How to Prevent Bed Bugs

Without any doubt at all, prevention is better than cure, particularly when you are dealing with bed bugs. With a reputation worldwide as the most difficult pest to get rid of, and as the bug "pandemic" contains across international borders, it makes sense to do everything possible to prevent bed bugs entering homes and accommodation venues.

Apart from good housekeeping (keep your home clean and tidy and check places that bed bugs might be living) and thorough maintenance of structures and furniture, effective prevention methods include mattress covers and bed bug insecticides.

If you detect these bugs – the best advice is to take immediate action to stop them from multiplying as they are known to do very quickly.

How to prevent bed bugs

Education must be on the top of this list. If you know what you are looking for, you will be prepared to deal with it. In accommodation venues, it is vital for staff to be trained so that they can check for possible infestation before the bugs start biting guests and chasing away business.

Accommodation, be it commercial or residential, should be well kept and properly maintained.

While secondhand furniture can be inexpensive and actually quite useful and effective decor items, it is essential to be sure any secondhand furniture bought is free from bed bugs to prevent contamination of other household furniture.

Mattress protection

Special mattress encasements may be used to prevent mattresses from becoming infested. The best have a built-in membrane that has been specially formulated to prevent bed bugs from getting through it. A second seamless mattress cover may be used over the encasement to improve bed sanitation. This can be removed regularly and washed, without risking bed bugs either getting in or out of the mattress.

Mattress protectors may also be used to encase - and therefore starve and kill - bed bugs that have made the mattress their home. If this is your motivation, remember that bed bugs can live for up to six months without sucking blood if the temperature is around 22 °C. If it is cooler than this, they can live even longer.

Bed bug traps

Since about 2009 various bed bug traps and monitors designed to catch bed bugs have made an appearance on the market. Some are designed as barriers, to stop the bugs from getting into beds.

Pest control experts and researchers say these traps are based on old technology but may be effective. Since they are inexpensive, they are often used in homeless shelters and in low income housing developments.

Bed bug insecticides

When it comes to preventing bed bugs using sprays, it is important to realize that regular household insecticides - the types that contain pyrethroid - are not effective. Furthermore, in practically every country in the world, insecticides for the control of bed bugs must be registered.

If being used for prevent bed bugs, insecticides will normally be sprayed in areas where the bugs would be thought to breed. Unfortunately the idea of an insect growth regulator has not been proven, and none have yet been registered for the control of bed bugs.