The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) has long been a pest to people, feeding on blood, causing itchy bites and generally irritating their human hosts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all consider bed bugs a public health pest. Unlike most public health pests, however, bed bugs are not known to transmit or spread disease.
What To Inspect To Find Bed Bugs In Your Home
Bed bugs may turn up in unexpected places as a moderate or even large infestation. If the infestation is large, every object in the affected area should be carefully inspected. Bed bugs thrive in tiny cracks and crevices so no item is too small for them to find a home in. Therefore, be sure to take your time during a bed bug inspection.
Through our years of experience in bed bug inspection, we’ve found bed bugs in such unusual locations as:
- Battery compartments of TV and other remote controls
- Telephones, cell phones and cordless phones
- Lamps and alarm clocks
- Computers and other electronics
- Cardboard boxes in closets and under the bed
- Children’s toys and stuffed animals
- Jewelry boxes
- Brick walls and “popcorn” or other textured ceilings
- Books, magazines, newspapers and files
- Inside hollow doors
- Ceiling light fixtures, smoke detectors
- Heating units, air conditioners and ducts
- Wheelchairs
Be sure to check these items if you had a bed bug problem recently or suspect you might currently have an issue. Some tools and household products that will make your inspection easier and more thorough can be found here. It is always better rigorously inspect any locations that might have been infested to guarantee you don’t end up with an even larger issue. If you need help, EnviroPest’s knowledgeable and trained staff will happily help rid your home of bed bugs!
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How To Avoid Bed Bug Issues When Moving:
- Step 1 – Laundry: Wash, dry and bag all the laundry and fabrics. Do not take these items back into the apartment. Bag and label all of them at the
laundromat and pack them up. Read up on our laundry prep to find out more. - Step 2 – Bins: Place all the small items in bin. Buy a Steamer (check out our recommended steamer here) and steam everything before placing it into the bin. Throw anything out that you don’t need or want to keep. Don’t bother moving it. The less items the better. Steam every square inch of every piece of the item before placing in the bin. Make sure it’s non-porous and cleaned. Seal the bins and store in a outside location making sure there is no exposure to bed bugs.
- Step 3 – Furniture: Easiest way is to leave or throw out the furniture. If you want to keep the furniture move it to a garage of storage area. Then a professional would come in and treat the furniture and once it dries then move it.
- Step 4 – Final Clean: Remove items from bins. Re steam clean each item before placing it. Also steam and treat all the furniture once you place it in the locations.
If you discover bed bugs in your home, contact EnviroPest Exterminator NY for immediate relief. Our certified team is educated in the most advanced bed bug protocols and equipped with the state-of-the-art resources necessary for complete eradication of these pests. We’re the exterminators NY trusts and we look forward to discussing your issue.
