Do you think you might have bed bugs? Don’t panic! Though bed bugs are known for being one of the most persistent pests, there are definitely ways to avoid them and keep them out of your home. And if they do get inside, there are ways to eliminate the infestation. 

To that end, Waynes’ Service Professionals have organized the following guide to bed bugs, all to help you fight back against these biting pests.

Identifying Bed Bugs

Due to their small size, bed bugs can be easy to miss if you aren’t looking closely for them. Adults are brown and typically between 1/4 to 3/16 of an inch long, which is about the size of an apple seed. However, bed bugs are only as big as a pinhead and translucent just after hatching. No matter their age, though, bed bugs expand in size and turn reddish-brown after a blood meal. 

Signs of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs leave behind several clues alerting you to their presence. You’ll start to notice the following when dealing with a bed bug infestation: 

• Itchy bites
• Tiny bloodstains on your sheets
• Insect fecal matter, which is a dark, rusty color
• A musty odor, which comes from the bug’s scent glands 

The Danger Behind Bed Bugs

When bitten, most people get a small, itchy bite mark, which can cause skin infections, However, bed bugs can pose serious threats to some people, who have an allergic reaction to the bite that itself can result in a potentially life-threatening anaphylactic shock. In this case, it’s important to receive immediate medical attention. 

Research shows, some people who’ve experienced an infestation, have even reported mental health symptoms like paranoia, obsessive behavior, nightmares, and anxiety, all of which are consistent with post-traumatic stress. In any case, bed bugs are a lot to manage and may require help from a professional exterminator. 

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Thorough Cleaning

While bed bugs got their name because they are commonly found on mattresses and in bedding, it’s important that every inch of your home is cleaned in the event of an infestation. That’s because bed bugs will wander off into other parts of the house in search of hiding places or food. 

Wash your bedding, curtains, and clothes in a washing machine and dry on the high setting. Frequently vacuum -- everywhere -- and immediately empty out the bag or canister into an outdoor garbage bin.  

Mattress Cleaning 

Your mattress is like a restaurant for bed bugs, so it should be handled carefully, if you choose to save it. If you do, get ready to clean … thoroughly. A bed bug’s tiny size means removing them all can be a tough task. (And just one bed bug can lay as many as 250 eggs in as little as two to four months.)  

Scrub the mattress top and bottom, side walls, seams, box spring, and frame. You’ll even need to dismantle the latter, to ensure you clean in every crevice. Next, vacuum the bed entirely, working from top to bottom and end to end. 

That cleaning could very well take care of the problem, but if you want a little more assurance that you’ve nipped this thing in the bud, steam clean your mattress and box spring, and let it dry. Next, zip the mattress and box spring in special bags made just for this purpose (you can find them online), and keep them enclosed for as much as one year, since that’s how long some experts estimate bed bugs can survive without a blood meal. 

Professional Help

Need help? There’s no shame in that, especially with all that’s required to rid your home of bed bugs. No, don’t stress yourself out trying to control a bed bug infestation on your own. 

Waynes Service Professionals pulverize pests like bed bugs on a daily basis, and no infestation is too big or too small to tackle. Call us at 866.WAYNES1 to end your fight with bed bugs!