Removing and Preventing Repeated Bed Bug Infestations

If you have a bed bug infestation and are considering moving in Vancouver, you definitely want to attempt to get rid of them before moving out. This is as much for your sake as the next tenants’ sake.

What are bed bugs and how do I know I have been infested?

Bed bugs are human parasites that feed exclusively on blood. Though they do not transmit diseases, they do bite and cause red itchy welts and rashes. Some liken the appearance of bed bugs to a flattened apple seed with a reddish-brown colour. They are nocturnal and are fairly hidden, so it is difficult to find them. However, there are a few things to look for before hiring a professional pest control company.

1. Check your skin. You may have bed bugs if you continually discover new itchy red bites upon waking in the morning that were not there when you went to bed the night before.
2. They do not have a nest, but they do tend to congregate in certain places. You may have bed bugs if you are finding dark red or black spots on your bed sheets. These may be their fecal matter.
3. If you find rusty or reddish smears on your bed sheets, these may be crushed bugs that have just had a feeding.

Unfortunately, bed bugs do not only live in mattresses. They can be in places like cushions, outlets, baseboards, and any cracks and crevices they can hide in. Bed bugs are also very robust, as they can live in freezing temperatures as well as extremely hot temperatures. They can also survive months without feeding. Because they are hard to locate and are very robust, it is not easy to get rid of bed bugs when you move.

What should I do if the house I am moving from is infested?

Do not try to get rid of bed bugs yourself. Given their abilities to survive in various conditions, it is difficult to thoroughly get rid of them yourself. It is always best to call a pest control professional.

After your pest control professional deals with the problem for you, we can hope that they are all gone. However, it is not an absolute guarantee that you will not move some bed bugs with you to your new home as you are packing. Due diligence in inspecting, cleaning, and packing will decrease this risk greatly. Before moving out of an infested house, launder and dry all clothing, curtains, bedding and linens. Run them through the hottest setting in the dryer for at least thirty minutes. Place them in a sealed plastic bag and set them in an uncontaminated room.

Take apart all your furniture if possible. It will be much easier to inspect for bed bugs once every crevice is exposed. Taking the furniture apart will also make thorough cleaning much easier. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean out the cracks of the furniture. A vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment will be very handy. Use it to clean out bed bugs in all your electronic items, décor, and even books. In the same way, items that can be placed in a sealed plastic bag should be moved into an uncontaminated room.

It is wise to throw out mattresses or upholstered furniture if at all possible. If it is not feasible to do so, you may be able to get your pest control company to treat them. It is probably safer and easier to throw away an infested mattress than to attempting to get it treated before moving to your new house.

 How to Contact Ferguson Moving

We hope that this has given you some insight on how to move out without bringing bed bugs with you. For all your moving needs, and for storage solutions if you choose to downsize, contact Ferguson Moving at 604-922-2212 or contact us online today!