Wake up every morning with itchy welts? You could have bed bugs in your home. But what should you do when you find out you have an infestation? Because bed bugs reproduce rapidly, you need to act fast. Find out the best way to deal with bed bugs and resolve your pest problems the right way.
The Signs Of An Infestation
Usually, people aren't aware that they have bed bugs until the problem is severe. Bed bugs are small, flat parasites that are dark in color. They feed on the blood of animals and humans. Typically, the first sign of bed bugs in Raleigh is a bed bug bite. You might notice welts on your skin before you see a bed bug.
In addition to noticing the bites, you might also see bed bugs droppings, bloodstains, and shed skins under your mattress. The stains could also appear on your sheets and pillows.
What Shouldn't You Do?
Most homeowners don't take the right steps when they find or suspect bed bugs. They try to take matters into their own hands, and that's a mistake. When you have bed bugs, you need to act immediately. The longer you wait, the worse your pest infestation will become.
To better understand what you should do when you have bed bugs, you need to understand what you shouldn't do. First and foremost, there's no reason to wait. You might wait to call an expert because you're not sure if you have bed bugs. Or, you may hope that the problem goes away on its own. Unfortunately, waiting to call allows the bed bug population to grow. What might have been an easy fix becomes a nearly impossible one.
DIY Fixes
Another common mistake is to try a DIY fix. If you look online or head to a big box store, you can find bed bug removal products. For instance, ultrasonic devices promise to scare away bed bugs. Sadly, these products are ineffective. No evidence shows these products to be effective.
You can also look online and find several easy, natural bed bug removal remedies. Baking soda is often said to be a solution to a bed bug infestation, but it doesn't do anything to kill bed bugs. Mothballs are also touted as a way to eliminate bed bugs, but while the product works on some of the bugs, it won't work on all of them.
One of the first methods of bed bug removal that you might try could be washing your bedding. The heat of your washer and dryer should kill bed bugs and their eggs, but it may not kill 100% of the bugs. Bed bugs are likely living in other areas of your home, and you can't possibly kill all of them.
What Should You Do
At the first sign of bed bugs, you should call in an expert. First, they can determine whether or not you have bed bugs. After a short inspection, they can verify your pest problem. From there, the technician can get to work treating for bed bugs. With the right experience and tools, experts can treat your whole home for bed bugs and make sure every pest is eliminated.
By hiring a professional, you save yourself time and money. Because DIY efforts are destined to fail, they're a waste of your resources. Your best chance of success is getting rid of the infestation completely. Here at Pest & Termite Consultants, we can do just that. Contact us to learn more today.