You keep a spotless house and you don’t travel, so why in the world do you have a bed bug infestation?! The truth of the matter is that bed bugs have nothing to do with your housekeeping. While it is true that you can bring bed bugs home inadvertently from hotels when traveling, there are other ways they can end up in your home. Here are a few ways you could end up with bed bugs and how to avoid them if you don’t want them to return or get them in the first place.

  • Furniture – Bed bugs can be inside any piece of furniture you bring into your home. Although it is more common when purchasing used furniture, it can happen with new furniture as well. Often furniture can sit for weeks or even months in a warehouse, and if the company did not use quality pest control, the furniture can become infested. When you are purchasing furniture, you can call your pest control company to come in and treat it to be on the safe side.
  • Clothing – The same holds true of clothing – used or new clothing can harbor a couple of bed bugs, and that is all it takes to start a family and put you on the path to an infestation. The best thing to do is immediately wash all clothing you bring into the home.
  • Other Purchases – Bed bugs can and do hide in just about anything. They could be in the purse or backpack you just bought, your new shoes, bedding, or anything else you buy. The way to avoid this is to inspect items well, right into any nooks and crannies, before bringing into your home.
  • Neighbors – Bed bugs are not usually content with staying in one place. They are the epitome of hitchhikers and nomads. For this reason, you could end up with bed bugs from a neighbor, particularly if you live in an apartment, condo, or some other property that shares walls with other homes. These instances are harder to guard against, but one thing you can do is look for any cracks in the floors and walls and get them sealed. Regularly scheduled pest control can help, as well.

If you suspect a bed bug problem, give us a call at Total Pest Solutions. We may not be able to tell you exactly where your bed bugs originated and how they got into your home, but we can eliminate them effectively and thoroughly. The most common indicators of a bed bug problem are stains on the sheets or mattress, seeing the bugs, and suffering from their bite. If you notice any of these, call us right away.

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