are normally looked at as a pet-based pest, but they can lay their eggs on the carpet and can remain dormant before you realize it’s too late. Consider your vet’s recommendation for flea control medication for your pet. At home, look to keep your carpet vacuumed regularly. If you see a flea, the best plan of action is to act immediately!
Remember these tips when it’s time to make the big move. If the problem becomes more than you can handle, be sure to reach out to your local pest control company to learn the best option in getting your new home back from these nasty roommates.
