Bed Bug Prevention: A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Home

Practicing ways to prevent bedbugs is important, as it can be very difficult to get rid of them once you have them. Bedbugs can hide in very small areas that make it hard to continually check. They generally prefer warm areas with a lot of hiding places. Unfortunately, bedbugs are able to live in areas that appear clean and tidy, so vigilance is needed.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum cleaner

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Instructions

How to Prevent Bed Bugs

• 1

  Inspect any piece of furniture you bring into your home, especially anything that has been previously owned, for bedbugs. Look for cracks in the furniture where bedbugs can hide. Remember that the best way to prevent bedbugs is to keep them out your home home to begin with.

• 2

  Do not bring in any luggage or clothing after you have stayed in hotels, even if they appear clean. If you have come home from an international trip you should especially look out for bedbugs in your clothing and luggage. Bedbug infestations have been traced to Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and Central America.

• 3

  Repair any cracks or crevices in the exterior of your home.

• 4

  Repair or install new screens to prevent rodents, bats, and birds from entering your home with bedbugs.

• 5

  Perform regular housecleaning. Vacuum your mattress and clean up cluttered areas that can hide bedbugs. Put a plastic sheet over your mattress to keep any bedbugs from biting you, and preventing others from making it their home.