Since the 1990s, the prevalence of bed bugs in the home has steadily increased. Bed bug infestations ceased considerably in the 1940s and 1950s, as the pesticide DDT was used to eliminate these pests from the home. But since the ban on DDT, bed bug populations have surged, and parts of North America, Europe and Australia are seeing a considerable increase in local infestations.
While bed bugs are attracted to clutter (it makes it easier for them to hide), even the cleanest and most organized home can be infested with these annoying pests. Bed bugs can be difficult to get rid of, but fortunately, there are preventative actions you can take to keep your home safe.
Instructions
1. Check any mattress you intend to sleep on for signs of bed bugs. Signs include the bugs themselves, blood stains, cast skins (which are empty shells the bugs leave behind when growing from one stage to the next), feces and eggs. Remove the sheets and bedding and check along the mattress seams. Pull the mattress away from the wall and check the box springs by shining a flashlight through the fabric, to make sure there are no visible bugs. Check behind and around the headboard.
2. Check any used furniture you intend to bring into your home---particularly mattresses or upholstered furniture. These items should be thoroughly inspected for signs of bed bugs. Used mattresses should be encased in a plastic cover for at least 9 months so that bugs and their eggs will die.
3. After returning home from travel, wash your clothes and luggage thoroughly and immediately. Clothing should be washed in hot water and dried on the hottest setting. Delicate fabrics, such as silk and wool, can be placed in the freezer for 24 hours. Suitcases should be inspected for signs of bed bugs or their eggs, scrubbed clean with a stiff brush, and then thoroughly vacuumed.
4. Check your bed monthly for bed bugs. Wash your bedding in hot water once a week. Sheets, bedspreads and blankets should be tucked in and kept off the floor. Bedrooms should be kept free of clutter, and drawers near the bed should be cleaned out and checked periodically for signs of bed bugs.
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