Bed bugs are on the top of the list of pests no one wants to deal with. You have probably heard stories of people throwing away furniture or moving out of rental properties because they couldn’t get away from the bed bugs. This is not the way to handle it. In this article, we will look at 5 things not to do when you encounter bed bugs in your home. 

Don’t do these 5 things..

1. Don’t throw your mattress away! Mattresses are expensive first of all. But secondly, if you move your mattress out of your home, you are guaranteed to be distributing the bed bugs through out the rest of the home while you are dragging it outside. You are better off having a professional treat the mattress with heat and/or chemical. Then encasing the mattress in a seal proof cover. This will contain the bed bugs while they are being treated. 
2. Don’t mistake the little bites on you for ant bites. Those bites are normally your first sign that you have encountered bed bugs. They leave their signature three bites in a straight line. Then, they leave behind an itchy red bump in each place they bit. Catching bed bugs early is imperative. Bed bugs hitch a ride from the most inconspicuous places, so noticing the signs early is what prevents an infestation in your entire home.
3. Don’t give away your furniture when you have bed bugs! Its irresponsible and ineffective. Spreading bed bugs to thrift stores or even a helpless consumer is about the worst thing you can do to someone without them knowing.
4. Don’t just put your sheets in the dryer! While it is true that heat treatment is effective to kill bed bugs, they are going to be in all sorts of crevasses in your furniture and/or mattress. Just washing your sheets will not solve the problem at all. 
5. Don’t try to treat it yourself! DIY treatments are rarely effective considering bed bugs are becoming resistant to the chemicals sold over the counter.  Hiring a professional that has access to professional grade chemical and heat machines are a sure fire way to know you are getting it handled the first time. This way you won’t have to buy new furniture multiple times over. Call Your Local Pest Detective to get a free inspection!