Tips To Prevent A Bed Bug Infestation

We have been spending a lot more time indoors than usual for the past year, and as mentally exhausting being stuck inside the house may be, it becomes much more draining once you realize that you are quarantining with bed bugs! Discovering that your home is infested with bed bugs is truly alarming. Your home is supposed to be a peaceful sanctuary where you can relax, and bed bugs do not belong there. The professional bed bug exterminators at Twin Forks Pest Control® can take care of your problem but keep in mind that the best method to reduce the chance of an infestation is taking preventative measures.

1. Wash Clothes After Traveling
   If you are planning on traveling soon, make sure to clean the clothing that you brought once you come back home to avoid having uninvited visitors! Though we may trust hotel rooms to be clean, we never know for sure. Insider.com suggests placing your used clothing in a plastic bag to be immediately washed when you get home. This is because bed bugs are much more attracted to dirty clothes than clean clothes. However, to be extra careful, clean your unused clothing as well so you don’t accidentally bring home any bed bugs that may have found their way into your suitcase.
2. Keep A Tidy Living Space
   Bed bugs are “about the size of an apple seed”, so they are very crafty when it comes to finding good hiding places. Therefore, it is important to reduce the amount of potential hiding places by keeping your living space as clean as possible. Declutter as often as possible so bed bugs will not have any boxes, bags, and bins to hide in. Additionally, EPA.gov recommends vacuuming any carpet floors that you have because bed bugs can hide there as well!
3. Use Essential Oils
   You can create your own DIY essential oil spray to repel bed bugs from you and your home. A few of the essential oils that are effective at repelling bed bugs are peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, and clove, as described by WikiHow.Life. Simply add six to 10 drops of the essential oil of your choosing in a spray bottle filled with ¼ cup of water. Spray this mixture inside your home or on specific items such as handbags and luggage. You can even create an oil mixture as a repellant for your body with ¼ cup of a carrier oil, such as jojoba or grapeseed oil, mixed with 10 drops of your chosen essential oil.
4. Avoid Secondhand Furniture
   Though buying used furniture can save you a lot of money, it can give you a real headache if you find out that the furniture is infested with bed bugs! This is especially true for mattresses because this is where bed bugs can feed on you while you sleep. However, if you must purchase secondhand furniture, thoroughly inspect them! If you purchase a secondhand mattress, enclose it inside of a bed bug mattress cover.

Twin Forks Pest Control® Will Rid Your Home Of Bedbugs

Twin Forks Pest Control® is ready and fully equipped to eliminate any indoor pests that have invaded your Long Island home. Whether they’re bed bugs, ants, or roaches, we have the right gear to remove annoying and potentially dangerous indoor pests from your home and keep them from coming back. Contact us today and speak with a representative so you can regain your peace of mind and regain control of your home! Southampton residents, please call (631) 287-9020, Easthampton residents please call (631) 324-9020, and Southold residents please call (631) 298-0500.