I Had Bedbugs—But I Learned to Feel Safe at Home After, and Here’s What Pros Advise

Bedbugs aren’t just gross and annoying—they can also cause serious health problems, and that’s why we should all be on the lookout for them. If you suspect you have bedbugs, try this guide of what to do if you have bedbugs in your home—and how to stay safe after they’re gone. While being overrun by bedbugs can feel like a nightmare, with enough patience and help from experts, it’s possible to get rid of the infestation and resume normal life in your home!

The dangers of bed bugs

Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are often found in mattresses, bedding, and furniture. Bed bugs can cause skin rashes, allergic reactions, and even psychological trauma. If you think you have bed bugs, it’s important to seek professional help immediately.

An experienced exterminator will be able to identify the pests and develop a treatment plan. For me, this meant being sprayed with chemicals while lying on my stomach so they couldn’t bite me through my clothes. Afterwards, I had to wash all my clothes and linens in hot water and dry them in high heat for 10 minutes. The process is not always easy or quick but it’s necessary for people who want to get rid of these pests for good.

Tips from Professionals

1. If you think you have bedbugs, don’t panic.
2. Check for signs of bedbugs in your home.
3. Learn how to get rid of bedbugs.
4. Educate yourself on how to prevent getting bedbugs again in the future.
5. Talk to a professional if you’re still feeling unsafe after taking measures to get rid of bedbugs.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends or family members if you’re struggling with dealing with bedbugs.
7. Seek professional help if you think you may have an infestation that is too large to handle on your own. Your pest control company can recommend someone qualified to treat bedbug infestations. It’s important to know what treatments work best against them, so read up before you call in professionals.
8. Remember that not all bugs are dangerous, so consult a pest control expert first before purchasing harsh chemicals on your own that could make things worse than they already are.
9. Ask your pest control company about other proactive steps you can take to avoid getting bedbugs again in the future, such as sealing up cracks and crevices or putting protective covers over mattresses and furniture legs where they tend to hide out during the day.

Steps to prevent bed bug attacks in the future

1. Inspect your home regularly for bed bugs. Check in all the cracks and crevices where they might hide, including under furniture and in electrical outlets.
2. If you suspect you have bed bugs, call a professional exterminator immediately.
3. Vacuum regularly and dispose of the bag immediately to reduce the risk of spreading bed bugs.
4. Wash all your bedding in hot water and dry on high heat to kill any bed bugs that may be present.
5. seal any cracks or crevices in your home where bed bugs could enter.
6. Reduce clutter in your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs if they are present.
7. Be careful what you bring into your home: never bring secondhand mattresses, sofas, chairs, or anything else with cushions into your house without having them inspected first.
8. Consider using nontoxic pesticides around the edges of your mattress and box spring to help deter them from entering those areas.

My experience with bed bugs – what happened when I had them

I woke up one morning with bites all over my body. At first, I thought they were mosquito bites, but soon realized they were something else. I did some research and discovered that I had bedbugs. I was horrified. I didn’t know what to do or where to turn. But I quickly learned that there are steps you can take to get rid of them and feel safe in your home again. Here’s what I did

1) Checked the mattress for stains and blood spots: Bed bugs secrete a brownish liquid when feeding, so if you see small brownish spots on the mattress it could be an indication of a possible infestation.

2) Removed linens from beds: I vacuumed the bedding to remove any eggs/larvae left behind from the last batch of eggs laid

. 3) Put all linens into plastic bags: To keep any bed bugs from escaping, place the linen items into sealed plastic bags (re-use old grocery bags).

4) Took clothes off hangers and put them into plastic bags: Hang clothing items on hooks rather than folding them because folds create crevices for hiding bugs.

5) Vacuumed the carpeting in living room and bedroom: Make sure to use attachments that will suck up dirt as well as bug larvae deep inside the carpet fibers.

6) Sprayed air freshener around house: The smell of lavender has been shown to help deter pests.

7) Contacted pest control company for regular treatment plan: Pest control professionals will come by once every month, perform an inspection and spray insecticide inside your home.

I did some research and discovered that I had bedbugs.

I was horrified.

Tips for dealing with your own case of bed bugs

1. If you think you have bed bugs, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and assess the situation.
2. Gather as much information as you can about bed bugs so that you can better identify them and understand how to get rid of them.
3. Call a professional exterminator to come and inspect your home.
4. If you do have bed bugs, follow the exterminator’s instructions to the letter.
5. Be patient—it can take several weeks or even months to get rid of all the bed bugs in your home.
6. In the meantime, take steps to make yourself feel more comfortable in your home, such as washing all your bedding in hot water weekly and vacuuming regularly. 7. Stay calm, stay clean, and keep track of what you’re doing to combat the problem. 8. Share your frustrations with friends and family members who will support you during this difficult time.