How to prevent bed bugs from biting

Bed bugs or their eggs get into clothing, furniture or suitcases and are then transported wherever these items go. As they are small and like to hide in cracks and crevices during the day, it can be very easy for bed bugs to be brought into your home or hotel.

Typically, bed bugs are transferred from one spot to another when individuals travel. These pests can move via furniture, luggage, and more. You may not notice a bed bug infestation for several months or longer.

There are some preventative steps you can take, especially if you are a frequent traveller, to prevent this pest from invading your home or business.

If you are worried you have brought bed bugs back home after your travels, there are a few things you can do to reduce them from spreading to your home:

• Leave your luggage in your garage or in the bathroom. Bed bugs don’t like the tiles or concrete and if they are present you will see then easier than on carpet!
• (If you’re REALLY worried), take your clothes off in the garage or bathroom and put them straight into the washing machine.
• Wash and dry clothes at the highest possible temperatures.
• Professional bed bug treatments are always the best solution to get rid of bed bugs. However as a precaution and if possible you can put your suitcase in the sun, away from the house for a couple of days, to help eradicate any bed bugs.
• Vacuuming can greatly reduce the size of the bed bug population, but only when they’re clearly visible. It cannot guarantee total elimination. (Empty and clean the vacuum to avoid transferring eggs to other rooms.)

With the number of guests moving in and out of your hotel or dorm rooms, it is impossible to completely prevent bed bugs. However, there are ways you can prevent an infestation taking hold and moving from room to room and that is via early detection:

• Train your staff on how to identify common signs of bed bugs.
• Ensure thorough checking for bed bugs is written into your room cleaning processes.
• Have a procedure in place for handling bed bug complaints.
• Inspect adjacent rooms to identify if the bed bugs have spread (although Ehrlich will do this as part of our emergency response survey).
• Immediately contact Ehrlich to arrange a thorough inspection and bed bug control program.

Call Ehrlich at 1-800-837-5520 or contact us for expert bed bug treatment and prevention for your home or business.

One of the most likely ways a property becomes infested with bed bugs is when people accidentally bring bed bugs home with them after travelling. Hotels are frequented from travellers from all over the world, including some people who live in areas of the U.S. or the world where bed bugs are more common. Fortunately, there are some things you can do decrease the possibility of bed bugs hitching a ride on you or your luggage to your home. 

• Inspect your hotel room upon arrival looking for live bed bugs or discarded bed bug exoskeletons. Spots in your room to check include: 
  • Beds - focusing on the mattresses and behind the bed frames
  • Any furniture in the room
  • Closets and dresser drawers
  • Stands for luggage 
• Check your luggage for bed bugs both before you leave your hotel room and before you bring your luggage into your home
• Keep luggage near the door of the hotel room or even in the bathroom the lessen the likelihood of bed bugs latching on to luggage.

Encasing your mattress in a high quality encasement that is designed to control bed bugs is a good preventative measure for keeping bed bugs out of your box spring and mattress. Bed bug mattress encasements are designed to provide complete protection against allergens, dust mites and bed bugs.

Encasements eliminate bed bug entry and escape points. Allowing for a healthy, allergy free sleep zone, mattress encasements also provide moisture protection while still allowing for breathability.

The benefits of mattress encasements include:

• Prevent bed bugs from invading or escaping
• Helps prevent re-infestations
• Aids in early detection of bed bugs
• Chemical free
• Easy to use and install
• Cool and comfortable to sleep on
• Enable easy bed inspection and bed bug removal

Mattress encasement features:

• Bed bug and dust mite proof
• Reduces the number of pest harborage areas
• Helps protect new or salvage infected bedding
• Washable, absorbent, waterproof and breathable
• Sealed seam zipper closures
• Hypo-allergenic

Contact Ehrlich online or call 800-837-5520 for more information on bed bug mattress encasements and other bed bug treatment solutions.

Download Ehrlich's bed bug mattress encasements brochure for more information.

You may wonder whether bed bugs are even visible, if you are planning to check for them. Yes, you can see these pests - but they are small. Adult bed bugs are about 3/16 inch in length and brown in color; after they feed, their color is reddish brown.

Here are some other prevention tips to follow:

• To avoid bed bugs, examine used objects (such as furniture) that you have bought for bed bugs, prior to taking the objects inside.
• Clean up, so bed bugs don’t have as many spots to hide.

If you do have a bed bug infestation, learn what to do. Remember to contact Ehrlich for help with any bed bug difficulties!