Roscoe’s Bed Bug Prevention Tips
Recent surveys say that between 1 in 5 and 1 in 7 people have a bed bug encounter each year.
That’s way more than something we all actively fear: sharks which have the odds of 1 in 3.75 million to 1 in 11.5 million that you’ll get bitten.
Here are Roscoe’s bed bug prevention tips so you are not part of the 14% –20% of the population that falls victim to and gets bites from these itchy insects.
Follow these tips for protection against bed bugs. While Roscoe has a nose for sniffing out trouble, you can’t have our trained canine detectives in your home or office every day. Our best recommendation is to be vigilant so you don’t need Roscoe to visit.
Here are some helpful steps to lower the likelihood of being affected by these hitchhiking bugs:
- Use your dryer. Many apartments don’t have their own, but a dryer can be bed bugs’ worst enemy since they can’t survive the high heat. Because these bed bugs are great hitchhikers, you may be able to kill them before they’ve had a chance to unload from your pants cuff into your home.
- Stock up on plastic bags. When you return home from public places that you believe are suspect, immediately disrobe and place your clothing in sealed plastic bags. Place that clothing in the dryer or send it to dry cleaner, and throw out that bag!
- Once home, store your personal goods (purse, laptop bag, etc.) inside sealed a plastic bin.
- When at the gym, keep your gym bag and clothes in a large, sealable plastic bag inside your locker. Leave the bag behind in the trash and take your protected items home.
- Eliminate clutter from your home. Bed bugs love to hide in clutter.
- Periodically inspect your home and your hotel room for signs of bed bugs using this printable card from Bell Environmental.
- Don’t let family members bring you bed bugs. When your child arrives home from college or summer camp, place all of your child’s clothes and bags in the dryer on high heat for 15-20 minutes and inspect all their personal goods.
- Talk with your neighbors and friends about your efforts – you may help someone else avoid this urban plague. If you employ cleaning people or other in-house help, share these tips with them as well.
While this bed bug prevention list seems like a great deal of work, consider how much worse it is to live through a bed bug infestation, and the paranoia that victims rightfully have afterward.
If you’re concerned that an insect that is the size of an apple seed and hides really well, snuck through customs, into the seam of your suitcase, or in a coat pocket, please contact us today. If you have mysterious bites, please call or reach out! Too often bites and itches are due to bed bugs. Bell Environmental and Roscoe are here to help!
Bell Environmental’s trained canines can detect problems right away so your travels remain pleasant memories.
Our InstantFreeze is safe to treat your laptops and personal items where bed bugs can and do hide.