The Best Strategies For Bed Bug-Proofing Your Life
Here at the Bedbug Store, we talk a lot about how to find bed bugs, kill them, and prevent bed bugs from returning after they’ve been a problem in your home. That’s why we have spent years formulating and perfecting the best all-natural bed bug killers on the market. Whether it’s our proven bed bug-killing spray or long-lasting bed bug dust, we have the all-natural remedies you need to get bed bugs OUT of your home without putting the health of your family or pets at risk.
That said, most people would rather avoid encountering bed bugs in their personal lives altogether. Although you may keep a clean home and only stay in great hotels, being free from bed bugs is not guaranteed.
Cleanliness and a building's five-star rating are of no consequence to your friendly neighborhood parasitic insect. All it takes to attract bed bugs to a place is the frequent presence of their favorite food: humans.
The sad truth is that you are the reason bed bugs want to get inside your house. So, how can you keep them from infiltrating your sanctuary (or hitching a ride to your home from other places when you travel)? Keep reading to find out.
7 Ways To Live A Bed Bug-Free Life
Remember that none of these strategies can guarantee that you won’t have to deal with bed bugs in your home at some point. However, if you regularly complete most of the tasks on this checklist, you’ll make great strides toward keeping bed bugs out or catching them before they begin to multiply.
Inspect Your Hotel Rooms
Remember that bed bugs can exist anywhere humans frequent. This includes public, shared places like hotel rooms (yes, even the fancy ones). When you travel, it's essential that you protect your luggage with bed bug encasements and inspect the room thoroughly before you unpack.
"When you get to a hotel room, check the headboard and box spring for signs of bugs," explains Caitlin Moscatello for Redbook. "If you see anything, call the front desk and ask for a new room on a different floor. One buggy bed doesn't mean the place is overrun, but get some distance."
Use Duffle Bags Instead Of Suitcases
Luggage encasements do an excellent job of making it hard for bed bugs to hitch a ride home with you. Still, we'd highly recommend ditching the suitcases altogether if you're open to it. Fabric duffle bags are easy to toss in the washing machine when you get home, ensuring that any bugs that may have slipped through the cracks are drowned and heading down the sewer long before they can start laying eggs in your home.
Buy Mattress Covers
If your hotel mattress passes inspection but you’re still not convinced that the room is bedbug-free, we encourage you to use disposable, one-size-fits-all mattress covers to hedge your bets. Doing so will prevent any bed bugs that happen to be hiding in the mattress or box springs from making their way onto your body during the night.
At home, we recommend utilizing a mattress cover at the sight of bed bugs or the first appearance of a bed bug bite on your body. Yes, even if you plan on trashing your mattress. The last thing you want is to sprinkle bed bugs or their eggs throughout your home while moving the mattress and box spring out.
Wash Everything After Traveling
Even if your hotel or Airbnb was pristine, you saw no evidence of bed bugs and slept like a sweet baby angel every night; it’s imperative that you wash EVERYTHING after traveling. Those who have fought bed bugs in the past claim that the only way to be sure is to unpack the suitcases in the garage, vacuum them out, and immediately deposit all clothing into the washing machine. You may feel this is too extreme, but battling a bed bug infestation is pretty much the worst.
Double-Check Second Hand Goods
"While it's unlikely that orders from major retailers will be infested, items from home-based businesses (think eBay) or second-hand buys could be, White says. If you've bought clothes or linens, open boxes outside and launder the contents immediately," continues Moscatello. The money you saved buying secondhand isn't worth the price you'll pay when you have to replace everything because of a bed bug infestation. Trust us.
Be Careful With Your Coats
Jackets are the bed bug’s preferred way to hitch a ride to a new home. Their scraggly little legs are perfect for hooking into the fibers of a coat or jacket, and the pockets and lining are a great place for them to travel undetected. The best way to protect your outerwear is to avoid coat checks or closets in strange public places. Also, if you’re attending an event at someone’s home, avoid laying your coat on the host’s bed or couch. Instead, keep it with you or hang it on the back of a chair.
If You Can’t Wash It, Freeze It
We realize that not everything in your life can be tossed in the washing machine, so we recommend the freezing technique when in doubt. Old books, second-hand purses, electronics, and other goods can be placed in plastic bags and then in the home freezer for a night or two to ensure that any creepy crawlies are DOA.
Of course, bed bugs can still enter your home despite your best efforts to thwart them. That’s why we created this top-of-the-line selection of all-natural bed bug-killer products.
Our natural, plant-based Bed Bug Patrol Killer Spray provides an all-natural solution to infestations of bed bugs, as well as fleas, spiders, and other common indoor bugs. Our 100% natural solution is made in the USA. It relies on the power of natural ingredients like citric acid, clove oil, and peppermint oil to naturally deter these bugs from living in your furnishings and upholstery. Just spray our solution on affected surfaces twice per day, and it will get to work on exterminating your bed bugs and preventing their return. To keep you safe from bed bugs on your travels, arm yourself with our Bed Bug Blasting Travel Spray, which comes in a handy, TSA-approved travel-size bottle for your convenience.
