If you’ve ever woken up with red, itchy bites all over your arms and legs, chances are that you are sharing your mattress with bed bugs. The notorious hitchhikers are adept at finding their way into homes by riding on your clothes after you return home from a business trip or vacation. Your kids can also accidentally bring them home from school, so knowing how to minimize the risk of bringing bed bugs into your house is the best way to prevent a full-blown infestation.

Bed bugs multiply at a rapid rate, so keeping them out of your home is essential. Unfortunately going back to school after the summer break is a prime time for kids to bring bed bugs home from school. Not only is this the perfect breeding season for bed bugs, but because kids spend a lot of time close together while in school, the insects have numerous opportunities to latch onto new hosts. Here are three tips that could help you keep your kids from bringing bed bugs home from school and when you should contact a bed bug exterminator in Niagara.

1. Understand What a Bed Bug Looks Like

Bed bugs are roughly the size of an apple seed when fully grown. They are often reddish brown in colour and tend to reside on fabric surfaces. Contrary to popular opinion, bed bugs live on more surfaces than just your mattress. They can also be found on couches, clothing, curtains, and carpets. If you see one, you probably have more nearby. If you think you see a bed bug on your mattress, look for the following signs for confirmation:

• Small blood stains from squished bed bugs
• Tiny eggs
• Dark spots on fabric that could be bed bug poop

2. Inspect Your Children’s Belongings When They Get Home From School

Bed bug infestations can happen regardless of how clean your house is. The tiny insects latch onto clothing, backpacks, and lunch boxes and enter your home via your kids returning from school. The best way to prevent an infestation is to carefully check all of your children’s belongings as soon as they get home from school. Know how to recognize a bed bug and examine every piece of clothing, backpack, and lunch box your kids bring home. It’s also a good idea to throw the clothes in the washer immediately when your kids get home and have them change into more comfortable outfits so you can clean the school clothes in case you miss a bed bug.

3. Regularly Clean Belongings After School

Kids can bring a lot of germs home from school, so wiping down their belongings with an all-purpose cleaner is a good practice to improve the health of your entire family. This habit also reduces the risk of bed bugs entering your home. The cleaner effectively kills bed bugs before they have an opportunity to take up residence and start multiplying. Make it a habit to wipe down belongings every day after school or at least once a week to minimize the risk of having a bed bug infestation.

Contact a Bed Bug Exterminator in Niagara To Deal With an Infestation

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of once they have taken up residence in your home. It is best to contact an expert for bed bug pest control immediately if you suspect the tiny insects are living in your house. Truly Nolen Canada is ready to help. Our experts first identify the pests to ensure we understand the full extent of the problem, and then we use state-of-the-art chemicals and equipment to eliminate the colony. We can also provide you with tips on how to prevent an infestation in the future, so contact us today to make an appointment with a bed bug exterminator in Niagara.