“Good night, sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” To most of us, this is a harmless 19th-century nursery rhyme. But those who have dealt with bed bugs know they can be a living nightmare.
Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed on blood. They don’t jump or fly, but they’re excellent at hiding until the lights go out. They emerge after dark to bite their victims, often leaving itchy, unsightly bug bites behind. Other than discomfort, bed bugs don’t usually pose a serious health threat. What makes bed bugs so frightening is how difficult they are to remove.
How Do Bed Bugs Get into Your Home?
Bed bugs are opportunistic hitchhikers. They are usually transported as people travel by attaching themselves to luggage, clothes, and bedding. It’s a common misconception that bed bugs prefer dirty environments, but nothing could be further from the truth. Bed bugs thrive on blood and are attracted to people regardless of the cleanliness of their surroundings.
You can get bed bugs from a single night at a hotel or trip on public transportation. They spread easily in high-traffic environments with plenty of space to hide like apartments, subways, and hotels. Exposure to bed bugs is the only thing it takes to trigger a full infestation.
Should You Hire an Exterminator to Remove Bed Bugs?
Taking a DIY approach to bed bug removal is possible, but very involved. The first step is to remove possible hiding places by eliminating clutter. Wash all bedding and pillows and dry them in high heat for at least 30 minutes. Next, move all furniture away from the walls and vacuum all surfaces every day and dispose of the bag immediately. Finally seal all cracks and crevices where bugs might hide.
Frequently, even these measures aren’t enough to remove bedbugs. To effectively remove bed bugs and prevent them from traveling to their next destination it’s best to call a professional. They know how bed bugs think and have the tools and the expertise required to remove them quickly the first time.
How Exterminators Remove Bed Bugs
Professionals never use harmful, toxic chemicals but neither do they leave bed bugs behind. The best professionals take a green approach to eliminate pests while keeping your family and pets safe. Typically, exterminators employ a three-step process to remove bed bugs.
First, exterminators will spot-treat excessive problem areas with green-certified bed bug treatments to eliminate the worst parts of the problem. Next, they treat the infected area with steam heat remediation to clean, deodorize, and sanitize your space. Steam is heated to 220 degrees which instantly kills any pests living in and under the surfaces of your home. Finally, exterminators install a mattress protection system that is designed to prevent future bed bug infestations so you can sleep soundly.
Contact Bug Man Exterminating for Bed Bug Removal
At Bug Man Exterminating, we take pride in providing Roanoke, Lynchburg, and the New River Valley with the latest bed bug control methods. We’ve consistently led the way in green pest control options so there no residual chemicals left behind to harm you, your children, or your pets. Contact Bug Man Exterminating today for the best non-toxic bed bug control in the Roanoke Valley.