Bed bugs are great travelers, they are brought home hitching a ride in luggage, backpacks, and on buses. Even in the spine of library books. Or worse...they sneak under the adjoining wall from the neighbors, now your uninvited guests!
Have you been worried that if your neighbors across the hall or next door are infested, that you will soon be too? Although it is possible to become infested from surrounding homes or apartments, there are many ways to keep you and your family protected from a bed bug infestation.
1. Protect yourself and your mattress ahead of time
Using a bed bug mattress cover (also known as a mattress encasement) will help to protect you and your mattress from a bed bug infestation. It is one of the best ways to control bed bugs. They help protect against bites on an already infested mattress. The 360 degree coverage keeps bugs out while also protecting against spills, bed wetting, sweat, dead skin cells, dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens which may trigger asthma.
2. Monitor the situation & Use a Lure
Whether you know a neighbour has bed bugs or not - why take the chance? Use bed bug monitors as a precaution. It's better to have bed bugs visit a device, rather than you and your bed! In some cases, lures mimic chemicals found on the skin. Lures are are very cost effective way to assist in monitoring. This will keep you one step ahead of any potential problems.
3. Keep Diatomaceous Earth on hand
Diatomaceous Earth or "DE" can solve many insect problems. Many don't realize that bed bugs are one of them! If you start to feel suspicious about bed bugs, DE can be used on bed frames, joints, mattresses, tufts and seems, floors and baseboards. The DE formulation contains of two food grade baits that attracts certain insects to stay longer on treated surfaces and to eat the powder.
4. Bulb Duster
A bulb duster takes the mess out of applying Diatomaceous Earth, allowing you to easily apply dust into cracks, crevices and other hard to reach places.
5. Use a crack & crevice spray
A pressurized spray applied to crack and crevices kills bed bugs where they hide.
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