Bed Bugs Part 2: Keeping Your Home Secure

Hopefully, last week’s advice about avoiding bed bugs in hotels prepared you for holiday travel. Now, we’ll discuss how bed bugs could affect your daily life and how you can work to avoid them.

Bed bugs are getting attention now because they are infesting unexpected places like movie theaters, department stores, and warehouses. The media has created a frenzy by saying these pests are unavoidable. Yes, bed bug numbers have drastically increased over the last 5-10 years, but that doesn’t mean that we’re powerless to fight them. Homeowners can help protect themselves by being aware of their surroundings and acting quickly when they suspect a problem.

Remember that some environments are more prone to bed bug problems than others. Some high-risk areas include emergency rooms or hospitals, airports, and movie theaters. That doesn’t mean you should stop visiting those places. It just means that you should pay attention to your surroundings when you do. Many people forget that adult bed bugs are not microscopic; in fact, their size is comparable to an apple seed. So, if you go to a movie theater, check your pant cuffs, jacket pockets, and other hiding places before leaving. You’ll be able to see the bed bugs and notify the facility manager before you take hitchhikers home with you. When you’re in a high-risk environment, keep your purse or bag on your lap instead of putting it on the floor or in the chair next to you. By doing so, you protect a very desirable hiding place from bed bugs.

If you work in a high-risk career (including hospital personnel, school teachers, police officers, or social workers), you may want to consider a program to monitor for bed bugs. At Russell’s, we can attach bed bug monitoring to a regular pest control service so that you are aware as soon as you have a problem. That means the infestation will be easier to treat and, consequently, less expensive.

Otherwise, use common sense to protect yourself from invasions. For instance, if you see a nice piece of furniture sitting out for trash pick up, think twice before taking it home. It was likely thrown out by its original owners for a reason. If you go to garage sales or consignment stores, inspect your purchases for adult bed bugs or droppings before you buy them, and wash and dry them as soon as you get home. We actually confirmed the presence of bed bugs in a home where a woman had clothes in piles because she was setting up a garage sale, and our results didn’t change her mind at all! If you suspect a bed bug issue, call for help immediately. Taking action early will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

There’s just one more thing to consider. Bed bugs are often found in very clean environments; even the best house keeper could have an infestation (which means there’s nothing to be ashamed of if you do have a problem). However, clutter offers options to bed bugs when they’re looking for secure hiding places, which could make even the most thorough pest control treatment less effective. If you suspect a problem, call for help before you do anything else—don’t remove the mattress or use over-the-counter sprays, which could cause the bed bugs to spread throughout the house. A professional can give you good advice about how to contain your problem so that your treatment is most effective.

As always, you can call or visit our contact page if you have questions about bed bugs or any other pests.

(At The Risk Of Being Trite) Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite, Part 1

At Russell’s, we know that many of our customers may be traveling for the holidays, so it might be time to discuss the high-profile topic of bed bugs. Our intention isn’t to cause anxiety, but we want you to be able to visit out-of-towners without bringing any home with you. So, this will be a two-part series. In this post, I’ll discuss some quick tips to protect you if you’re staying in hotels. Next time, I’ll discuss some facts (and fictions) about bed bugs that may help you to avoid them in your daily life.

Everyone wants to know how to tell if bed bugs are in a hotel room. This suggestion may sound a little daunting, but I think that your first line of defense is to ask the hotel employee when you book your room whether they have rooms quarantined for bed bugs. Several people have told me that is rude, but I disagree. You don’t have to attack or accuse; simply ask if they’re having a problem. If they say they do have rooms quarantined, you don’t necessarily have to change hotels. Ask for a room far from the affected area. Bed bugs aren’t long-range pests; their presence in one room doesn’t doom the whole hotel. They will stay put as long as they can obtain consistent meals. This makes it much easier for a pest control company to isolate and eliminate a problem quickly. However, you should always think of bed bugs in three dimensions. You don’t want to be directly next to them or above or below them.

After you check in, go up to your room before bringing anything inside; if you bring a purse with you, don’t lay it down on the ground until you’ve inspected the room. The most well-known signs of bed bugs are small reddish-brown stains in the seams of the mattress; those stains are the bed bugs’ waste (i.e. old blood). Pull up the fitted sheet and have a look at the little ties and grooves on the mattress top, and don’t hesitate to ask an employee if you find something that concerns you.

We recommend getting creative with your luggage. Don’t just pile it in a corner next to the wall. Bed bugs commonly hide under baseboards during the day before emerging at night to feed. Placing your luggage in an out-of-the-way corner gives them easy access to hitch a ride. Oddly enough, a good place for it is the bathroom. Bed bugs are less likely to inhabit the bathroom since they want easy access to their prey in the bed. Also, you can leave the light on in the restroom full-time. Since bed bugs are nocturnal creatures, light will naturally decrease their activity. Some of our inspectors recommend keeping luggage in the bathtub at night. Most bugs have a lot of trouble climbing up and down those sloped tub walls. They may be less likely to pursue your luggage into the bathtub, and you would be more likely to see them if they do.

With the publicity that bed bugs are getting, people have a lot of questions. We understand that sometimes travelers need an expert to talk to for good advice or some peace of mind. You can always contact us with questions, whether you are in need of service or not. Feel free to call or contact us here. We’ll get you the answers that you need as quickly as possible.