Do you want to know how to prevent bed bug insects from entering your home? There are steps that you need to know to protect your family from bed bug infestation. Learning how to prevent and protect your family will help you and your family avoid getting bed bug bites.
To stop bed bug infestation, follow the 10 ways on how to prevent bed bugs at home. You must identify and understand the bed bug behavior and observe the used items you brought home. Monitor any sign of infestation, such as stains on your bed or their exoskeleton and if you have bed bug bites. Declutter any unnecessary things and properly store things in containers. Be cautious when traveling, and check your rooms for any signs of bed bugs.
When you are properly aware and educated about these pests, you can prevent them from infesting your place. Read our article about the 7 Early Sign Of Bed Bug from bed bug infestation.
Preventing bed bugs at home is one of the easiest ways. Some things that you need are just around you. It is also a cost-saver method and a relief if you know the natural remedy for bed bug insects. You can maintain a healthy and stress-free life if you know how to prevent bed bugs at home.
10 WAYS OF PREVENTION FOR BED BUGS AT HOME
Below are the table of contents you can use to prevent bed bugs in your home.
1. Identify Bed Bugs
2. Understanding Bed Bugs Behavior
3. Be Observant of Used Items
4. Monitoring of Sign Infestation
5. Maintain Cleanliness
6. Use Essential Oils
7. Reducing Clutter
8. Cautions When You Went Travel
9. Educate Yourself About The Prevention
10. Community Awareness
PREPARATION FOR BED BUG PREVENTION AT HOME
THINGS WE CAN USE IN PREVENTING BED BUGS AT HOME
1. Identify Bed Bugs
Identifying an outbreak of bed bugs can assist in preventing it from spreading. Common signs include:
- A small, black patch on bedding or other surfaces indicates bed bug infestation. These patches can flow onto cloth and resemble ink stains.
- Bed bug bites are tiny, red, and itchy spots on the skin. They frequently appear in groups or lines and might be confused for other insect bites or skin disorders.
- Bed bug eggs are small and white and commonly found in cracks or holes. Shed skins are another sign of infestation.
- Tiny bloodstains on sheets or pillowcases can be caused by crushed bed bugs.
Some may not get marks from any bite. However, most people develop markings that are the same as those of most hat itches.
Relative Article: You can visit our article to see the Bed bug bite marks image and learn more about bite marks of bed bug bite
2. Understanding Bed Bugs Behavior
You also need to understand the behavior of bed bugs. Because bed bugs have different habits;
- Nocturnal Feeding – This species commonly attacks humans at night. It is attracted to the warm air emitted by humans, especially while sleeping. Dark hours are its most common time of exposure.
- Hiding Spot – Bed bugs mostly hide or live in dark and hidden spaces where they are not exposed and can be seen easily by humans. They are commonly found beneath and in between folds, cracks, and crevices.
Understanding bed bug behavior is not easy, but knowing the areas where they usually reproduce is a big help in preventing them.
3. Be Observant of Used Items
- Be sharp-eyed about all the things that are brought to your home. Because sometimes, you never know that those things are infested by bed bugs.
- Check briefly before getting in secondhand items like furniture and belongings, which must be inspected before being placed inside your home to ensure they are not bed bug-contaminated.
- Medicate Before Bringing In – Use heat or cold treatment before using secondhand items. You never know if the items are bed bug-infested, so it is better to treat them first before putting them in your home.
4. Monitoring of Sign Infestation
It is better to regularly check for bed bug infestation signs to prevent bed bugs at home.
- See for the signs: there are common signs to know if something is infested;
- The dark spot of waste matter
- Tiny white eggs or skin
- Reddish-brown stain on bedding
If you notice these things, it is better to take quick action to prevent bed bugs from entering your home.
- Bed Bug Monitor – Using bed bug monitoring devices or preventers beneath couches, beds, and in-betweens is a much easier way to identify the source of bed bug reproduction.
- Protect your Bedding – The bed is the primary target of bed bugs in your home. It needs an essential cleaning.
- Bed Bug-proof Encasement – Zipper covers can be used to encase your beds and pillows, preventing bed bugs from entering your pillows and mattress.
- Paging Bedding and Linens – Before filing the bed or any linens, page them before folding them. This also helps to prevent bed bugs.
5. Maintain Cleanliness
It is less inviting for bed bugs to have a clean home. Floors, carpets, couches, and other upholstery, even your bed, must be cleaned regularly.
- Regular Vacuuming – You need to keep an eye on the suspected areas, especially the hidden surfaces, such as beneath and in between. Frequently vacuuming in those areas helps prevent bed bugs from entering your home.
- Wash and Dry Bedding and Linens – Washing bedding, linens, and clothes with hot water and drying them to the highest temperature is a good way to prevent bed bugs at home. The heat can also kill bed bug eggs.
6. Use Essential Oils
Some effective oils can repel bed bugs at home. Due to its strong scent, mixing it with water can help prevent bed bugs at home.
Here are some effective essential oils:
- Lavender oil
- Tea tree oil
- Peppermint oil
- Eucalyptus oil
Preventing bed bugs with this in your home is safe and effective. It also gives the area a natural aroma. Visit our article for more essential oils. This article will help you examine the 8 Powerful oil scents that repel bed bugs, providing a safe, chemical-free substitute for common pest management techniques.
7. Reducing Clutter
To reduce bed bug reproduction areas, you need to minimize your clutter.
- Declutter – disposing of unnecessary things from your storage room minimizes the potential habitats of bed bugs.
- Proper Storage – Store clothes or other things in an airtight bag or container. This limits bed bug hiding places.
8. Cautions When You Went Travel
When you travel, there is a risk of bed bugs increasing due to having a ride into your home.
- Inspect Luggage – Check each item of luggage and segregate it from the clothes in your laundry room.
- Wash and Dry – wash and dry your travel clothing immediately to the highest possible temperature to eliminate the bed bugs that you bring from travel.
9. Educate Yourself About The Prevention
- Stay Informed – Always be knowledgeable about preventing bed bugs in your home. Search for reliable sources on how to control the spread of bed bugs in your home. There are educational websites for pest control guides, and you can also gather information from bed bug professionals.
10. Community Awareness
Share Information: Living in shared housing or in apartments, make sure that the neighbors are also informed of bed bug prevention techniques. They can easily be scattered between units.
PREPARATION FOR BED BUG PREVENTION AT HOME
- Secure all the infested bedding/sheets, carpets, and clothes. To prevent the spread of bed bugs, do not move infested things to a clean room.
- Things that you cannot clean anymore, if possible, throw them. Be sure nobody brings them home.
THINGS WE CAN USE IN PREVENTING BED BUGS AT HOME
- Steamer and dryer: the heat of these devices helps prevent bed bugs.
- Freezer: Bed bugs have high sensitivity to high temperatures. High temperatures can prevent bed bugs, even their eggs.
Note: Using a flashlight, UV-ray light, and magnifying glass, you can easily recognize their tiny and transparent appearance. To eliminate these bed bugs, here are our Top 7 Strategies to Exterminate Bed Bugs You Need to Know.
Prevention for bed bugs at home in your own way is a combination of being observant of cleanliness, using natural solutions, taking immediate actions, and having the information on how to prevent bed bugs at home. It is a significant contribution for yourself, having a cost- and time-saving way to avoid bed bugs.
It does not give you significant results, but it does give you some knowledge and helps you prevent bed bugs in the most possible and easiest way.