The increased use of hotels and other lodging by business and vacation travelers, combined with the ability of a certain insect to adapt to new environments and survive in very adverse conditions has created a growing epidemic of bed bugs. These hardy little brown insects are very difficult to see, ranging from the size of a period in this article to one-fourth of an inch in diameter. However, they are miniscule but mighty, as they can live in very small areas, they don't mind cold or hot temperatures, and they love human beings. They actually ingest and survive on human blood and skin detritus. While they may be tiny, their bite can be very unpleasant, and sometimes they cause very sensitive people to have severe reactions.
If a person travels and stays in a hotel, motel, hostel or even a bed and breakfast, he or she may unwittingly bring home some of the nasty creatures. They can infest luggage, clothing, shoes - whatever was left out in the open for them to hitchhike on is fair game. Then the weary traveler carries them unknowingly back to their safe, clean home. Faster than a breeding bed bug, the person who was just happy to be home has a bed bug infestation, and using a good bed bug extermination service is the only real permanent way to get rid of the louses.
But before hiring an exterminator, there are things to do to get a home ready and make the process successful. After all, the last thing anyone with this problem wants is for the bed bugs to make reappearance after spending time and money on getting rid of them.
First of all, assuming that the insects are taking up residence in the mattress or bedding, the best way to start is to strip down the bed and immediately put their bedding in a washing machine. Everything possibly infested needs to come off - from bed skirts to mattress pads to pillow cases and anything else that could be used for a hiding place. Then the bedding must be washed using hot water and detergent. After washing, use a dryer set to the hottest setting, and dry the bedding at least twice as long as normal. Obviously, repeat this process for all beds that may be infested. Any comforters or blankets or other bedding that can't be washed will have to be professionally dry cleaned.
Second, think about how the bed bugs may have hitched a ride to the home. Anything that may have been used as a carrier should be at the very least cleaned by a professional cleaner, or disposed of - better safe than sorry.
Third, use a powerful vacuum cleaner in the affected room. If necessary, rent an industrial vacuum so that it has maximum suction power, and then use it on the carpets, drapes and curtains, in the corners and crevices, and most of all on the mattress itself. Vacuum thoroughly on all sides, flipping it over and making sure to get the edges and folds where the bugs can hide.
Fourth, get a plastic mattress slipcover to encase the mattress in. These are available in different thicknesses, but the best choice is one that no bed bug can get into - a clean mattress should stay that way and not allow infestation.
Finally, find a professional bed bug extermination service. Now that the little insects have raised such a commotion, more and more exterminators are specializing in getting rid of them using both synthetic and natural pesticides. But ask for references, and make sure they have specific experience with bed bugs. Tell them what you have done to start the process, and ask them what special steps they will take to be sure they exterminate completely. Bed bugs have been known to hide in computers and other electronic devices that have traveled - ask them how they will determine how to treat the contents of the home. For the worst infestations, it's possible that a tented treatment will be needed in which the entire home is fumigated after being covered with heavy plastic. Hopefully, the bed bug extermination service will be able to take care of the problem quickly and efficiently, but thoroughly.
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