Getting caught up in the middle of a full scale bed bug infestation isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you. Heck, in the grand scheme of things it probably doesn’t make the top ten. But that doesn’t mean bed bugs aren’t an absolute nightmare. And it certainly doesn’t mean that getting rid of them isn’t a headache of massive proportions.
When faced with a bed bug invasion it can be sometimes be hard to keep your wits about you. All you can think about is getting rid of those blood-sucking parasites. You dream of a pest free night’s sleep. Or at least you would if you were sleeping soundly in a pest-free bed.
Getting rid of bed bugs is no easy feat, and there are some pitfalls to avoid if you want to be successful. But if you can manage to avoid the following mistakes when battling bed bugs you’ll soon be able to sleep soundly in your bed once again.
First Things First – Don’t Panic
There’s no way around it. Bed bugs are disturbing creatures. They attack when we are most vulnerable and they literally feed on human blood. It’s the stuff of horror movies. But it is important to stay calm and carry on. Keeping a clear mind will allow you to formulate a sound plan of attack.
You need to concentrate on the matter at hand with a cool head. This will help you avoid some of the more common mistakes people make when battling a bed bug infestation. Stay focused on the task at hand. You can freak out later, once the bed bugs have been eradicated from your home.
Don’t Sleep Around
One of the first things people tend to do when they find bed bugs in their bedroom is move to start sleeping in another part of the house. That’s understandable, but it can actually make the problem worse.
Naturally, you don’t want to share your night’s sleep with bed bugs. But these pests are nothing if not resilient. They’re also more than willing to travel. If you move your sleeping quarters to another room in the house it’s more than likely the bed bugs will follow you wherever you go. You’ll just end up spreading the infestation to other areas of the home.
It’s can also be a mistake to leave your home all together. If you head out to stay with friends or family you may end up bringing the bed bugs with you. That means spreading the infestation to other homes and that’s not doing anybody any favors.
Don’t Hesitate to Notify Your Landlord
If you rent your home it is important to notify your landlord as soon as you suspect you may have a bed bug problem. You shouldn’t be embarrassed by your situation. Anyone home can end up with bed bugs, and infestation is no reflection on your personal habits.
Bed bugs are notoriously hard to track and trace. Your infestation may stem from stray bed bugs migrating from a neighboring apartment, and the sooner you notify your landlord the sooner they can come to grips with the problem.
Keeping your bed bug problem under wraps doesn’t help anyone. In fact, you may be allowing the problem to become even bigger. Notify your landlord at the first sign of bed bugs so they can take the necessary steps to eliminate the infestation.
Don’t Forget to Empty the Vacuum Cleaner
When people find they have bed bugs their first instinct is to go into house cleaning overdrive. Part of that is getting the vacuum cleaner out and giving your house or apartment a good going over. The goal is to suck up those pesky bed bugs along with their children and their eggs. It’s not a bad plan and it can help in relieving some of the immediate stress of a bed bug infestation.
However, the mistake many people make is forgetting to dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag and all of its contents as soon as they’re finished vacuuming their home. Vacuuming can help with a bed bug infestation, but it doesn’t kill the pests or their eggs. If you don’t safely and securely dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag the bed bugs can (and will) escape.
Don’t Forget to Inspect Any Pesticide Labels
If you find yourself stuck in the middle of a bed bug infestation you might consider picking up an over the counter bug spray to help treat the problem. We can debate the efficacy of store-bought bed bug sprays at a later date. What’s not up for debate is the health and safety of you and your family.
Pesticides are, by their very nature, full of toxic chemicals. Some of these can be hazardous to your health. If you choose to use over-the-counter pesticides be sure to read the label carefully and to follow the instructions to the letter. Some insecticides are only meant to be used outdoors. Others, especially foggers, require you to mask up when dispensing the product and to avoid entering the room for several hours after using the product.
Read and follow those instructions carefully. Failing to do so could make you, your family, and your family’s pets extremely ill.
Finally – Don’t Hesitate to Call for Help
Bed bugs can happen to anybody. There’s no shame in finding yourself caught up in an infestation and there should be no shame in calling a professional for help. Eliminating a bed bug infestation is difficult at the best of times and calling in an expert in bed bug removal is always the best move forward.
If you find yourself dealing with a bed bug problem call in a professional bed bug inspection and removal service at the earliest opportunity. The sooner you act the sooner the nightmare will be over and you and your family can get back to enjoying a good night’s sleep free from the attentions of invading blood-sucking parasites.
Published by Scott Palatnik
If you believe you’ve brought bed bugs into your home or office, give us a call, we can help!
Now with 2 locations. On Long Island @ 516-619-6149, or in NYC @ 212-299-9186
We are Long Island Bedbug Inspections.
Your Bedbug Inspection, and Elimination solution.
