If you have experienced bed bugs before, then you are likely aware how much havoc they can wreak on your home and your body. If you haven't had experience with bed bugs, then there are a few things you need to know about this little insect. Bed bugs are small insects that survive by living off the blood of animals or humans. They are brownish in color and about the size of an apple seed. Once they have fed on blood, they can swell up and become more reddish in color. Bed bugs spread quickly as they move over floors, walls, and your ceiling. The female can lay several hundred eggs over her lifetime, and these eggs can be hard to detect due to the fact that they are no bigger than a speck of dust.
Bed bugs are very good at moving around undetected; they can enter your home through luggage, furnishings, and clothing. They can fit into tiny cracks and go undetected quite easily as they breed and spread throughout your home. In fact the only way you will know you have bed bugs is by the bites they leave on your skin. Bed bugs tend to come out at night and they tend to like living in mattresses. This means that most bites will occur over night as they pierce human and animal’s skin to feed on the blood. Bed bug bites often become itchy and swell and can last for weeks to months. If you feel that you may have bed bugs in your home, you will want to call an expert for bed bug removal. Call Unique Pest & Lawn Solutions!
When it comes to bed bug removal, it is important to have it done properly. Electric heat treatment, or propane heat treatment, is the most effective way to make sure all bed bugs and their eggs are eliminated.
Heat treatment works by literally turning your home into a sauna. We use electric heat treatments or propane heat treatments, to get your home to a temperature where bed bugs and their eggs can no longer survive. The heat works its way through your home, getting to every corner, crack, and crevice. This is important as bed bugs can hide anywhere throughout your home without being seen. Once your home is heated to a temperature range of 130 to 185 degrees, it is impossible for bed bugs and their eggs to survive. Your home will be held at this high level of heat for an extended period of time to ensure that all bed bugs and their eggs are taken care of. Compared to other methods (such as using chemicals in your home, or steam cleaning), the heat treatment offered by Unique is by far the superior way to kill bed bugs. This is simply because:
Bed bugs cannot survive in those types of temperature extremes.
The heat will reach every single corner of your home, unlike other products or methods.
There is no need for coating your home in a layer of chemicals.
Unique specializes in bed bug removal through electric heat treatments and propane heat treatments. We believe that heat treatments are the most effective way to remove all bed bugs and their eggs from your home. By using heat treatment, we can avoid letting harsh chemicals into your home and guarantee that the bed bugs will be eradicated. We offer a 90 day guarantee so that you have peace of mind. We will come to your home and complete a free inspection. You can then have our one-time heat treatment without having to sign any annual or long term contracts.
Bed Bug Detection
Detecting bed bugs with the human eye is very difficult. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack, especially in the early stages. Early detection is crucial, however, to eradicating these pesky insects. Today, we are fortunate to have many tools and methods to help in the early detection, saving you time, money, and the embarrassment of a full blown infestation. Bed bugs multiply rapidly, so you need to act fast.
When inspecting for bed bugs, it can be difficult to know if you have successfully located all infestations as a room is not always limited to just one. This, along with knowing that all infestations have been fully treated, is important to ensure complete eradication of the infestations. Our traps and monitors can do just that. They enable you to track the progress of bed bug treatment so you know when all infestations have been treated properly.
Locating the bugs is very limited not only due to their small size and nocturnal behavior, but because of where they are capable of hiding. Bed bug “hideouts” are not limited to the mattress and box spring. They are also found in flooring, walls, furniture, drapery, electrical outlets, ceiling and wall fixtures, and even electronics. This makes other detection tools and methods essential in properly locating and treating all bed bug infestations.
The latest technology in bed bug detection doesn’t rely on time consuming, non-reliable visual inspection. Instead, it uses scent as the method of detection. Unique proudly offers this latest method, Canine Scent Detection. Dogs are the perfect tool since they use scent rather than vision to detect an infestation. Remember, early infestations may be limited to just a few eggs and normally go undetected. Yet, canines have the ability to detect as few as one live bed bug or viable egg. Research shows they are even able to discriminate live bugs and viable eggs from dead bugs, fecal matter and cast skins.
Our dog’s skill of pinpointing the exact site of infestation rather than searching an entire room or unit also saves an enormous amount of time. He can locate infestations that are not visible to the human eye; places such as an outlet, a baseboard, along a carpet tack strip, or inside electronic equipment.
This precise accuracy of our canine also provides you the ability to “Go Green”. Dogs can isolate the specific area of infestation. So there is no need to use an excessive amount of chemicals that are sometimes applied when treating an entire room.
Mattress encasements are effective tools for not only prevention, but detection of the presence of bed bugs. Their special tight zipper prevents the bugs from getting in or out of the encasement. Our mattress encasements have no seams, pockets or folds, which tend to be popular hiding spots for bed bugs. Along with being bed bug proof, they are dust mite proof and water proof, as well.
Another easy-to-use detection tool is Bug Domes. It uses a small heating element covered by a plastic dome. As it attracts bed bugs, its special glue traps the bugs for inspection. It’s small and low profile enables it to be slid under a bed or nightstand. When the glue trap is full, simply replace it with a replaceable glue trap.
The Insect Interceptor is another trap that is easy and inexpensive to use. Placing these under the legs of bed frames and upholstered furniture helps intercept and capture the bed bugs. They are pitfall style plastic cups with a textured exterior that enables the bugs to climb up the device. The inside well, however, is slick and coated with talc, making it impossible for the bugs to travel up or out of the device. These traps provide around-the-clock protection and require little maintenance. When using these devices, pull the bed away from the wall and make sure that comforters, dust ruffles, and any other linens are not in contact with the floor. This prevents the bugs from taking any other possible path, forcing them to travel into the interceptors.
