Even if you are not squeamish about insects and bed bugs, those little bloodsuckers can bring a lot of problems and should not be left to prosper. It’s becoming more and more common for people who travel around to find themselves bitten all over after just one night in a hotel while on a business trip or a holiday. Bed bugs are becoming a big problem for many households, especially for people who live in care homes, apartments and student accommodation.
Logically, you shouldn’t take any pest problems lightly, but with bed bugs, this rule applies even more. Bed bugs are hardcore survivalists. They can go on without any food for months at a time and can hide in the smallest cracks and crevices of your home. However, if you have an infestation, they are most likely located close to their food source, which is, well, you. If you think you are a victim of a bed bug invasion, don’t hesitate to call Fantastic Services and book your bed bug treatment today to get rid of those pesky insects!
What are the signs of a bed bug infestation?
If you have doubts about being a victim of a bed bug invasion, there are a couple of signs that you should look out for.
- Adult bed bugs - They are usually around 5mm long, light brown in colour and look like a flat apple seed with tiny legs.
- Shed skin - Even if you don’t see any adult bugs, you may see their shed skin, which looks a lot like the actual insect, without the insides, of course.
- Blood spots and faeces - They will look like a cluster of small brown spots, usually on your bedding, mattress and any upholstered furniture.
- A musky, sweet odour - This unpleasant smell will be most potent in your bedroom.
- Bed bug bites - One of the first things you will probably notice.
You can often find those signs of bed bugs in your bedroom, on surfaces like the mattress, pillows, sheets, bed frame and headboard. They don’t like travelling too much to get their food, so they will probably try to stay as close to you as possible. However, if their numbers continue growing, bed bugs can spread all around your property in other locations, such as carpets and their underlay, skirting boards, inside your fittings and electrical sockets (not kidding), inside broken or cracked plaster, behind a peeled-off wallpaper, in drawers and cupboards.
The Step-by-step process of removing bed bugs
The professional pest control technician will arrive at the appointed time and date to thoroughly inspect your property and determine the level of infestation. He will take a look at all the affected areas before proceeding with the treatment. Before his arrival, you will receive an email with instructions on how to prepare for this treatment, so we kindly ask you to read them carefully.
The treatment itself will consist of the bed bug exterminator spraying all the necessary places with a very powerful, industry-approved pesticide. This first treatment will get rid of all the adult bed bugs and their young ones. Everything should take around an hour or an hour and a half and you will have to stay away from the house, including your pets, for a certain period of time, usually around 4-6 hours.
As the spray is usually not able to get rid of the eggs of the bed bugs a second visit is needed. The insect’s life cycle is around 14 days, so we normally set the follow-up appointment 2 weeks after the first one. The pest technician will carefully inspect the treated areas, see what the results are and spray again, in order to get rid of any remaining insects. Depending on the level of your infestation, a third visit might be necessary, but you will be advised about this by the technician when he comes to do the inspection.
How to prevent a bed bug infestation
If you are lucky enough and you don’t actually have a problem with bed bugs or you just never want to go through this nightmare again, we will share with you some prevention tips you can follow.
- Seal any cracks and crevices in your walls and furniture to reduce the number of places they could hide. Also try and decrease the clutter in your home, especially in small rooms like attics and the area under your bed.
- Carefully check all newly purchased second-hand furniture for all the signs we mentioned earlier to make sure that they are pest-free.
- After you come back from vacation, immediately wash your clothes in your washing machine on a high-temperature setting, in order to kill all potential hitchhikers.
- Vacuum often, especially the rooms with carpets.
- Steam clean your rugs and carpets at least twice a year.
- Put a cover on your mattress and wash it at a high temperature at least once every two weeks.
People Also Ask
How can I prepare for the service?
You will receive an email with instructions. For instance, vacuum the floors, remove all pets from the premises, even fish, put all your bedding in the laundry machine, clear out the space beneath your beds, if there is any and move any furniture that might be covering potentially infested areas.
Is the second visit free?
Absolutely! However, you do have a period of 30 days, in which you have to request your second treatment. We recommend that you arrange a date with the technician after the first treatment.
Can bed bugs harm my dog?
Unfortunately, yes. Bed bugs bite both people and dogs, even if it’s not as often. Still, when an infestation is out of control, the insects will spread to your pet’s bedding and bite them, as well.
What should I do after the service?
Don’t vacuum or mop the floors for at least 3 or 4 days. Stay out of the house for around 4-5 hours and carefully follow the prevention tips from above, in order for the treatment to have full effect.
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