The best way to treat bed bugs is to not develop a problem with them in the first place. You will be happy to know that bed bug prevention is not difficult at all. It's just a matter of knowing a few little tricks. Below are some practical tips on bed bug prevention that we would like to share with you.

Vacuum

A good, chemical-free way to help avoid the spread of bed bugs is to vacuum any area where you would suspect bed bugs to be. Afterwards, immediately throw out the vacuum cleaner bag in a garbage bag or can that is tightly sealed. If you do this, you have to be careful as some surviving bed bugs or eggs - which are sticky and harder to remove - can escape or be transported by the vacuum or the attachments.

Do not bring home used furniture or bedding

Bed bugs can be transported to your home if you buy used mattresses, bedding, sofas, or similar items. If you do buy from a resale shop or garage sale, carefully inspect for bed bugs first. Bring them home in a plastic bag and wash them as soon as possible in hot water if they are machine washable. Otherwise have them dry cleaned or steam treated. Bed bugs cannot survive high temperatures so washing in cold water is not advised. Remember; bed bugs can live a long time, so don't assume these items will be free from them just because they haven't been used in a while.

Tips when traveling

You will want to take precautions against the spread of bed bugs when traveling. Your first step should be to find out what you can about the hotel before you make reservations and make sure there haven't been any bed bug reports.

When you first enter the room, check for bed bugs before you even unpack. Keep your clothing protected the best you can while in the room. When you come back home, inspect your luggage for any bugs that might have found their way into your belongings. This is not only an easy way to prevent bed bugs from spreading, but it's becoming increasingly more important when you consider recent news about hotel infestations.

Use protective covers

Since you are not able to wash every part of your bedding in hot water, and most pesticide applications and bed bug spray are not safe for bedding, you should invest in a good mattress cover. An appropriate bed bug resistant encasement would be the zippered kind that is also used to protect against dust allergies. These can be used to cover both the mattress and box spring. Be sure to get a pillow cover too.

If there already are bed bugs in the mattress, this will prevent them from getting out and biting you. If you don't already have bed bugs, this will help with bed bug prevention in that it makes it harder for them to make a home in the first place. You can find a variety of sizes and prices both online and in any place that sells other bedding items.

Make your surroundings less habitable for bugs

If you have less clutter in your home, there will also be fewer places for the bugs to hide and lay eggs. Do not have your bedding set up so that it is touching the floor, and avoid putting anything on your bed that doesn't belong there. You will want to make it harder for bed bugs to get at your bedding by keeping your bed away from the wall a bit. If you have any furniture such as a nightstand, position them so they do not come in contact with the bed or covers.

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Although these suggestions will not eliminate an infestation, they are quite useful for bed bug prevention. Best of all, these tips will either cost you a small amount of money or nothing at all. Anything that will reduce the likelihood of experiencing those annoying bed bug bites is worth the effort!