Putting it bluntly, bed bugs are incredibly difficult to exterminate. Effective pest control for these blood-thirsty insects involves a careful and systematic approach, which is why it's so important to choose an exterminator that really knows what they're doing. 

Select Pest Control is one of the few pest control companies in Cincinnati that fit that description, and today, their technicians discuss the proper follow-up prevention for every successful bed bug extermination:

• Keep The Infestation Contained: The most important aspect of bed bug extermination is to avoid spreading the infestation, which means you should avoid sleeping away from your bed until all of the bed bugs are gone. It may be tempting to sleep on the couch, for example, but if you do, the bed bugs will only follow you to your new sleeping place and infest that area too.

• Wash Clothes In High Heat: High-heat washing and drying are the safest and most reliable ways to kill bed bugs hiding in clothing, sheets, blankets, and other soft materials. Clothing that cannot be washed in hot water, or both washed and dried without shrinking (e.g. wool), can be put directly in the dryer for at least 20 minutes on the highest heat setting.

• Vacuum Thoroughly: Following bed bug treatment, Select Pest Control recommends you vacuum all carpeting twice a day, and regularly vacuum mattresses, box springs, and other upholstered furniture, with special attention given to seams.

• Cover All Mattresses & Box Springs: If you decide to keep your old beds, mattress covers will trap any pests inside. If you decide to buy new beds during treatment, you should still cover them to keep bed bugs from nesting inside; you can safely remove the covers once Select Pest Control gives you the “all clear.”

There's more to follow-up prevention than that, but you can rest assured Select Pest Control will give you the lowdown should you ever require bed bug extermination services. For more information about their Cincinnati pest control services, please call (513) 352-0080 or visit their website.