How to Prevent Bed Bugs in an Apartment (7 Easy Ways)

If you’ve ever spent a night in a bedbug-infested apartment, you probably already know what a nuisance it is to wake up with red and itchy bumps.

Bed bugs come out at night from their hiding places to dine on sleeping, unsuspecting humans.

They are not only annoying, but an unmanaged bed bug infestation in your apartment can also take a toll on your health.

This makes it essential to prevent bed bugs in your apartment to enjoy a peaceful and good night’s sleep every night!

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How to Prevent Bed Bugs in Your Apartment

Bed bugs are extremely resilient, excessively good at hiding, and difficult to kill.

For all these reasons, it is generally hard and expensive to manage a full-blown infestation and get pest control done. In such a case, prevention is your best bet.

Scroll down to take a look at how to steer clear of bed bugs and prevent an infestation in your apartment.

Always Check Second Hand Goods for Bed Bugs

Think of bed bugs as sneaky hitchhikers. They are excellent hiders, and their inflated bodies fit in the smallest and tightest cracks, cervices, and folds.

When you bring second-hand goods, especially used furniture or mattresses, into your home, these pesky bugs can seamlessly infiltrate into your home.

This makes it important to check second-hand goods before bringing them home. Here are a few signs that could help you determine if an item has bed bugs.

Redish rusty stains. They are caused when a bed bug is crushed due to external pressure or weight.
Tiny black or dark brown spots. These spots are caused due to bed bug excrement and may look like tiny dots made with a marker pen.
Pale yellow skin sheds or eggs and eggshells. Bed bug eggs and eggshells are usually white and about 1mm long in size.
If the item is heavily infested, you may see live bed bugs.

Check for these signs of bed bug infestation in the seams of the couches and chairs, between and under the seat, bed frames, and in the fold of the fabric. Bed bugs can also hide in the drawer joints and even the head of a screw.

Even seemingly harmless objects, such as electronics, can be the ideal hiding spot for bed bugs.

Therefore, inspect second-hand items carefully, even if they look clean or hardly used. This is the only way to make sure you don’t bring uninvited guests into your apartment.

Use Protective Covers for Mattresses

Using protective mattress covers can be the difference between an easily manageable bed bug problem and a huge and resilient infestation.

It is best to purchase pesticide-treated covers to control bed bugs. It is also a good idea to opt for light-colored covers.

This will allow you to spot bed bugs quickly and easily. Keep in mind that the earlier you realize you have bed bugs in the apartment, the easier it is to control them and avoid a bed bug infestation.

Another reason why you’d want to use a protective cover for mattresses is that it will eliminate hiding spots for bed bugs, as they love to hide in and under the mattress.

However, a high-quality cover (encasement) can keep them from infesting your mattress. Be sure to purchase encasement that resists tearing.

Also, check your covers regularly for holes to make sure you are fully armored up against bed bugs at all times.

Vacuum Your Apartment Regularly

If you want to prevent bed bugs in your home, make sure you vacuum your apartment regularly. Bed bugs are not restricted to bed and furniture.

They hide in carpets as well. Therefore, vacuuming is an excellent way of getting rid of them. The high-pressure suction of the vacuum will pull out bed bugs from their hidings spots.

However, you will have to vacuum your apartment very thoroughly for effective results. You must also know how to find bed bugs.

Make sure you reach all the nooks and crannies of the apartment. Vacuum under the bed and remove your couches or other furniture to vacuum underneath.

You can also use the vacuum cleaner on your mattress, couches, and other similar furniture items.

It must be mentioned that this tip will not work effectively unless you vacuum your apartment frequently, regularly, and thoroughly.

Once you are done vacuuming, remove the bag and place the trash in a sealed garbage bag (plastic bag). Dispose of trash in an outdoor garbage can. This will prevent bed bugs from escaping and returning back to your house.

De-clutter Your Apartment

Bed bugs are found in cluttered apartments. This is because clutter provides bed bugs with plenty of places to hide.

Therefore, it can be extremely hard to eliminate even a few bed bugs in a cluttered space. An easy solution is to get rid of the clutter.

Doing so will not only keep bed bugs at bay, but it will also enhance the look of your apartment. A good place to start is to eliminate clutter against the walls.

These areas are more susceptible to infestation than others. While you are at it, make sure you clean and organize your wardrobe as well.

If you have noticed signs of a bed bug infestation in your apartment, try storing your clothes in airtight, vacuum-sealed bags. This will keep the bed bugs out of your wardrobe while you exterminate the pests.

Also, refrain from placing empty boxes or other such stuff under the bed, over a cupboard, or any other place that may make a good hiding spot for bed bugs.

For example, instead of an open cloth basket, use plastic bags to keep unwashed clothes.

Donate, recycle, or discard any belongings that you don’t need.

Travel Smart!

While we bring happy memories and souvenirs from vacations, sometimes, bed bugs tag along. You are highly susceptible to coming in contact with bed bugs when you travel.

Staying in hotels, traveling in public transport, and using public laundry facilities can increase your chances of transferring bed bugs into your home.

This makes it important to be extra vigilant about bed bugs when traveling. It is advisable to keep all your belongings in airtight, vacuum bags.

Avoid unpacking and hanging your clothes in cupboards in hotels if you are not staying for long. Once you get home, wash and heat-dry your clothes and bedding.

It will ensure you eliminate any bed bugs you may have been exposed to and stop an infestation in its track!

Bed Bug-Proof Your Apartment

There are various steps that you can take to bedbug-proof your house. These preventative measures will keep bed bugs out of your house and help you avoid an infestation.

Start by covering up your power outlets. Bed bugs use power outlets to hide.

They often hide into the socket holes. In some cases, bed bugs even travel through electrical outlets, spreading the infestation to all parts of the apartment.

Therefore, make sure you buy socket covers for the power outlets in your apartment.

Another trick is to isolate different areas of your house. So, for example, if you have noticed signs of bed bug infestation in the lounge, seal it off immediately to keep bed bugs from spreading to other areas.

You can install door sweeps on the bottom of your doors to block passage for traveling.

Also, take the time to seal cracks and crevices around light sockets and in the floorboard to further discourage movement through the walls.

Consider Investing In a Portable Heating Chamber

Purchasing a portable heating chamber may be the best decision you make! A portable heating chamber is a device designed to get rid of bed bugs by exposing them to high temperatures.

Bed bugs generally thrive at temperatures as low as 46°F. However, they are not a fan of heat and die if their body temperature reaches 113°F.

If you think an item may be infested, you can use a portable heating chamber to treat it. Heating chambers are available in different shapes and sizes.

Some are big enough to accommodate large pieces of upholstered furniture. However, they are generally designed to treat smaller items.

Some common items that you can successfully treat in a heating chamber include clothes, beddings, books, suitcases, pillows, cushions, etc.

However, make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before using your portable heating chamber to treat any object.

The Bottom Line

Bed bugs can be a real nuisance. However, with a little care and vigilance, it is possible to avoid these pesky bugs from infesting your apartment.

Use the tips and tricks discussed above to steer clear of bed bugs. Make sure you stay consistent. Bed bugs don’t rest and can infiltrate into your apartment at any time.

On the other hand, if you are dealing with a large-scale infestation, these preventative measures may not be enough to eliminate bed bugs from your apartment. In that case, it is best to seek professional help and first get the bed bug treatment done.

Professional exterminators will use various methods to put an end to the bed bug infestation in your home. Once they are done, you can follow these preventative tips to keep the bed bugs from returning!

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