Have you just returned from a wonderful vacation to tropical locales, or is your hotel’s peak season starting soon? Then make sure you know what to do about bedbugs, because unfortunately they are found everywhere, and they shouldn’t spoil the fun for you or your guests. Fortunately, we have many tips on how to recognize bed bugs, how to prevent them and when to call for help. Before you start reading, we have a first tip: make sure you leave your suitcases outside when you get home!
How do you recognize bedbugs?
What to do about bedbugs starts with the question, how do you recognize a bedbug? You can recognize bedbugs by dark or black spots at the seam of the mattress. This is due to the bedbug’s poop. They also have a distinct odor. They smell like sweet almond or coriander. It can also take a few months before you detect the signs of bedbugs. Often you don’t notice them until you are bitten. But it can take 2 weeks for a bedbug bite to show up. Chances are the bedbugs have spread further in the meantime.
How big is a bedbug?
Even though bed bugs are very small, usually only 5 – 10 mm in size, it is possible to see an adult bed bug. You can even see the nymphs and eggs. These are also sometimes mistaken for dust mites
How do you prevent bedbugs after a vacation?
You go on a well-deserved vacation and didn’t see any bedbugs or other insects when you left so you go on a nice vacation. Or you close an important business deal with that rich foreign client. Either way, your trip is a success, you pack up your things again and leave for home with suitcase and all. Home sweet home! But as you travel, a bad feeling may creep up on you. What if bedbugs did dive into your clothes or suitcase? That requires a specific approach as soon as you arrive back at your own home!
So unpack your bags outside and if it’s freezing, you’re in luck! Bed bugs cannot stand very low temperatures. So it is very important that you put your luggage in the freezer at -20 degrees for a week. Also, wait a while before bringing your clothes inside! Make sure you first put the clothes in a tightly sealed bag, walk it to the washing machine and immediately pour the clothes into the washing machine without touching the clothes. If you then turn on the washing machine at 60 degrees, you will kill any bedbugs, larvae and/or eggs that may be present. You can also put the sealed bag in the freezer at -20 degrees for a week, this will also kill any bedbugs, larvae and/or eggs present.
You probably also brought souvenirs with you on your trip. If they can stand it, put them in the freezer that gets at least -20 degrees, to prevent you from suddenly seeing bedbugs coming off them.
Prevent the spread of bedbugs
What if you failed at preventing the nasty bedbugs and they have now taken up residence in your bed or somewhere else in your home or office? The first thing you should especially not do is move infected items to other rooms. So infected bedding or clothing can be put in a sealed bag and thrown in the washing machine. First spraying with insecticide will usually not prevent the spread, because the bugs are often already resistant to that and there are often too many of them already. Moreover, it is not very wise to spray poison on your own bed.
How do you get rid of bedbugs?
Followed all previous steps, but still suffering from bedbugs (or other pests)? Then call or email us with a device that does not have bedbugs on it. We as experienced pest experts know very well how to control bedbugs and tackle this as animal-friendly as possible. Then finally you won’t have to scratch everywhere or be afraid of bugs walking all over you when you or a guest is sleeping.
