A whopping 91,000 species — that’s the number of described insect species you’ll find in the US!
Fascinating, right? Definitely, but not when these insects start to invade homes.
And in the US, that’s very common, especially bed bugs, which pest control pros say they find in 91% of homes. Roaches, with their 5,000 known species, are also common. There are also fleas, mosquitoes, ants, and termites.
With these critters being all around us, it’s not surprising to see them in your own home.
But don’t panic just yet — you can still get rid of bugs before they completely take over your home.
Ready to learn how to keep insects out of the house and prevent them from coming back? Keep reading then, as that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this post!
Identify: Know What Bugs You’re Dealing with First
The first step on how to get rid of pests is to identify and confirm what critters you’re dealing with. This is crucial since the kind of removal method you’ll use depends on the type of pest itself.
Also, contrary to popular belief, commercial insect sprays don’t work on all pests. Today, about 500 species of insects have become resistant to these chemicals.
That said, it’s best you know how to tell which pests you have. For instance, some signs of bed bug infestation include red, itchy skin bites that look like a rash. Tiny red or rust-colored spots on your bedding may also be an indication of bed bugs in your home.
If you have cats or dogs with fleas, their bites look much like those left by bed bugs. Flea bites, which are also tiny, red bumps, often come in groups of three or four bites.
If you don’t have pets or if you do but are unsure of whether you have bed bugs or fleas, you might want to speak to a bed bug pro. They can help determine which insect you may be sharing your bed and entire home with.
Get Clutter (And the Bugs Hiding in Them) out of Your Home
Clutter provides bed bugs, fleas, mosquitoes, termites, and many other pests a good home. Many of these pests love to hide in old furniture, ratty rugs, and undisturbed boxes and suitcases. Yes, even bed bugs can nest and breed in these places, so long as their food sources (you, for instance) are near.
Also, in the case of termites, these items aren’t just a home but also a good source of nutrition.
As such, decluttering not only helps get rid of existing bugs inside a house but keeps them out in the first place. A clean, clutter-free home is also less attractive to other pests, including rodents.
Moreover, decluttering means that you’re removing their hiding places and food sources. With fewer breeding grounds and nutrients, you may be able to drive them out of your home.
Run the Vacuum
Vacuuming your entire home can help eliminate large clusters of bed bugs and even fleas. This also helps get rid of other insecticide-resistant pests you have at home. Moreover, it helps remove eggs, dead insects, shed skins, and feces.
Whether you have bed bugs or fleas, vacuuming at least once a week helps control their population. It also helps get rid of bugs in inaccessible areas, such as the wedged areas of upholstered chairs.
Use Very Hot Air to Dry Clothes, Bedding, and Fabrics
Researchers found that cat fleas die in conditions above 95 °F temperatures. Exposing them to temperatures exceeding 80 °F can still kill them, but only after 16 hours.
Bed bugs are hardier, as adult ones need exposure to 118.8 °F for at least 95 minutes before they die. Eggs are even harder to kill, with their thermal death occurring at 130 °F conditions after 90 minutes.
That said, use these temperature guidelines when washing and drying your clothes and beddings. Be sure to dry rugs, mats, as well as pet beds and toys (for flea problems) too.
The water, detergent, and dryer heat can help kill both adults and eggs that may be clinging to your fabrics.
Consider Heat Treatment for Your Entire Home
Your drying machine can kill bed bugs and their eggs, but only those that are in washable items. It’s a good start, but it won’t kill all the bugs invading other parts of your home.
That’s why you should consider integrated heat treatment for your entire home. This bed bug treatment involves “Thermal Remediation”, a process that uses Temp-Air heaters. These are special, patented heaters designed specifically for removing bed bugs in buildings.
Temp-Air heaters bring up the heat in a room to 135 °F, which is enough to kill bed bugs and their eggs. These devices cycle on and off, allowing them to maintain that temperature level. Such temperatures are also safe for your stuff, so you wouldn’t have to pack them up.
There are other heat treatments available, but many of them use propane heaters. Used incorrectly, these devices can generate too much heat that can destroy electronics.
Get Rid of Bugs Now Before They Cause More Damage
Not all bugs carry and transmit diseases, but they can still pose health risks. Bed bugs, for instance, can disrupt your sleep and put you at risk of skin infections from their itchy bites.
That should be enough reason to get rid of bugs in your home ASAP. Besides, postponing their removal will only give them enough time to proliferate. Which means more bugs, more bites, and more issues.
If you have a bed bug infestation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We specialize in Thermal Remediation, which can get rid of bed bugs with a single treatment.