How to Prevent Bed Bugs

Florida cities and towns tend to have higher-than-average bed bug populations compared to most places because we’re surrounded by travel and tourism hubs. Hotels and motels are indeed common bed bug hotspots, but they’re not the only ways to get them. The truth is, if you want to prevent bed bugs in Florida, you have to know about all of the common ways they get inside your house and take proactive steps to ensure they don’t.

Here are the top five secrets to Florida bed bug prevention:

• Be aware of your risk factors
• When traveling, always take the right precautions.
• Know the right ways to quarantine and clean items if you suspect bed bugs.
• Thoroughly inspect any used furniture or clothing you bring into the house.
• Learn how to spot the early signs and have a plan in place.

We’ll Teach You How to Prevent Bed Bugs

At Sorko, our bed bug exterminators have witnessed the rapid increase in population of these unpleasant pests across Florida over the past few decades. We have extensive experience solving bed bug problems in both homes and businesses, and we can safely say that it’s always worth taking some precautions now rather than dealing with an infestation later.

Tip #1: Know Your Bed Bug Risk Factors

Bed bugs don’t appear out of nowhere, even though it might seem like they do. They arrive at places after hitchhiking in clothing, luggage, furniture, or other items. If you happen to bring bed bugs home with you one day, don’t get annoyed with yourself – it could happen to anyone. 

That’s why the key to bed bug prevention is being able to identify situations where bed bugs may be present and doing what you can to minimize your risk. Here are some situations and circumstances that make you more likely to come in contact with bed bugs:

• Many Households in One Building or Complex: Hotels and motels, apartment buildings and condos, dormitories, and senior living facilities are common origins of bed bug infestations. Anywhere with many households sharing walls.
• Day-to-Day Life Situations: If you travel frequently or attend conferences, you’re more likely to enter a space with bed bugs. Public transit can also have bed bugs. Even if your kids have a sleepover at a house with bed bugs, bed bugs might be coming to your house for their next sleepover.
• Where You Live: Some cities are worse off for bed bugs than others, and unfortunately, in Florida, our proximity to so many hotels, motels, vacation rentals, and colleges makes many cities havens for bed bugs.
• Buyer Beware: If you buy something used, at a garage sale, or even a thrift shop, be sure to inspect it inside and out before bringing it into your home. A surprising number of bed bug infestations find a new home through old goods.

Tip #2: Take Precautions When You Travel

Travel is notorious as a source for bed bug infestations, and for good reason. It happens a lot. The good news is that by knowing this you’re equipped to prevent bringing them home with you. Our top tips for preventing bed bugs while traveling include:

• Research Your Destination for Bed Bug Reports. Call the hotels and ask them straightforward questions. How they respond will tell you a lot. If possible, pack in hard-shell luggage.
• Upon Hotel Arrival: Don’t unpack right away, or even leave your luggage on the floor. Place luggage in the bathroom (hard surfaces, away from beds). Check the bed first. Pull back sheets at head and foot, inspect seams and upholstery. Check chairs, curtains, headboard, and carpet edges. Look for dark spots, blood stains, and sweet musty odors.
• During Your Stay: You may still want to be cautious. If so, keep luggage in the bathroom or sealed in plastic. Hang clothes in the bathroom, not bedroom closets. Store dirty laundry in sealed plastic bags. Check your luggage daily. Look for bites each morning.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Leave!: If you find evidence of bed bugs, do not stay in the room. It’s very likely you’ll bring them home with you. Ask for a new bed bug-free room, and if they can’t provide it, try to find somewhere else to stay. It’s not worth it.

Tip #3: When Coming Home, Quarantine and Clean Everything

If you’re concerned for any reason that you may have brought home bed bugs, stop at the front door. Don’t bring anything inside. Here’s what you should do:

• At Your Front Door: Strip down and put clothes directly into the washer or sealed bags. Be sure to inspect your luggage thoroughly in good light.
• Treat Your Luggage: Heat is very effective for treating bed bugs. You can achieve the effect by putting your luggage in the dryer on high heat. One other effective method is leaving it in your car on a hot day. Hard luggage can be steam cleaned or professionally cleaned.
• Treat Your Clothing: Be sure to keep your clothes in sealed bags if you can’t wash them immediately. Wash in the hottest water possible, then dry on the highest heat setting.

Tip #4: Be Suspicious of Used Furniture, Clothes, and Other Items

As with traveling, it’s so important to be aware of situations with a major risk of bed bug infestation; the same applies to purchasing furniture, clothing, or other items. The old adage applies: caveat emptor, or “buyer beware.” Because even if you’re able to return the items, you can’t return the bed bugs.

• High Risk Items: Upholstered furniture is a bigger risk than wood furniture, but you should thoroughly check both types. Bed frames always carry a high bed bug risk, as well as dressers and nightstands. Be sure to check any and all drawers. Never get a used mattress or box spring from someone you don’t know. It’s too risky.
• Medium Risk Items: Clothing from thrift or consignment shops, used luggage and handbags. Even books, magazines, and electronics that have been kept in a room with bed bugs.
• It’s Not Worth It: It’s hard to resist a good deal. It’s temping when you see “Free” items on the curb, or spend the weekend visiting garage or estate sales. Just be sure you know what you’re getting into. Inspect everything! Even when you’re getting something free from friends or family, be sure to do a check.

Tip #5: Know How to Spot Bed Bug Warning Signs and Be Ready to Act Fast If You Do

If you can’t prevent bed bugs from getting inside, the next best thing you can do is stop them as quickly as possible. That’s why we always recommend learning how to recognize the telltale signs of bed bugs and have a plan in mind in case they do strike.

• Signs of Bed Bugs: If you see live bugs, fecal spots, blood stains, shed skins, or egg shells, it’s important to act quickly. Also, bed bugs have a distinctive, sweet, musty odor.
• Do You Have Bites?: Bed bugs make red, welt-like bites, often a few grouped together in a line. Some people are very sensitive. Some people don’t react at all, so if one person has bites and the other person doesn’t, the other person probably does, but isn’t showing them.
• Where to Look: Always thoroughly check the mattress spring, including the seams. Check the bedframe, headboard, baseboards near sleeping areas, and even furniture near sleeping areas.
• What to Do Next: Don’t panic, but if you see bed bugs, there are likely many more that you don’t see. You may try bed bug removal DIY products if you wish, but these pests are highly resilient and good at hiding. For rapid solutions, we recommend calling a bed bug exterminator like Sorko Services.

For more information on next steps you should take when you discover bed bugs in your home, check out our full-length article >> How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Central Florida’s Trusted Bed Bug Exterminators

If you’ve discovered bed bugs in your house, the time for prevention is over, and it’s important to act quickly. The longer the bed bugs remain in your house, the larger their colony will grow and the harder it will be to eliminate. Your best bet is an experienced bed bug exterminator.

At Sorko Services, we have extensive experience providing bed bug control for homes and businesses in Central Florida. We offer rapid responsiveness and treatments you can count on, so don’t delay, call us for a free quote today!