Bedbugs are household pests that feed on human blood. Bedbugs live on furniture and clothing and wait until their victims are asleep to become active. Here, review ways to combat an existing infestation and prevent the small, reddish-brown insects from returning.

5 Bedbug Treatment & Prevention Tips

1. Wash Bedding

Remove infested bedding and launder it on the hottest washing machine setting. Temperatures between 114 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit will kill the insects. Depending on the infestation’s severity, wash affected bedding and all other fabrics several times.

You can also enclose infested items in zipper-free plastic to suffocate the bedbugs, including your mattress. Wait at least a week before removing the items.

2. Vacuum Regularly

Maintain a neat, clean residence since most pests use clutter for shelter and nesting. Vacuum your home daily, focusing on cracks and crevices, the underside of your mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture, and where the walls and floors meet. Discard vacuum bags in sealed plastic after every use to keep the bugs from crawling out. Finally, take the bags to outdoor waste receptacles, instead of leaving them in indoor trash cans.

3. Schedule Professional Treatment

If there’s still an infestation, call a local exterminator. Prepare for treatment by eliminating clutter, moving affected beds at least six inches from the wall, and finding a place for kids and pets to stay. Your exterminators will provide additional pre-treatment guidelines depending on the location and severity of the problem.

4. Use Caution When Traveling

Always place luggage on racks provided by your hotels when you travel. Bedbugs frequently enter luggage and other bags from the floor. Check your luggage before entering your home to avoid introducing new infestations. If you have a sizable chest freezer, use it to house your bags for four days. Much like extreme heat, the intense cold also kills the insects.

5. Avoid Secondhand Furniture

Refrain from purchasing used furniture that could harbor pests, especially mattresses and upholstered pieces. Additionally, move your current furniture so you can apply caulk to the baseboards and other cracks that provide entry points for bedbugs and other pests. 

Keep bedbugs from invading your space with services from Arab Termite and Pest Control of Cincinnati. The pest control company has served the Greater Cincinnati, OH, area for 80 years, providing residential and commercial treatments for insects and rodents, including termites, ants, and mice. Call (513) 385-3430 today to schedule a treatment or to ask about the Golden Buckeye Program that offers 10% off services. Learn more about the company’s services online.