Bed bugs, a tiny creature that produces a massive problem in every household. A creature that is very resilient and doesn’t go away quickly. However, it’s a good thing there are methods to eliminate them.
When treating bed bugs or during extermination, there are certain things that you should do and follow to provide excellent results. Many homeowners complain that their extermination treatment could be more effective because they often commit mistakes and must follow the guide.
Bed bug extermination is a challenging process, and while trying to eliminate these pests, people make common mistakes. Avoiding these common mistakes can achieve better results when treating bed bug infestations. For your efforts to save time, here are the common mistakes you should avoid when treating bed bug infestations.
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Lack of Proper Identification and Inspection
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is the need for proper identification and inspection. Bed bugs have a similar appearance to some insects, and it’s easier to identify them with a thorough inspection. Aside from that, with proper inspection, it’s easier to determine the correct spot where the infestation of bed bugs is happening.
When eradicating bed bugs from your home, a professional can help locate the correct areas where the infestation occurs. Locating these areas can help you have better results when exterminating. And the professional you should hire must have experience and credentials that they can inspect adequately.
2. Insufficient Preparation
Another common mistake homeowners make when dealing with bed bugs is the need for preparation. Homeowners often underestimate the severity of the infestation and assume that bed bugs will go away on their own.
Before dealing with these pesky creatures, you should know their behavior and what kind of treatment is lethal for them. Aside from that, people should have remembered to declutter and not wash and dry their infested items properly. Clearing your things before the process helps a lot since it will be easier to locate the bed bugs.
3. Inadequate Treatment Coverage
Treating bed bugs in a specific place in your house where they are visible is not a very good choice. It would be best not to neglect to treat your entire house during the extermination. Inadequate treatment coverage is like solving a jigsaw puzzle with a missing piece.
Treating only specific areas in your home will not cure the bed bug infestation. These creatures are very resilient, and they can increase their population again. When exterminating them, you should check every hidden and hard-to-reach spot since this is where they usually hide.
4. Improper Use of Pesticides or DIY Methods
“A bed bug! I can remove them on my own” is the mistake you should avoid when treating bed bugs. DIY is only partially ineffective, but it is the least efficient compared to other methods. It is still good for them to lessen the chance of bed bug infestation, but DIY methods can potentially risk your safety.
Another thing is the improper use of pesticides. These chemicals are, without a doubt, effective in treating bed bug infestation. However, you are not immune to them. There are still potential risks to your health.
Suppose you want to use a chemical against bed bugs. In that case, it’s highly recommended to use proper equipment and gear when using them, or better leave it to a bed bug exterminator in Atlanta instead.
5. Inconsistent Monitoring and Follow-Up
When exterminating bed bugs, you should understand that the fight doesn’t stop right after you start the process. There’s still post-treatment monitoring to ensure that everything is clear, and there will be no chance for them to appear again anytime soon.
For better results, it’s highly recommended to monitor the areas where bed bugs are found to do a follow-up inspection from time to time. Neglecting to do so can make them increase their number again and make the treatment go to waste. So always be vigilant against these creatures and regularly check them to avoid infestations.
6. Ignoring Adjacent or Connected Units
Bed bugs can be found in one area in your house, like cracks and openings. For that reason, it’s always possible that they move to adjoining areas and move there when you are undergoing the extermination process.
As mentioned earlier, neglecting all the areas of your home can result in an infestation again. And suppose you are living in an apartment or a house with a joint or connecting area. In that case, contacting your neighbor or building management is highly recommended to treat the problem.
Having your neighbor and building management aware of the situation can help resolve the problem quickly, and they should also do an extermination process to prevent bed bugs from going to them and coming back to your home.
7. Failure to Address Underlying Causes
Misunderstanding the cause of the problem is common when treating bed bugs. However, identifying and addressing the root of the infestation often have better results. One thing to remember is that bed bugs can’t travel with your pets but instead stick with your luggage or furniture.
If you have gaps and cracks in your home, there’s a chance there’s where the bed bugs came from. Hiring an expert can help determine the cause and can help you prevent future infestations.
8. Not Seeking Professional Help When Needed
DIY methods have a limited range and treatment coverage and are less efficient than treating them with a professional’s help.
Initiating DIY methods in your home can only make the bed bug leave temporarily, and they can occur again anytime soon. The benefit of having a professional is knowing what type of treatment they have to do and how to keep you safe from using specific chemicals.
Hiring an expert during this treatment is highly recommended since they have the proper gear and experience dealing with these creatures.
Say Goodbye to Bed Bugs!
These mistakes are common to experience, especially if it is your first time. That is why with proper guidance, you can consistently achieve better results.
Learning from your mistakes and doing the process again with the experience and understanding of the situation improves the chances of successful bed bug eradication.
For that reason, proper identification, thorough preparation, and comprehensive treatment are essential since they will significantly help when dealing with pesky creatures.