BED BUGS
– A GROWING PROBLEM YOU COULD BRING HOME

With increased global travelling and the wide range of accommodation alternatives available today, bed bugs have more chances of hitchhiking in your luggage. Anything that is brought into your home can be a risk. Apart from luggage, second-hand furniture and books, used mattresses and bedding can be carriers.

Even vacant and seemingly clean homes may have bed bugs in them, as adult bed bugs can survive for up to a year without feeding. They can also move from flat to flat.

Easy to spread, hard to get rid of

As bed bugs can hide in a wide range of places in a home, they can be hard to eradicate. The fact that they multiply quickly can make it hard to eradicate them. Bed bugs are an elusive pest that cannot be controlled with do-it-yourself measures. The best thing is to bring in a pest control professional as soon as possible after the detection of bed bugs.


Expensive to treat

Bringing a pest control company into your home can be a costly affair depending on the size of the infestation and the number of rooms affected. Sometimes the technician can investigate, diagnose and treat the problem all in one visit. This is not always possible, and you may need repeated treatments. The type of treatment will also have different price tags, for example chemical or heat treatment. According to HomeAdvisor, on average a studio or 1-bedroom flat can cost between 300 – 900 USD per visit, while heat-treating a 3-4-bedroom property can amount to 800 – 2,500 USD, and for large homes with severe cases it can cost 4,000 USD or more (https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/environmental-safety/bed-bug-treatment/).

How to protect your home

Anyone can be affected by bed bugs, but there are a few measures you can take to reduce your risk. When out travelling, inspect the hotel room before you bring in your luggage. Look especially around the bed and headboard, behind picture frames and furniture. Don't place your suitcase on the bed or under it to prevent any bed bugs from hitchhiking with you home. You can place a Nattaro Scout™ detection trap in the room when out travelling and when you get home to make sure you are bed bug-free.

When buying second-hand furniture, check it for any signs of bed bugs or their droppings and never purchase used mattresses. In such situations, encase a mattress in a protective bed bug cover.