Avoid Bed Bugs This Thanksgiving

11/20/2017

Bed bugs    Tips/Solutions   

Thanksgiving is almost here. It’s a wonderful time of year filled with great food and holiday cheer, and it just doesn’t feel right without family. For many homeowners, this means traveling to visit their loved ones and all of the hassles associated with it. Unfortunately, humans aren’t the only species that do a lot of traveling around the holiday. Bed bugs will be taking the opportunity to catch a ride on the nearest suitcase, piece of clothing, or handbag. So after leaving the family, and traveling back home, bed bugs could be hitching a ride. Unfortunately, bed bugs won’t just stop in for a friendly visit. Just one bed bug getting inside your home could be the beginning of a stressful infestation. 

How to avoid bed bugs this Thanksgiving

It is important to take steps and precautions to avoid bringing bed bugs back home. Whether you are staying at a hotel or with family, the first thing you should do after arriving is check out the room(s) you are occupying for signs of bed bugs. Before checking these areas, it’s important that you know how to properly identify a bed bug if you see one. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color and have flat, oval-shaped bodies that are about 1/4 inch long. Bed bugs most commonly inhabit mattresses and box springs as well as bed frames, staying true to their name. But they can also reside behind wall art, in dresser drawers, and even outlets. You’ll want to check these common hiding places for small blood smears or spots on mattresses and bedding. Also keep an eye out for their tiny brown droppings, yellowish looking exoskeletons that they've shed as they've grown, and tiny white eggs and egg casings. If you see any of these signs it’s important to alert the owner of where you are staying so they can call their local pest control company for assistance before the infestation gets worse.

Think you may have brought bed bugs home?

If you do come in contact with a bed bug infestation during your travels, it can be very hard to prevent them from infesting your house. Follow these steps after returning to decrease the chances of an infestation:

• Store luggage in the garage our until you have the opportunity to examine them. 
• Carefully examine each article of clothing before immediately putting through a full wash and dry cycle whether they are clean or not. 
• Carefully examine the suitcase for bed bugs and other signs. Pay close attention to zippers and creases as they like to hide there. 
• Contact pest professionals for an inspection if you begin seeing signs of an infestation.

The best thing you can do is to continue looking out for the signs of bed bugs listed earlier and at first sight of any signs, contact American Pest. American Pest has been serving DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia since 1925. We will help guide you through the bed bug treatment process and will determine the best plan for your home. There are different treatment options including bed bug heat treatment, K-9 bed bug detection, and conventional chemical treatments. All of these are proven to be safe your home and family, and we have the knowledge and experience to suggest exactly what your situation calls for. If you have any other questions to help you prepare for any bed bug issues before your Thanksgiving travels, American Pest is the place to call.

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