As a pest control professional, I help my clients get rid of bed bugs on a regular basis. It is no surprise that bed bugs are commonly found in private residences including apartments, condominiums and single-family homes. Once diagnosed with an infestation, people often question where they came from. By far the most common place from which people import bed bugs into their home is from hotels, but you can also get them from health care facilities, shelters, schools, trains, planes, movie theaters, furniture rental outlets, office buildings and more.
Recently, a close friend turned to me for advice when she discovered bed bugs in her home shortly after returning from a family vacation. Unbeknownst to her and her family, the bed bugs had infested their luggage at the hotel and hitched a ride right into their home.
The characteristic that makes bed bugs so difficult to detect and contain is that they are skilled at squeezing into cracks and crevices and will often go unseen by the casual observer. They avoid light at all costs and will move to quieter places if they feel exposed. In fact, most people are not even aware that they have bed bugs until they discover the tell-tale itchy red bumps caused by bed bug bites.
In the past, most effective bed bug treatments used by pest control companies contained harmful chemicals and toxins. When my friend called me in a panic, she stressed the need for an effective solution that would not be harmful to her children and two Labradors. Fortunately, there are several botanical treatments used in the market, today, that are both effective and safe for your family and your pets.
Anyone who has battled the nasty little critters understands the need for a treatment that will resolve the problem immediately. However, most moms are also looking for a product that will come with little to no negative side effects.
My go-to eco-friendly bed bug treatment comes from EcoSmart. Their line of safe pesticide products are made from natural ingredients such as peppermint and rosemary oil. While these plant oils affect many types of pests, they do not affect people or pets. What I like most about the EcoSmart products is that they are not only affordable but they are just as effective as synthetic chemicals, killing bed bugs and larvae without having to breath in harmful toxins.
I have found much success while using the EcoSmart products and would recommend those dealing with a bed bug infestation to invest in a pest control company that uses their products. I also suggest that people purchase the following items from EcoSmart to use as a preventative measure:
- The bed bug killer for cracks and crevices is ideal for applications on bed frames, in floor boards and along base boards
- The bed bug killer for mattresses and carpets is used on soft surfaces such as mattresses and rugs
- The travel size bed bug killer is ideal to take when travelling to both kill and repel bugs
If you are concerned about bed bugs becoming a problem in your home, I recommend that you get in touch with a professional pest control company for inspection and control measures.
Bio:
Robin Mountjoy is a respected pest control expert, serving the industry through the National Pest Management Association, Virginia Pest Management Association and Northern Virginia Pest. You can find Robin’s latest articles on everything from termite damage to how to get rid of bed bugs on the Connor’s Pest Control blog.