The school year has just started and your teen is settling into their dorm, but it won’t be long before he or she home for the holidays along with some uninvited guests – bed bugs. Every exterminator in Frisco, TX will tell you that college dormitories are notorious breeding grounds for bed bugs, cockroaches and ants. But bed bugs seem to be the only pests that find their way into suitcases and laundry bags, ending up hundreds or thousands of miles away from where they started.
Why Bed Bugs Are A Big Deal
In 2009, New York City was hit so hard by bed bugs, it considered establishing a bed bug task force, banning the sale of used mattresses and regulating the disposal of mattresses. It wasn’t just New York that was in a panic; Chicago, Boston and other big cities found themselves under attack by bugs the size of apple seeds. So how did such tiny bugs get to be such a big problem. By virtue of their size and their ability to hide really well, it was (and is) difficult to completely eliminate a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs can hide anywhere and everywhere, including in bedding, books, computers, electrical outlets, appliances and furniture. Their ability to hide in suitcases, backpacks, briefcases and clothing are what make them so insidious because it allows them to be transported from hotel rooms, airplanes and dormitories to your home for the holidays. And because they hide so well, it’s difficult to eliminate them with over-the-counter pest control chemicals.
What You Can Do To Prevent Or Mitigate A Bed Bug Problem
First, before your child – or any other visitor – even steps onto an airplane or a bus or gets into a car, make sure they seal all clothing and other washables in plastic garbage bags that can be closed securely. If they have access to a vacuum cleaner, ask them to vacuum the inside (including seams) of suitcases, backpacks and totes. When he or she arrives home, don’t let your child bring their belongings into the house. If you have a garage or carport or shed, that’s the best place to sort laundry and inspect bags and other items. An exterminator will recommend that every item that can be washed, should be washed in the hottest water possible. This goes for items that are already clean.
Backpacks and suitcases should be inspected with a flashlight for bed bugs hiding in seams and linings. It may not be possible to see every bed bug especially if the suitcase or bag is dark, so these items should all be vacuumed. For bagged vacuums, bags should be discarded immediately. For bagless vacuums, canisters should be emptied immediately. Books and other non-electronic items can be sealed in bags and put in the freezer for 2 to 4 days to kill bed bugs and their eggs. Electronics should be wiped down and inspected for bed bugs under keyboards.
As labor-intensive as bed bug prevention sounds, it pales in comparison to ridding your home of a full-blown bed bug infestation. If you suspect you have bed bugs in your home, call the best exterminator in Frisco, TX, Safe Pro Pest Control, at (972) 435-0700. You can also visit us online at www.safepropest.com to find out more about our Plano pest control services.
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