Bed bugs are often one of the most dreaded pests in Denver, Colorado homes because of their ability to bite us while we sleep. These tiny creatures are notorious for coming out at night in search of a blood meal, and they are extremely invasive and difficult to remove.
However, while most people know that bed bugs can cause big problems, there are some misconceptions about them. One of the biggest myths about bed bugs is that they only happen in dirty homes. The truth is that a bedbug infestation can happen to anyone.
Bed bugs aren’t more common in cluttered or less clean homes, and dirty houses also don’t cause bed bug infestations to spring up. Instead, bed bugs are usually brought inside when people bring them in inadvertently. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the ways that bed bug infestations begin and how you can help prevent them.
The Main Way You Could Get Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be thought of as small hitchhiking insects because, while they don’t actually ride on human hosts, they can grab onto things such as luggage, purses, and backpacks. They are only about the size of an apple seed, so you likely won’t even notice that they’ve attached themselves to your belongings.
You can pick bed bugs up almost anywhere including all kinds of businesses and even other people’s homes that are already infested. However, there are certain “hotspot” areas where these pests are more commonly found such as hospitals, laundromats, schools, buses and bus stops, and hotels.
While it can be difficult to avoid picking up bed bugs because of their small size, there are a few things you can do to help prevent this, including:
- Avoid putting baggage on the ground when traveling.
- Carry any items to and from the laundromat in a plastic bag.
- Inspect hotel rooms for signs of bed bugs before settling in.
Another Way Bed Bug Infestations Can Start
While accidentally carrying home bed bugs after general travel is the main way that bed bugs get into a Denver home, there is one other common way the infestation can start. Bed bugs often are already on many secondhand items, and it’s not just mattresses. Bed bugs can also be found on all kinds of bedding, other furniture, and even appliances.
To avoid bringing home second-hand items that are already infested, look out for these three signs:
- Yellowish stains or pieces of discarded eggs that are usually a brownish color
- Rusty bloodstains that are leftover from bed bug bites
- Brown smear marks that come from bed bug excrement
How Can You Remove Bed Bugs?
Even if you do what you can to prevent these pests, the truth is that they are just difficult to deter. If you wind up with a bed bug infestation, it’s not because your home is dirty or you did something wrong. But, you are likely to need some help as they can be quite difficult to remove on your own.
Instead of wasting your time and money with ineffective DIY bed bug removal methods, let the experts at Beeline Pest Control handle the problem. We have over ten years of experience and even provide free estimates, so contact us today to learn more!