People spend an average of 26 years sleeping, making the quality of your bed a crucial asset that can impact your sleep in more ways than one. A bedroom is often a place of oasis for many people, but your dreams in bed can quickly turn into a nightmare when you run into an itchy problem: bed bugs invasion!
The old rhyme “goodnight, sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite” is sadly rooted from a gross reality. The pesky critters find temperate environments the perfect breeding ground for spreading, especially in spots like floors, walls, ceilings, and your bed as one of their favorite hideouts.
How Do You Identify Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are virtually naked to the eye since they like to sneak in nooks and crannies, making it challenging to catch an infestation early. However, it’s best to know what you should look for in case your eyes ever run into the critters.
For one, bed bugs are like the size of an apple seed, reaching a mere ¼ of an inch long. They are often oval in shape with a reddish-brown hue. You can spot the tell-tale signs of bed bug infestations when you notice reddish stains on the bed sheet, dark spots due to their feces, or waking up with small bites.
These unwelcome pests are often tricky to repel, which is why the list below should give you a rundown on how you can sleep tight and prevent the bed bugs from settling in your safe space.
Tip #1: Encase Your Mattress and Box Springs with a Plastic Cover
Bed bugs love to scurry in places with frequent foot traffic, warmth, and plenty of crevices to hide in. Your bed is just one of the primary areas that offer ideal conditions for their survival, but you can quickly cut it off by protecting your mattresses and box springs with a plastic cover.
It’s a simple solution that can effectively prevent the insects from settling into your bed. Not to mention, having a protective cover also makes it easier to spot the bugs in the first place.
Tip #2: Vacuum Carpets and Rugs Regularly
A dirty environment creates more room for bed bugs to crawl in, so cleaning your clutter and vacuuming your carpets are some of the ways you can prevent the insects from being attracted to your home.
Vacuuming the rugs can remove the bed bugs from its hiding spot while removing clutter can lower your risk of inviting pest infestations.
Tip #3: Repel the Bed Bugs Using Essential Oils
Beyond keeping your home spick-and-span from floor-to-ceiling, there are several scented essential oils that can turn off bed bugs a mile away. Mixing six to ten drops of pure essential oil with water to create a solution can mitigate the critters, especially when using fragrances like cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, peppermint, lavender, thyme, tea tree, or eucalyptus.
Spray as much of the scented water around the house, especially in areas like your bed, carpets, rugs, luggage, and more.
The Bottom Line: Prevent Bed Bugs From Ruining Your Sleep
Bed bugs can be a frustrating issue for many households but keeping the prickling issue can be tricky once the infestation has spiraled out of control. The tips above are simple steps you can take to prevent bed bugs and other insects from settling in your home, but it’s only a short-term solution.
If you’re looking to eliminate the source of the problem for good, hiring a professional pest removal company is the way to go. They can provide solutions that can effectively eliminate your bed bug woes, allowing you to have a good night’s sleep without uninvited critters by your side.
If you’re looking for a local pest control service in West Bromwich, we offer rat removal, wasp nest removal, flea fumigation, cockroach control, mice removal, and more – contact us now!
