Bed bugs may not be all that nice a topic to be talking about and many of you will be shivering with the thought of them ever existing but they are a reality and people need to be made aware of these little creatures. Most of you will have heard of them but have never seen them before. I guarantee just about everyone remembers the saying "don't let the bed bugs bite" as many of us would have heard that as we were being put to bed by our parents. I know I new that saying but never really thought any more about it other than that was what was said at bedtime.
Obviously this saying came about because many, many years ago there really were bed bugs that were living in beds. These little creatures lived off blood yes that is right they loved to feed on human or animal blood. This of course then left people with swollen bites that were sore and aggravating let alone ugly. These creatures were rampant in the slums compared to the wealthier areas but they really did not discriminate and would attack anyone.
Over the centuries these bed bugs were kept to a minimum because of the better sanitary conditions and the use of pesticides. Of course this made for a better nights sleep for all. But of course not all countries have decent santitary conditions or pesticides so there are still places that have these little blighters biting them over and over again. Unfortunately for them these creatures do not only like to live in beds but also furniture where they bite you while you are sitting and not just sleeping.
If you are wondering why I am telling you all this, it is because - now wait for it - yes they are back! Why? I'm not sure but they are back. There have been cases in people's homes, hotels, boarding houses and so on. Even the clean ones! If you want to know what they look like then I will tell you. They have flat oval bodies and are about a quarter of an inch long. They are a rusty color and sort of resemble a cockroach. Yucky huh? Well the good news is they really are not harmful other than leaving you with annoying bites. They are not venomous at all.
If you think that you have bed bugs in your bed or home, just like other little annoying creatures then you can have a pest eradicator come and get rid of them. Yes it is as easy as that! I would suggest that you get onto it straight away as they will thrive and multiply before you know it. And apart from that you will not have a good nights rest while they are there.
If you do get bitten by a bed bug then treat it like a mosquito bite. Use some ice if you have swelling and apply good old calamine lotion for the itch. They will eventually go away unless you keep sleeping with them!
Hence, it is going to be harder for you to realize that they are already in your bedrooms or living room. During the day, bed bugs normally hide themselves so well that finding them can be a tedious job. However, there are several common places that you can look out to see whether your house has become their dwellings or not.
Their flat bodies make them easier to conceal themselves in cracks and crevices within your furniture so try and look around that area a lot. You can usually find them hiding there or sometimes you can also find their eggs. Find any wooden area of your house and see whether there's any crack that can create a suitable hiding place for bed bugs. You will be surprised to discover how a crack that can only fit the edge of a credit card can fit a few bed bugs in them.
People don't call them bed bugs if they are not easily found around your bed area, so beds and mattresses are another popular spots for bed bugs. Do a self inspection every week by lifting your mattresses up and check between the cracks and crevices of your bed frames.
Don't forget to check between the seams of your mattresses. Sometimes you can detect their presence by the black patches they leave behind. That is one strong sign of bed bugs existence. It is also a good practice to clean your linens and duvets every once in a while to keep them away from the beds, apart from trying to find them hiding in the area.
During the day, the bright sunlight is something that bed bugs really hate. This makes them tend to hide in dark shady areas of your house. Have a short trip to your cellar or basement, the areas that don't get most of the sunlight. Look beneath all the boxes and tools that you've kept untouched for a long time. It might be the perfect time to clean things up a bit while searching for any signs of bed bugs.
Meanwhile, in your living room, try an look behind your sofa or underneath them. If your house has a lot of furniture in it, then finding bed bugs could be a little harder since there will be so many places that are perfect for them to hide. Move your furniture around and who knows you might hit a jackpot by finding the bed bugs breeding place by surprise.
Finally if you use wall-to-wall carpet for your rooms, bed bugs can also be found underneath or around the edge of the carpet. However, if your carpet is fixed to the floor, then checking underneath the carpet might not be possible. If no bed bug signs can be spotted around the edge of the carpet, you can hope that no bed bugs are present underneath it.
These are just some of the popular spots that you can normally find bed bugs lying around in numbers or on their own. By frequently cleaning and dusting all areas in your house, not only can you prevent bed bugs infestation, but you can also drive them away from their normal hideouts. So bottom line is, maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep you house clean all the time for your ease of mind.
Both Susan Dean & Ahmad Abdullah are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Susan Dean has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Check, Acne Treatment and Eye Care. Susan Dean is a successful webmaster and publisher of She provides lots of handy hints and advice on. Susan Dean's top article generates over 1500000 views. to your Favourites.
Ahmad Abdullah has sinced written about articles on various topics from Shopping, Gift Ideas and Get Rid of Bed Bugs. Ahmad writes regularly on several websites including his site where he shares information on. Ahmad Abdullah's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.