An Intimate Look At Bed Bugs

Most people don't realize they have bed bugs in their homes until bites are noticed. Due to the way Bed bugs hide, professional inspections are necessary to find bed bug infestations. Sometimes the presence of one or two bed bugs establishing themselves can be caught early enough as not to disrupt too much of a persons life. But, more often than not, infestations ranging from a few dozen or more bed Bugs to hundreds of them create a major inconvenience in the lives of many families today. According to PCT magazine bed bugs were more frequently found in single family homes and apartment communities. While hotels were reporting bed bugs they ranked the least in total reports when compared to homes and apartments. where bed bugs were found in mattresses, box springs, headboards, sofas, chairs, behind picture frames, and inside electrical outlets.

---

What do bed bugs look like?

The adult bed bug has a flat yet, rounded body, not much larger than an apple seed. Bed bugs can range in color from brown to red depending on when they fed last. After a feeding, bed bugs take on a darker red color which gradually fades to brown as it digests its meal. The young are born light in color and turn brown as they feed their way to maturation. Young bed bugs will look a ghostly, pale white to cream color until they first feed. Eggs look more like tiny grains of salt.

---

Where do you find bed bugs?

Bed bugs are commonly found in the bedroom, box springs, headboards and bed frames. Bed bugs will hide in furniture and fixtures that are close to their hosts. Frighteningly enough, bed bugs do not just hide in bedrooms, so they are not the only place of concern since feeding isn't always at night. Bed bugs are looking for human hosts inactive only long enough to provide a meal. Any place we sit, or rest can be a place of concern. Relaxing in a movie theater for two hours or kicking back in a recliner in your living room centers you as a target for feeding if they are present. You can also become a bed bug target just by taking  Uber across town.

---

What are bed bug bites like?

Since bed bug bites are painless, they can be difficult to identify at times, even for Physicians. Many of us experience reactions from bed bug bites similar to that of a mosquito or flea bite. According to the CDC, bites from bed bugs are not dangerous, unless an allergic reaction occurs. If at any time you feel that the bite is serious, seek medical help as soon as possible. The following are signs of bed bug bites:

Raised, red welts

Burning and itching

A localized rash

Lines or series of multiple bites

---

What are the signs of bed bugs?

Bed bugs are found in mattress seams, pillow tufts, and wooden slats under the supporting boxsprings of a bed. Without treatment, a bed bug population will quickly grow out of control moving into cracks and crevices near the bed. If let go, bed bugs will soon infest wall hangings, carpeting, night stands, drapes, wall outlets and more.

A bed bug infestation should be considered when red, itchy bite marks on the face, neck, arms, hands, or any other body parts develop. These bite marks may take up to 14 days to develop in some of us so it's important to look for other signs when considering bed bugs as the culprit
.

Dark stains on linens, mattress, box-spring or bed frame

Feces appears like small black spots.

Shed skins from molting

sweet yet musty odor released by bed bugs to attract others.

---

Watch Gladhill Services uncover a bed bug infestation in 2018

Watch this video to see what bed bugs look like on furniture. Caution: this video displays an extraordinary infestation of bed bugs. Note: bed bug feces will highlight bright white during a short segment. Bed bug eggs will illuminate like stars in another short segment to provide viewers with a detailed look at bed bug infestations. 

Sleeping With The Enemy?

Struggling to get rid of bed bugs?

Bed bugs are very good at hiding in the tiniest places, and most people have no idea they have them until they get bit. Gladhill Services listens to their customers concern, so we have put together a few easy do-it-yourself bed bug treatment options to help prevent and eliminate bed bugs from your home. Since bed bugs are active during the night and rarely seen by people, prevention is the best measure when dealing with these pests. However, if you do suspect bed bugs in your home, here are a few treatment options to help reduce bed bugs  until a professional arrives.

Quick Bed Bug Facts

• Bed bugs are blood-feeding pests that have made quite the resurgence in recent years.
• The more you know about bed bugs, the better your chances are of avoiding them.
• As their name warns, these pests live, feed and breed where you sleep.
• Bed bugs can go without food for more than six months.
• Bed bugs are difficult to eliminate without the help of a pest professional.

---

USING HEAT AND WATER
If you notice insect bites on your arms, face, back, neck or other areas of your body upon waking in the morning continue reading. If you find dark reddish to black spots  on your mattress you should consider bed bugs in your home. If any of these signs are present do not wait another day! Wash all bedding including sheets, pillow cases, blankets, and throws immediately. Wash all items in hot water at a temperature of no less than 120 degrees. Bed bugs can't survive a dryer cycle on high heat, so be sure to dry all linens, after washing, on high heat for more than 30 minutes. Always check laundry instructions on your linens being mindful as not to damage them . An all important step in this process is to be sure that your bedding and linens are brought to and from the laundry room in a dedicated hamper or basket. This will help prevent bed bugs from spreading into other parts of the home.

---

USING YOUR VACUUM AND ELBOW GREASE
Vacuum with a crack and crevice tip on your mattress, bed frame, along your baseboards and don't forget the headboard. Thoroughly vacuum any and all crevices where bed bugs, their eggs and young could hide during the day. This includes the insides of dresser drawers and night stands. Pull off wall hangings and be sure to vacuum the frames well. Discard the vacuum bag outside in the trash immediately following this process. Place your box springs and mattress in special bed bug encasements. If unsure about these then call Gladhill Services about mesh covers specifically designed to kill bed bugs for up to two years. These new covers not only prevent bed bugs from being able to hide in your mattress, they will continue to effectively eliminate them for up to two years. Finally, scrub down all hard surfaces like your headboard, bed frames, baseboards, floors and the inside and outsides of chests and drawers. Do this with a brush or disposable rag you can discard immediately after use. Soapy water, hydrogen peroxide mixed in water and tea tree oil diluted in water are safe and extremely effective in sanitizing surfaces. But, as with any cleaning solution always check the label as not to damage any surfaces. 

