Bed Bugs in Yates County

Yates County residents have had bed bug infestations in homes, apartments, and businesses in the past few years. It is important to deal with a bed bug infestation right away, before the problem becomes larger and harder to control. Ignoring bed bugs in the hope they will go away is never a good way to handle the situation because bed bugs are good at hiding and waiting for conditions to change. When confronted with bed bugs, here are some things you need to know and do:

• Know that over-the-counter remedies may not reach the hidden bed bugs and their eggs.
• Some bug sprays and powders may kill the bugs that the chemical lands on, but may not be effective for those that are hiding or the eggs that are laid within wall spaces, and may cause health problems for anyone living in the building where chemicals are being used within living spaces.
• It is necessary to declutter spaces where bed bugs are hiding; launder all clothing and fabrics that may contain bugs in water as hot as the fabric will tolerate and dry in a hot clothes dryer. Any product that cannot be laundered should be sealed in bags and placed in a deep freeze for several weeks.
• Caulk all crevices around floors, walls, ceilings, and woodwork. Remove loose carpets and seal loose wall paper seams. It may be necessary to bag up books, toys and electrical equipment that bugs have crawled into like televisions and VCRs.
• Steam machines can be effective to kill bugs on furniture, if the steam actually touches the bugs directly.
• Mattresses and box springs may need to be placed in encasements to keep bugs out or to contain them once they have invaded the bedding. Care must be taken to avoid any breaks in the encasement fabric. If items are being discarded because of bed bug contamination, mark the item so no one else decides to take it for their own use. This is one way the problem grows.
• If a bed bug problem exists in an apartment house, be aware that adjoining apartments need to be checked for infestations since bed bugs crawl on wiring in walls and go to other areas to escape chemical use. Treatments may be necessary for other apartments as well. Eggs also need to be removed or treated before they hatch. Bed bug eggs look like small grains of rice.