1. Beware of Secondhand and Antique Furniture
If you buy secondhand furniture or antiques, you've just exposed yourself to one of the most common ways of introducing bedbugs into your home. These clever little bloodsuckers can lay dormant for periods of up to 18 months by hiding in dark crevices, and used or old furniture provides them with an ideal environment in which to lay low.
When you pick up a new-to-you antique or buy a used piece of furniture, inspect it thoroughly before you bring it into your home. Check closely in any and all dark spaces that would be accessible to bugs for signs of habitation or eggs. Even better, pay a few bucks to have the item professionally cleaned before you use it.
2. Wash Your Sheets Frequently
You can also stop bedbugs from gaining a foothold in your bed by changing your linens at least once every week. Wash soiled fabrics in hot water and take care to store linens properly by keeping them folded up in a dedicated storage space.
3. Seal Holes and Cracks
Bedbugs usually first enter a home through tiny holes in floorboards and walls, so you should make an inspection around the house to ensure that they don't have a means of entry. Grab some caulk from a hardware store and seal off any cracks in the floor or walls to prevent bedbugs from getting inside.
4. Avoid Bedbug Bites by Vacuuming Regularly
To avoid painful and itchy bedbug bites, you've got to prevent these crafty insects from using you for food. It can be difficult to stop them from getting into your home, since they are adept at hiding and limit their activity to nighttime hours. However, one preventative measure you can take in your bedroom, other than keeping your linens clean, is to vacuum at least once weekly around the places they're most likely to set up shop.
Vacuum thoroughly around your bedposts, along your walls and in the corners of your bedroom. If you have other furniture in your room, pay special attention to the points at which that furniture comes in contact with your floor or carpet. Those are spots where bedbugs like to lay eggs.
5. Tips for Travelers
When you travel, it's a good idea to make a quick inspection of any hotel or hostel room you're going to stay in to check that it's not infested with bedbugs. If you find any signs of bedbug infestation, such as eggs, request a different room or stay at a different establishment. Once you get back home, take a look at your luggage and belongings before you bring them into the house to see whether any bedbugs found their way into your stuff. If you do find some critters in your things, unfold each and every item in your suitcase before going inside to make sure that no other insects are hiding out. Wash all your clothing before bringing it into your home and clean your luggage out thoroughly to make sure not only that all the bugs are gone but that any eggs lurking inside are also destroyed.
