How To Prevent the Spread of Bed Bugs in Toronto
Are you looking for tips on preventing bed bugs in Toronto? Bed bug infestations often begin when the pests "hitch-hike" to your home on things like luggage that you've kept in a hotel or belongings you had in a rental property. After bed bugs have found their way into your home, they will quickly spread, and in a short period of time they'll have taken over. The professionals at Bed Bug Authority Canada use a heat treatment to eliminate bed bug infestations, and we recommend that you call us as soon as possible after you discover the first signs of an infestation.
The best way to prevent the spread of bed bugs is to contact a Toronto bed bug heat treatment professional immediately. Our experts have also put together the following list of tips to help you minimize the spread of the infestation:
Know the Signs of Bed Bug Infestations in Toronto
In order to prevent bed bug infestations in Toronto from spreading, you need to have a professional handle the situation as soon as possible. The sooner that you're able to spot the signs of an infestation, the better a chance you'll have at getting rid of these pests before they take over your home. Bed bugs can be very difficult to spot, and bites or rashes are not always reliable as signs of an infestation.
You should look out for actual bed bugs and their fecal smears. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, oval in shape, and about 1/4" long and 1/16" wide. After they've been fed, they become swollen and red.
Unfortunately, bed bugs are difficult to spot on furniture, luggage, backpacks, etc., especially if those items are darker in color. They often hide in crevices that are smaller than the thickness of a credit cart, and their eggs are even tinier. Look for dark colored fecal smears or small bugs in the crevices of your furniture.
Reducing the Likelihood of Picking Up "Hitch-Hiking" Bed Bugs
- Carry plastic trash bags in your luggage and use them to enclose clothing and other items in your luggage.
- Never leave luggage on beds or on the floor near beds. Some hotels have "luggage stands", which aren't bed-bug-proof, but you can easily check them for signs of the pests.
- Some people may want to inspect their mattress and box spring for signs of activity. Remember that spotting does not necessarily mean that it’s bed bug feces or that there is a current bed bug problem.
What to Do If You Find Bed Bugs
- Notify the owner/manager of the property so that they can address the problem as quickly as possible.
- Place your clothing and other items into your luggage and/or trash bags. Do not spray your clothing with pesticides.
- Carefully inspect the clothes you are wearing.
- When you arrive home, avoid opening and unpacking your bags except in the outdoors, a garage, or in a bathtub. Carefully inspect the clothing and thoroughly wash and dry it. Keep unwashed clothes in the trash bag until you are ready to clean them.
- Some backpacks and duffle bags can go in the dryer. For larger pieces of luggage, you may need to use an insecticide, then treat all surfaces with soapy water before re-use.
Hopefully, this will contain and eliminate the bed bug problem. After a few days, inspect your furniture and clothing. Call our Toronto bed bug heat treatment and extermination experts if you notice any other signs of the bugs.