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Despite their diminutive size, bed bugs may be one of the most feared insects in the Western world. Perhaps it’s because they are so difficult to see, due to their tiny size and tendency to hide. Or maybe it’s because we don’t notice them until it’s too late, and we awake covered in small red bites.
Regardless of the reason, nobody wants to see bed bugs in their home. The best way to prevent their entry is by being cautious and taking proactive measures. In order to help keep your home bed bug free, make sure you don’t fall victim to one of these five common misconceptions.
1. They Only Appear in Unclean Homes
Cleanliness is a great way to prevent many pest problems, including ants, cockroaches and mice. However, it has nothing to do with bed bugs. Bed bugs can thrive in the cleanest or dirtiest environments – since they feed on your blood, all they need to survive is your presence.
2. You’ll Only Find Them On Beds
Unfortunately, bed bugs aren’t restricted to beds alone. Although they prefer to stay on linens and mattresses, bed bugs have been found on hard wood surfaces such as nightstands, headboards and end tables, as well as inside box springs and upholstered furniture.
3. They Can’t Spread Around Your Home
If you’ve got carpets, then bed bugs have a method of travel. It’s very easy for bed bugs to use carpeting in your home to move from one room to another. That’s why dealing with a bed bug problem immediately is so important – the longer you wait, the more likely it is they’ll spread.
4. You Can Always Get Rid of Them On Your Own
Bed bugs are famously resilient creatures. If they’ve gotten inside of your mattress and box spring, you’ll have to remove them from your bedroom and spray them thoroughly with pesticides. But if bed bugs have spread throughout the home or have infiltrated the deep inner portions of furniture, it’s going to be practically impossible to exterminate them all on your own.
5. You Can Avoid Them By Staying At Fancy Hotels
Bed bugs are commonly brought into the home on luggage or other belongings after a vacation. You might think you can avoid this potential problem by staying at a nice hotel, but that’s incorrect: bed bugs have been found at four-star resorts, such as the Ritz-Carlton.
