How to prevent bed bugs from spreading in Knoxville

You found bed bugs in your property. How do you stop them from spreading and making the infestation worse? There are three things to keep in mind as you wait for an exterminator to treat your property:

1. Do not move or throw out infested furniture.
2. Take caution in transporting infested bedding by using plastic bags.
3. Tidy up clutter and vacuum your property thoroughly.

Do bed bugs spread throughout the home?

Bed bugs may be slow crawlers, but can easily spread throughout your home if given the chance. This most commonly happens when people move infested mattresses, box springs, furniture, suitcases, clothes, and more. Bed bugs can travel from one room to another, or even from one unit to another, through common walls, ceilings, pipes, telephone cables, doorways, and more. Because they are so small and silent, they can spread without you noticing you have a bed bug problem whatsoever.

Bed bug life cycle

When compared to other pests, bed bugs do not reproduce as quickly. Bed bugs can lay anywhere between one and 12 eggs in a day. Bed bug eggs take about 10 days to hatch, followed by up to six weeks before the larvae turn into adults. A small bed bug problem can quickly turn into a big one if they are infesting your property for some time before being noticed.

Stopping the spread of bed bugs

As soon as you spot bed bugs in one room or area of your property, you must act quickly to keep them from spreading even further. When transferring clothes or bedding to the washer, always transport them in plastic bags. Avoid moving any furniture that is infested at all costs, and definitely do not throw it out. Doing so may increase the risk of the bugs getting into other rooms.