The city of Houston is one of the most visited places in the United States. Houston has a large population of residence as well as a relatively large tourist population. Maybe it’s because everything is bigger in Texas: The attractions, the steaks, and the excitement. But one of the biggest problems in Houston isn’t very big at all. It turns out, the residents and tourists aren’t the only ones enjoying Houston’s hospitality: bed bugs are a large part of the population as well. Although a very tiny pest (and more of a nuisance than anything) the more you know about bed bugs, the more you’ll want to take extra precautions to keep them out of your house.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
These little guys are only 5 mm long from end to end, and they’re almost see-through. After they feed (and yes, they fill up on your blood), you can see them a bit easier. A few ways to spot bed bug activity in your home include:
- Bloodstains on the sheets left from feeding
- Rusty/dark-colored secretions on bedsheets and furniture
- Red bite marks in straight lines or zig-zags left on the skin
It’s important to know the signs of a bed bug infestation so you can address it quickly. While bed bugs might not be a severe health threat, if you’re attacked repeatedly, you’ll begin to develop skin irritations. Also, most people who incur a serious bed bug infestation will suffer from insomnia, even once the infestation is gone.
Prevention
Bed bugs will enter your home on anything they can cling to. They might crawl onto your clothes while you’re at work, or they can crawl into your suitcase when you go to a hotel. Another way to bring bed bugs into your home is by buying used furniture. Whether it’s a couch, a mattress, or even office chairs, you run the risk of bringing bed bugs in and allowing them to spread to all your other furniture. Make sure to check before bringing used furniture into your home.
Once they’re inside, bed bugs are incredibly hard to get rid of. But these tiny little pests hardly warrant spending a bunch of money on fixing the issue, right? Unfortunately, most people end up spending more money and time on trying to fix the problem themselves than they would have if they had called in the pros first.
You can spend tons of money on sprays, but these only affect the top layer of bed bugs. Vacuuming will get you the same results. While you may be able to get rid of the bed bugs on the outside of the mattress, couch, or chair, there could be thousands more bed bugs (and bed bug eggs) under the surface.
With money down the drain and more bed bugs waiting in the wings, you’ll quickly realize that you can’t solve the problem on your own. That’s why TNT Home & Commercial Services is the first call you should make. Our bed bug services are guaranteed to work to the core of the problem which will end up saving you time, money, and headache. We’ll even come out to your home at a convenient time to assess the depth of the infestation. To avoid sleepless nights, skin irritations, and money down the drain, call the professionals first. Reach out to TNT Home & Commercial Services today to get started.
Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control solutions.