Our CO2 Monitor uses natural carbon dioxide to monitor and verify the presence of bed bugs. It has a unique capability of awakening sleeping bed bugs and trapping them. This is very beneficial considering bed bugs can survive for over a year without coming out to feed on a host.
One other form of bed bug detection that you hope to never encounter is bed bug bites. Without proper prevention and the use of canine scent detection, quality encasements, domes, interceptors, or monitors, bites may often be the first sign of an infestation. They usually come in groups of threes and are more likely to be found in areas of the body with less hair. While some people have very little reaction to the bites, others can swell up severely and need to seek medical attention. You need to take action before you, a client in your hotel, or a patient in your extended care facility suffers from actual bed bug bites.
The bottom line is that the more detection tools you utilize, the more likely you are to detect early infestations when they are easiest to control.
Bed Bug Prevention
The bed bug is a highly invasive insect which is doubling in numbers each year. Its resurgence has made it important for everyone to take proactive measures. Bed bugs are increasingly being encountered in homes, apartments, hotels, hospitals, dormitories, stores, movie theaters, and modes of public transportation. The recent rise of infestations is being attributed to increased travel, improved treatments of other insects, and the lack of public awareness. Due to its illusive behavior and ability to multiply quickly, prevention is key.
Familiarity of this blood feeding parasite’s behavior and appearance is crucial to identifying and preventing them. Bed bugs are nocturnal, being most active when we sleep.
When doing a bed bug inspection there are other signs, aside from the actual bug, you need to look for on the sheets, pillowcases, mattresses, and other nearby areas. The first sign is the nymph’s skin (eggshell), which is molted five times before maturity. These will appear light-brown and oval. Also, keep your eye out for bright red stains, which can occur if the blood engorged bed bug is crushed after feeding. Dark-brown blood spots or smears may be found, as well. These are the result of the bug excreting while feeding on its host.
Bed Bug Tips
Whether you’re an occasional or frequent traveler, steps should be taken to prevent bringing home any unwanted guests. Minimizing your risk of bed bug infestation can easily be done by investing in pillow protectors, a mattress cover, luggage and clothing encasements, and disposable laundry bags. Using these, along with following simple inspection tips, will prevent you from infesting your home when you return from your travels.
Tips to follow:
Pull all bedding back from the mattress. Inspect for bed bugs, light-brown molted skins, dark-brown markings from defecation while feeding, and bright red stains from a blood engorged bug that has been crushed.
Be thorough in your inspection, including all edges and seams of the box springs, mattress, and bedding.
Examine all wood and upholstered furniture, paying close attention to areas around any tufts or buttons on the fabric.
Purchase both pillow protectors and bed bug mattress covers. These items should be taken with you anytime you’re going for an overnight stay away from home.
Use luggage racks when packing or unpacking rather than setting your luggage on the floor, bed or upholstered chair.
Use luggage and clothing encasements. They protect your luggage and belongings from bed bugs while traveling.
Use dissolvable laundry bags for any bedding or clothing that may have come in contact with bed bugs.
After returning home, undress on a hard surface floor rather than on carpet if you suspect bed bugs are on your clothing.
Hand wash items that are unable to be put into the washing machine. Luggage and items that are unable to be washed should be vacuumed, paying close attention to any seams or folds.
Remember, it is much easier and less expensive to prevent bed bugs versus treat for them. These bothersome pests can not only be a nuisance to you and your family, but an embarrassment as well. Take proactive measure by investing in mattress and box springs encasements, mattress covers, pillow protectors, Climbup insect interceptors, luggage and clothing encasements, and dissolvable laundry bags. This, along with following simple cleaning and inspection tips, will save you from an infestation of these rapidly spreading pests. It is imperative to increase public awareness before we see a further rise in the bed bug population.
Safeguarding your home from these pesky insects starts with investing in pillow protectors, mattress and box spring encasements, and Climbup Insect Interceptors. The use of these items, along with following simple cleaning and inspection tips, can save you the hassle and inconvenience of an infestation. Once these preventive measures are in place, you can rest assured that your home will be safe from bed bug infestations.
Tips to follow:
All bedding should be laundered on a regular basis in water that is at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam cleaning at a high temperature is another option.
Regular vacuuming of all floors, baseboards, and furniture. Use the brush and crevice tools to ensure all hiding places are cleaned. Make sure to dispose of the vacuum bag properly. It’s also important to keep the vacuum itself clean, so you’re not creating a new home for the bed bugs.
Thoroughly inspecting any second hand furniture that is purchased. Avoid bringing used mattresses into your home. Second hand clothing and drapery should also be immediately inspected and laundered at high temperatures.
Reducing clutter helps to decrease the number of hiding places for bed bugs.
Open drapes and windows to let the sunshine and air into your home. Bed bugs do not like light or fresh air.
Keep pets off beds. Dogs and cats are bed bug attractors. Your pets should have their own bed, which is frequently aired out and vacuumed.
Use box spring & mattress encasements. These will eliminate hiding spots. The encasement’s light color will also enable you see bed bugs easier. Make sure the encasements are specifically designed for bed bugs.
Invest in pillow protectors.
Purchase Insect Interceptors. These are inexpensive, yet valuable, protection aids. These devices, which are placed on the leg of each bed, prevent another path which the bugs are able to travel to reach their host.
Invest in Bug Domes. These small, low profile monitors/traps use a heating element to attract bed bugs. They are also coated with a special glue to hold any caught bed bugs and insects for inspection. Due to their small size, they are easily placed under a bed or nightstand.
Use CO2 Monitors for around-the-clock monitoring.
Use of a Bed Bug monitor. Its new technology attracts and traps bed bugs.
Isolate the bed from the wall and nightstands. Do not allow any bedding to touch the floor.
