Bed bugs are one of the most difficult and annoying pests to deal with. They are known to spread quickly, making them hard to contain and eliminate. If you live in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and think your home may have been infested by bedbugs, you’re not alone! This guide will provide you with all the information you need to identify, prevent, and control a bed bug infestation in your home.

First, we’ll explain what exactly bed bugs are so that you can recognize them if they appear in your home. We’ll also go over the signs that could help you detect an infestation early on. Finally, we’ll provide some tips for pest control for bed bugs in Eau Claire, WI. By the time you’ve finished this guide, you should have a good understanding of how to prevent and remove bed bugs from your home. Let’s get started!

What are Bed Bugs? 

Bedbugs are small, oval-shaped insects that feed on human blood. They usually hide during the day in dark, secluded places such as mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards. At night they come out to feed on people who are sleeping nearby. Bed bug bites often leave red marks on the skin that can cause itching and irritation.

Signs of Infestation: 

If you think you may have a bed bug infestation in your home there are some signs to look out for:

1. Small black or brown spots on mattresses, sheets, and pillows.
2. Tiny eggs of about 1 mm in size around the bed frame and mattress seams.
3. An offensive musty smell coming from the mattress or bedding.
4. Reddish stains on bedsheets caused by bed bug excrement or molted skins.
5. White, sticky residue left behind by adult bed bugs on furniture and walls near your sleeping area.
6. Shed exoskeletons that are yellowish-white in color are scattered around beds and couches where they feed at night.
7. Bites or welts appear randomly on your body after a night’s sleep.
8. Small bugs or larvae crawling around your bed, mattress, or furniture in the vicinity of your sleeping area.
9. Live adult bed bugs that are visible to the naked eye.
10. Unusual blood spots on sheets and pillowcases left behind by crushed bed bugs while they feed at night.

If you see any of these signs in your home, it is important to take action right away as a small infestation can quickly become larger if not treated properly.

Tips for Bed Bug Removal: 

1. Use hot steam cleaning and vacuuming as soon as possible to get rid of any remaining eggs, larvae, and adults from carpets, curtains, furniture, and bedding.
2. Launder all linens, curtains, clothing, and other affected items at the highest temperature possible using hot water to kill any eggs or larvae left behind.
3. Seal off cracks and crevices in walls, floors, and furniture with caulk to prevent bed bugs from entering again.
4. Encase mattresses, box springs, and pillows in mattress covers designed to keep out bed bugs.
5. Hire a pest control professional who is experienced in dealing with these pests if your DIY methods are not successful or you have an infestation that is too large for you to tackle on your own. A professional can use special techniques such as chemical treatments or fumigation as part of bed bug pest control in Eau Claire, WI.
6. If a professional is not an option, use diatomaceous earth, which is a naturally-occurring powder that kills bed bugs by dehydrating them when they come in contact with it. It should be dusted around the edges and seams of furniture and mattresses as well as any other areas where bed bug activity has been noticed.
7. Regularly clean your home, vacuuming carpets and rugs, sweeping floors, dusting surfaces, and washing linens to keep bed bugs from returning.
8. Use sticky traps or non-toxic insecticide sprays on furniture legs to stop any bed bugs from infesting your home again. Monitor the traps or sprays regularly to make sure they remain effective.
9. Get rid of clutter in your home, as it can provide a safe hiding place for bed bugs. Clean out closets and drawers, vacuum all furniture, and remove any items that are no longer needed or used from your home.
10. Check secondhand furniture and other items, such as clothing and bedding, for signs of bed bug activity before bringing them into your home. If you are unsure if they may have been exposed to bed bugs, leave them outside until you are certain they are safe to bring inside.

Follow these tips to help keep your Eau Claire home free of bed bug infestations! For more information on bed bug control, reach out to a local pest control professional. If you want to learn more or book an appointment, please dial (877) 877-6678 to reach Prompt Action Bat & Pest Control.