How Hard is it to Catch Bed Bugs?
WouterMany people assume that bedbugs are contagious, but that’s not true. It’s important to note that bedbugs do not transmit disease through direct contact, but can easily travel on clothing and household items. This makes it vital to take extra precautions to prevent an infestation. If you suspect that you’ve been exposed to bedbugs, quarantine your home. You should also wash your clothing at 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
The most common way to treat bedbug infestations is by using an insecticide. Chemical insecticides are widely available and have been used for decades. DDT, for example, was widely used by bedding manufacturers in the twentieth century. It can be difficult to detect bedbugs, but if you spot them quickly, you can remove them by using a hair dryer set at high heat. You can also carpet-bomb your home using pyrethrin-based pesticides.
You can also inspect the interior of your home using a flashlight and a flat-edged object. Be sure to inspect cracks and joints, and turn over furniture to check underneath. You should also check upholstered furniture, drapes, around window frames, behind loose wallpaper, and even inside a picture frame or alarm clock.
When it comes to catching bedbugs, it’s important to remember that they will only bite you if they have easy access to you. While bedbugs prefer to infest human hosts, they will feed on other mammals and birds. They can move about five feet from their source of food and can survive for up to twenty minutes without a blood meal. Once they have infested your home, they may be difficult to get rid of completely.
