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How to get rid of bed bugs?

Bed Bugs are an introduced pest that feeds on the blood of warm-blooded animals, including humans!

In this guide, we’ll break down how to avoid this pest, and in case there are already bed bugs on your bed, how to control and remove them.

How do bed bugs start originally?

Unlike many other insects, bed bugs aren’t drawn to dirt or decay; they are hitchhikers. How bed bugs start is almost always through travel. cling to luggage, clothing, and used furniture. If you’ve recently stayed in a hotel, used public transport, or bought a second-hand armchair, that is likely how bed bugs start in a home, and once they reach a new destination, they seek out a host.

For many, the first red flag isn’t a sighting of the bug itself, but the physical symptoms. Usually, they appear as small, red, itchy bumps, often in a line or cluster. They can start feeding as soon as they find a still, warm host—often on the very first night. Because their saliva contains a mild anesthetic, most people don’t feel the bite, which is how bed bug bites start without waking the victim.

A common question is how soon bed bug bites start itching, and the answer is that some people react immediately, while for others, it can take a few days; it varies based on individual skin sensitivity.

How do bed bugs start, specifically in your bed

Bed Bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale and our body heat; they prefer tight, dark spaces. Thus, the piping around the edge of a mattress is the perfect hiding spot. You can notice them if you find tiny dark spots (fecal matter) or small translucent skins shed by growing nymphs.

How to prevent bed bugs from spreading?

It is almost impossible to avoid this unwanted guest from hitting your home; however, following the next practical tips will allow you to control and get rid of bed bugs:

  • Identify: Confirm they are bed bugs and not carpet beetles or fleas.
  • Contain: Use mattress protectors and interceptor cups on bed legs.
  • Heat Treat: Wash all bedding and clothing on the highest heat setting possible.
  • Professional Help: Because bed bugs are resistant to many over-the-counter sprays, professional heat treatment or specialised chemical applications are often the only way to ensure the infestation is gone for good.
  • Seek pest control support from a professional to eliminate this problem.

Conclusion

Knowing how bed bugs start in the first place is your best defence. By being vigilant when travelling and inspecting second-hand items, you can stop a problem before it begins.

If you’re currently dealing with an infestation, don’t wait for it to grow. Reach out to the professionals at Blue Clean for a comprehensive inspection and treatment plan.

  • Introduction: Bringing an infested item into the house.
  • Establishment: Finding a “safe” harbour in a bed frame or baseboard.
  • Expansion: Moving through wall voids or electrical outlets to other rooms.

Bed Bugs feed on exposed areas of skin such as the face, neck, arms, feet and ankles. Bed Bugs can leave behind small red, itchy welts often with a lighter red coloured halo around the bite mark. In cases where there is a large patch of bites, this indicates many Bed Bugs were feeding at a time. In worse cases, bites can develop into blisters, potentially leading to infection; can cause the area of skin to fall off; affect sleeping patterns and mental health; and trigger allergic reactions. Bites can take several days to develop. If a person is travelling to different accommodations over a period of days, it may be difficult to pinpoint the original place of infestation

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