HOW TO PREVENT BED BUG BITES AT NIGHT ?

A step-by-step guide to stop bed bug bites.

We won’t hide it from you: it is very hard to get rid of bed bugs, and most pest control companies will agree that these are some of the toughest critters to exterminate. That being said, with some basic knowledge of bed bug behavior along with proper tools, you are increasing your chances of getting rid of bed bugs and preventing a full-blown infestation. To do so, you need to know how to prevent bed bug bites at night using a basic logical approach.

Think of it: If bed bugs cannot feed, how can they reproduce? If you can prevent bed bugs from biting you while you sleep, you’ve already made HUGE progress by limiting their reproduction rate!

This step-by-step solution is for anyone who HAS or HAD bed bugs. Simply said, you need this solution if you have bed bugs now, or if you have had bed bugs before.

“But the exterminator came last week.” It’s a common misconception that exterminators will solve all your bed bug problems. Most extermination companies cannot guarantee 100% extermination, and it usually takes 2 to 3 visits before they can control an infestation, and even then bed bugs could come back.

In the meantime, you need a solution to stop the bites and detect bed bugs as soon as possible to benefit from any guarantee offered by the extermination company.  

SOME IMPORTANT FACTS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT BED BUGS

Bed bugs are attracted by the CO2 and HEAT we emit

A bed bug’s preferred meal is human blood

Some people have allergic reactions to bites

Bed bugs are becoming increasingly resistant to common pesticides

Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers

Bed bugs need a meal consisting of blood to survive and reproduce

Bed bugs can live up to 18 months (in ideal conditions) without feeding

Bed bugs cannot fly or jump (very important to remember)

Bed bugs hide in wall voids, cracks and crevices, making them difficult to find

Early bed bug detection puts you in the best position for complete bed bug eradication

Step 1 - Wash all your sheets

Make sure to wash all your sheets at the hottest setting, and then immediately put them in the dryer. This will kill all bed bugs and bed bug eggs possibly lingering in the old sheets.

Tip: Anything you wash once you’ve discovered you have bed bugs (e.g., sheets, clothes, and towels), you will want to place directly in a sealed bag before bringing them back in the bedroom.

Step 2 - Vacuum your mattress, box spring, and bed frame

Thoroughly vacuum your mattress, box spring, and bed frame to remove any live bed bugs, skin, and eggs. If you feel your pillows might have been infested, vacuum those too. Make sure to immediately remove the vacuum bag and put it in a sealed plastic bag to prevent any bed bugs from escaping.

By vacuuming your mattress, box spring, bed frame, and pillows, you will remove the majority of bed bugs. If you want even more assurance, click on "GO THE EXTRA MILE" below. If not, go directly to step 3.

 

GO THE EXTRA MILE

If you want to go the extra mile, you can steam clean your mattress, which will kill any bed bug eggs left behind after vacuuming. The vacuum will remove a huge portion of any infestation; however, eggs can be difficult to see, and they might adhere to materials. In this case, the steam cleaner will give you that little extra assurance. But because you are encasing your mattress and box spring in step 3 with bed bug proof covers, steam cleaning is not essential.

So, why use steam cleaners? Steam cleaners are great for treating furniture, couches, baseboards, or any other item that is hard to encase, and you need that 100% guarantee that no bed bugs are left behind.

BED BUG VACUUMS WE RECOMMEND

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Express IPM HEPA Vacuum - Bed Bug SOS

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Step 3: Encase your mattress, box spring, and pillows

Use bed bug–proof encasements to protect your mattress and box springs. This will prevent any bed bug from nesting inside your mattress and any bed bug left behind from escaping the encasement.

Your box spring has many void spaces, and your mattress has several seams and folds. A bed bug–proof mattress or box spring encasement not only protects but also makes it really easy to inspect!

A huge time-saver!

A bed bug–proof encasement is essential to fight any bed bug infestation. We cannot stress this enough.

BED BUG PROOF MATTRESS COVERS WE RECOMMEND

Bed Bug Box Spring Cover - Bed Bug SOS

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Bed Bug Pillow Covers - AllerZip Smooth - Bed Bug SOS

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Step 4: Treat the bed frame

Spray your bed frame with bed bug spray or bed bug dust (diatomaceous earth). Bed bug spray is a little more effective than dust for bed frames since it can really get into all the cracks and crevices. Bed bug powder is best used along the baseboards at the perimeter of the room and around your bed.

Although bed bugs are becoming increasingly resistant to pesticides, bed bug sprays still have their purpose in a sound bed bug eradication solution. The mistake many people make is that they over-use bed bug sprays, which increases bed bug resistance to the sprays. Bed bug sprays should be used responsibly.

So, in this step, only spray the bed frame. Thoroughly cover all areas of the frame, making sure the spray reaches inside the cracks and crevices. We recommend you spray your bed with a bed bug contact spray and apply a residual spray once the contact spray has dried off. This will keep bed bugs away for about 10 days. Spray again 10 days later in case any eggs have hatched in the frame.

BED BUG SPRAYS WE RECOMMEND

Bed Bug Blaster - 300g - Bed Bug SOS

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Step 5: Keep the bed away from any walls

Bed bugs can crawl up walls and into your bed if ANY part of the bed is touching the wall. Keep all sides of the bed at least 12"–18" away from any wall. Also, make sure there is nothing touching the floor connecting the floor to the bed, like a duvet hanging over the bed. At night, make sure nothing is dragging and do your best to keep the pillows on the bed if you do not have a headboard. Only the legs of the bed should be touching the floor. Next, we will show you how to protect the legs of your bed.

Step 6: Use bed bug interceptors

Interceptors are among one of the most important tools to get rid of a bed bug infestation. Interceptors are bed bug traps that serve two main functions: they create a barrier between the floor and the legs of your bed, and they act as a monitor to confirm the presence of bed bugs by using YOU as bait. Not only are they super easy to install, but they also provide easy daily monitoring to test the effectiveness of a treatment.

Bed bug interceptors are placed under the legs of your bed and intercept any bed bug trying to crawl into your bed. When installed properly, they will prevent bed bugs from biting you at night. Just make sure the legs of your bed are centered.  

BED BUG INTERCEPTORS WE RECOMMEND

ClimbUp Black Grip - 4pack - Bed Bug SOS

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You Play an Important Role in Preventing and Eradicating Bed Bugs

You have an important role to play to attain complete bed bug eradication in your home. Aside from learning the behavior of these critters, you should take part in diligently using the right tools to not only get rid of the bed bugs but also prevent an infestation.

It is important to do your part in encasing your mattress and putting interceptors to detect the presence of bed bugs. Both of these tools also help in detecting if a previous treatment worked. Utilizing the right tools will make it easier to detect whether the treatment was effective in getting rid of all the bed bugs or not. Early bed bug detection gives you the advantage of completely eradicating bed bugs from your home.