At the end of a long day, all you want to do is kick off your shoes and socks and lay back. Whether you’re in your own home or a hotel, this habit may be increasing the risk of bed bugs. Find out how dirty laundry and bed bugs are linked, how you can reduce the risk of bed bugs in your home, and where to turn for effective bed bug treatment Niagara.

Why Dirty Laundry May Attract Bed Bugs

Researchers have found a link between dirty laundry and bed bug activity. In a study, bed bugs were presented with a bag of clean laundry and a dirty one. These tiny pests were twice as likely to choose the dirty laundry, body odour, and all.

This study has very real applications for both your home and your travel habits. At home, keeping dirty laundry away from your bed and off the floor could discourage bed bugs from setting up a home. While it’s tempting to throw your dirty laundry on the floor of your hotel room at the end of the day, consider closing it tightly in a bag. This will prevent bed bugs from finding your clothing and all the skin cells and human odor that attracts them. A tightly sealed bag will not only prevent the spread of the smell but also prevent bugs from hitching a ride in your clothes.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Is it too late to prevent bed bugs in your home or a hotel room? Look for the signs of a bed bug infestation and consider some prevention tips. Unfortunately, these tiny travelers are adept at finding humans and great places to hide. Even the best prevention strategies may not work, so it’s important to know where to turn for professional removal.

Your first sign of a bed bug infestation will be itchy, red bites. Bed bugs feed on blood and leave small bites, typically on your neck, face or arms. These bite marks may not develop until 14 days of bed bug presence. While they are the clearest signs, they often come too late to prevent a full infestation.

While you may be tempted to throw away your furniture, don’t. Instead, inspect your bed and furniture. Bed bugs leave a strong, musty smell. This smell can be similar to body odor, which is another reason to keep your dirty laundry picked up and away from your bed. Look for small brown or black spots around the edges of your bed or furniture. These spots are dried feces and are a sign that bed bugs are living and feeding nearby.

Prevention Tips

Try out these prevention tips to reduce the chance of an infestation in your home. Bed bugs rarely crawl into your home on their own, so be cautious about their most common hosts: furniture, clothing and humans.

Used furniture and mattresses are a popular way for bed bugs to travel from one home to another. Carefully check any furniture before bringing it into your home. At the end of a vacation or other long trip, be sure to keep your dirty laundry sealed until you’re ready to wash it. Long wash cycles on high heat and a dryer on high heat can kill any hitchhikers on your clothing.

Contact Truly Nolen Today

Even the most effective prevention strategies aren’t 100% successful. The best way to combat these sneaky intruders is to schedule an inspection from Truly Nolen Pest Control. Our system of sealing cracks, removing bed bugs and preventing further intruders can give you peace of mind in your home. Keep an eye on your dirty laundry to help prevent the spread, but turn to a professional pest control solution for efficient removal of these tiny pests.