Bed bugs are creepy little bugs. Though they do not carry any diseases, bed bugs are known to cause psychological distress. Having blood-sucking insects in your bed with you is known to cause nightmares, insomnia, and anxiety. For many, their bites are also itchy and uncomfortable. Waking up with bed bug bites is a stressful and troublesome experience.
Bed bugs are so stealthy that their origin may feel like a mystery. Where do they come from? And why are they so hard to find? The problem with these bugs is that they move around by clinging to fabrics. While they can crawl through walls, they usually hitchhike on furniture and clothing, then infest the fabrics of their new homes. Bed bugs settle where humans and animals rest so they can bite them without getting caught.
Here’s where bed bugs get picked up the most. If you’re currently dealing with bed bugs, call Pest Control Georgetown or another professional near you.
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Hotels
Given the comings and goings of people from all over the world, hotels are susceptible to bed bugs. Hotels are aware of this problem and have regular inspections, but it is wise to use caution anyway. Inspect your luggage carefully before returning home from a stay at a hotel.
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Nursing Homes
Like hotels, nursing homes and long-term care facilities are prone to getting bed bugs because of the number of people visiting. Medical professionals, social workers, housekeeping staff, and family members may bring bed bugs with them, which make their way into the beds of residents. Many people in these facilities are in bed for long hours, worsening the problem.
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Office Buildings
Anywhere people spend lots of time sitting, there may be bed bugs. People with bed bugs at home may bring some with them on their clothing, which lets the bed bugs crawl into office chairs and furniture. If you have ever noticed a bug at work, notify your employer immediately for treatment.
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Lecture Halls and Dormitories
Schools, lecture halls, daycares, and dormitories have been known to get bed bugs because students spend a lot of time sitting. Universities, where there are thousands of students coming and going, may get bed bugs, especially where there is upholstered furniture.
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Movie Theaters and Libraries
Movie theaters have been known to have bed bugs because they are dark, and visitors are relatively still in their seats. Libraries can become infested for similar reasons. People bring bed bugs with them in their clothes, then infest the furniture of the library with bugs. Bed bugs continue to survive in the library because people sit and read for hours at a time.
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Public Transit
While it is less common, it is possible to pick up bed bugs while taking public transit, especially when sitting still for a long time. Bed bugs will infest any piece of furniture where they can come out and feed on their victims safely.
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Laundromats
Laundromats are famous for having bed bugs. This is because people come to wash their bedsheets in the shared machines. If you want to avoid getting bed bugs, do not let your laundry linger there. Wash your laundry, dry it immediately, then take your laundry out as soon as it is dry and fold it at home. Use plastic bags to carry your laundry safely.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
If you catch the problem early enough, you can take your bed apart and eliminate every bug you find, using a bed bug spray from the hardware store. Then, for safe measure, powder the bed frame and its perimeter with diatomaceous earth. Bed bugs can usually be found in mattress seams, bed frames, night tables, baseboards, and power outlets. Repeat the process the next week and wash all your clothes in hot water. You can also cover your mattress with a protective covering that traps any remaining insects.
Note, however, that bed bugs are very difficult to eliminate with commercial products. In many cases, by the time the bed bugs are found, the infestation has already gotten too big and there are invisible eggs in the infested room. Eggs are extremely resistant to pesticides and can only be destroyed with steam. It can be quite difficult to find every single bug and egg.
Your best bet is to hire a licensed exterminator. He or she will perform an inspection of the room, then treat it with a professional-grade insecticide that works for weeks after it has been applied, eliminating any eggs that hatch later. An exterminator can also apply a steam treatment to your mattress, which will get rid of bugs and eggs on the spot. Contact a professional for bed bug treatments you can count on.