One of the only forms of respite we get from life and stress is the beauty of sleep. When sleep is constantly interrupted, you will discover your quality of life is greatly affected. But it isn’t just a lack of sleep. Imagine waking up with dozens of red spots on your body, bug bites that happen in the middle of the night without warning.

Unfortunately for you, this is a sign of something terrible: your mattress has become a home for bed bugs. Even if you encounter bed bugs in Hurricane, UT or St. George, UT, the effect is the same: bed bugs love the dark spaces that a mattress provides. And the red marks on your body that may appear after a rough night? Those are not just bites. The bed bugs’ primary diet is drawing blood from humans and animals for sustenance.

The bed bug bites are more than just a single itchy spot that might appear from a spider bite or mosquito sting. Their bites usually appear in multiple spots depending on the number of bugs hidden in the mattress. If you notice spots of blood staining your sheets, this is also a sign that bed bugs have taken up residence. Of course, the most obvious sign that you have a bed bug problem is to see them crawling around. Bed bugs are flat and tiny reddish-brown insects with dull coloration; most people who see them are reminded of small apple seeds.

Bed bugs can infest more than just your mattress. They can thrive on any piece of furniture, from sofas to fabric chairs. This includes the beds of children and pets. The situation gets worse the longer the bed bugs are allowed to multiply: females can lay up to 400 eggs in their lifetime.

Here are some additional facts about bed bugs:

• They can develop from the egg to adults in just 21 days.
• Their ideal temperature is 65°F to 80°F, which matches the interior temperature of human homes perfectly.
• Humans move around during the night, so if you see dull red or brown stains, that may be one or many crushed bed bugs.
• Darker spots on mattresses may be bed bug excrement.
• Bed bugs can spread disease. If all the other signs are there and you find yourself getting ill more often than you used to, you have a bed bug infestation on your hands!

You can see how awful bed bugs can be for everyone in the house. There are a few things you should do to begin removing these pests.

1. Clean your clothes and sheets. Washing your clothes can only do so much, but the heat of a dryer will kill any bed bug that may remain. Then, prepare for the professionals at Pest Off Pest Control by sealing your clothes and sheets in plastic bags for protection.
2. Clean and vacuum the room of the offending furniture, making sure to clean the headboard and baseboard thoroughly. If your mattress rests on a frame, leave it there, as it gives it some immediate protection for the carpet. If your mattress has no frame, there’s no need to worry as long as everything is vacuumed up in the end.
3. Throw away the contents of the vacuum outside of the house and examine the room for additional signs of bed bugs (such as excrement or shed skin). Also examine other rooms and other pieces of furniture for the same signs.
4. Check power outlets, as bed bugs can hide here as well.
5. Avoid solving the bed bug problem yourself. There is no offense given to anyone who tries, but buying chemicals and other solutions at the hardware store will not be enough to prevent bed bugs from returning. You need a team of professionals who specialize in their removal.

Once you are prepared, schedule an appointment with Pest Off Pest Control in Hurricane, UT, and the surrounding area. There used to be a time when all affected furniture would be burned or thrown away, but those days are long over. We use time-tested and environment-friendly chemicals and techniques to remove bed bugs permanently, providing you peace of mind and the opportunity for a good night’s rest. Call us today!