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Preventing Bed Bugs

Bed bugs present a major problem for landlords and tenants alike. Since bed bugs need a warm, safe environment to thrive, there are many places in the average home that provide perfect breeding conditions for them.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of attracting bed bugs. Here are our top 5 tips on avoiding the unwanted pests!

Don’t Bring Clothing/Furniture in From the Street

Always check used items (even seemingly harmless products like electronics) for bed bugs before bringing them into your apartment. Even if something looks clean, you should always perform basic checks to ensure that no bed bugs have nestled into cracks and crevices. If you don’t feel comfortable performing this inspection yourself, ask your building manager and they will be happy to assist you.

Cover Your Mattress

True to their name, bed bugs are most commonly found living in mattresses or the crevices in your headboard. To prevent this, you can put your mattress and box springs in zippered casings that enclose the entire mattress and prevent infestations.

Vacuum Regularly

Vacuum all mattresses, box springs, and floors (especially where the floor and wall meet) to help eliminate a bed bug infestation before it gets out of control. Bed bugs like to hide in the crevices near walls, so keeping these spaces clean and clear will help you to identify a potential infestation more quickly.

Recognize the Signs

Educate yourself about the signs of bed bugs and how to identify bites. Bed bugs are elusive and typically hide in narrow cracks and crevices. As a rule of thumb, anything that you can slide a business card into is an ideal hiding spot for a bed bug. Remember that they are not always found in beds – they can shelter in wooden furniture, clothing, or any other place that offers a safe and temperate environment.Bites are typically small red marks that often appear in rows and can be itchy. If you notice bites, contact your BM immediately.

Don’t Try to Fight Them Alone

Occasionally, even our best efforts aren’t enough to keep bed bugs at bay. If you suspect that you may have an infestation, contact your building manager immediately. Bed bugs can go up to 10 months without a food source, so even an infestation that seems manageable can quickly turn into an overwhelming problem if it is not handled by experts. Allowing your building manager to hire an exterminator is the best way to ensure that these pests never return!