---

USING YOUR MIND AND WIT
Like fleas and ticks, bed bugs do not live on their hosts. Bed bugs prefer feeding on humans, however, cats and dogs are susceptible hosts to bed bugs as well. At times, our pets may be responsible for bringing them into our homes. Pet bedding, stuffed animals, pet toys and cardboard boxes can harbor bed bugs even after professional treatments. If you are unable to discard these types of things then, you should treat them as you would the bedding, furniture and other personal items by laundering them. It's good to begin treating bed bugs like bacteria in one sense. While protecting you and your family, help protect the spread of bed bugs in your community by sealing any items you may discard in plastic or another suitable type of wrapping material. Thick trash bags work well when tied tightly and immediately thrown out into a dumpster or trash can. In accordance with the law in certain states, mattresses must be sealed when discarded. When you take these preventive measures be aware that there are species of bed bug that live in proximity to mammals and animals such as bats, swallows and owls. If you have a pest issue with birds nesting near your home, or bats in your attic, it's best to consider humane and professional options for the control of these animals too when eliminating and preventing bed bugs. 

---

CALL A PROFESSIONAL
Even after you have done all this, bed bugs may still be present. Sometimes bed bugs continue entering your home on a regular basis simply due to a child, pet or friend. Your partner may travel for work so, understand you may have done your very best and still lost the battle in prevention but, never lose hope. Professionals deal with bed bugs everyday. They have special products, tips, and years of experience to help when your peace of mind has been lost. The easiest way to prevent and eliminate bed bugs is to contact a professional like Gladhill Services. A local pest professional will be able to assess your situation and begin eliminating bed bugs where they live and breed. A professional bed bug technician from Gladhill Services will give you peace of mind eliminating bed bugs in your home with as little disruption to your life as possible. Call us, and let us bring you some peace of mind. 

Dangerous Household Pests

Some pests are a genuine cause for concern because they each have the potential to harm you and your family and pets!

Allergies

Cockroach feces, saliva, and shed skin degrade into a dust over time becoming a common trigger for allergies in both adults and kids. Cockroaches can cause an allergic reaction resulting in sneezing, itchy eyes, and possibly severe asthma attacks. Mold inside the home is another known trigger for people living with asthma and other respiratory issues. 

Asthma

Mold, dander, dust mites, tobacco smoke, and cockroaches are indoor allergens. Cockroaches cause sensitive individuals to suffer asthma attacks. Infants exposed to cockroach infestations are more likely to remain sensitive throughout their lives. Children and adults who suffer from asthma may experience their condition worsen with repeated exposure.

Diseases

Flies, mold, cockroaches, and rodents all place your health at risk causing illnesses. Headaches, fever, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain from contaminate food sources are risk factors that should not be taken lightly. Mosquitos and ticks are vectors for serious health risks like West Nile, Malaria, Zika virus, Lyme disease and more. 

Getting stung by a wasp, bee, hornet, or yellow jacket may cause pain and other serious health outcomes for some. 

Droppings cause allergic reactions, as well as diseases.  Rodent urine and feces can damage and contaminate food with bacteria.

Pigeons become a danger to our health when they begin nesting in and around buildings. Their feces is can create breathing hazards as it piles up.

Cockroaches are known to spread more than 30 types of bacteria. Evidence supports them triggerring Asthma attacks.  Roach droppings, saliva and shed skin contain proteins that can cause allergic reactions for both adults and kids.

With the presence of West Nile, Malaria and Zika, Mosquitoes area serious health threat.  Mosquitos cause allergic reactions from bites cause itchy, inflamed marks on the body.  When scratched, mosquito bites become even more irritated.

Ticks carry lyme disease transmitting the disease through biting.  If you're bitten by a Tick with Lyme disease, you may experience flu-like symptoms.  A rash around the bite can also form along with fatigue.  Ticks are a risk.

Fleas will bite you too, and not just your pets.  Fleas can cause mild to severe skin irritations that worsen when scratched. 

Bed bugs feed on human blood. Their bites can cause mild to severe irritation and when itched may worsen or lead to secondary infection.

Can Bed Bugs Infest A Clean Home?

For more information about bed bugs follow our blog as we present new DIY practices, tips and insights each week. If you would like a professional inspection for bed bugs call 717-597-1040

In recent years, Bed Bugs have developed a reputation for becoming pests that only infest filthy homes and cheap hotels. While cluttered homes that are never cleaned,  run down hotels, and improperly maintained housing complexes are common places to find bed bugs, the conditions of these places are not what typically attracts bed bugs. 

Truth is bed bug infestations have been discovered in the cleanest of homes, in the most well kept of hotels, and in the most expensive housing communities.  The main determining factor in a bed bugs ability to thrive is its ability to hide in the tiniest of cracks. So even if you keep your home spotless and uncluttered, there’s still a chance bedbugs may enter. 

Here's a little secret though: when a bud bug enters your home the chances of you finding it early increases as you clean, flip your mattress, dust behind the headboard and so forth. But, remember, bed bugs hide in the tiniest of places so even when cleaning you can easily miss it. 

Bed Bug Travel Guide

As you head out on vacation this year be careful not to bring bed bugs home with you. Learn how to protect yourself wherever you go this summer with our free guide. 

Most of us head out of town during the summer and travel off to a stress-free destination for some long over due time off. Whether you’re headed off to the beach or a mountain lake, to another country or remain in the U.S., remain aware of bed bugs.

Bed bugs are masters at hitchhiking and may infest five-star hotels, planes and vacation homes, along with everything in between. Rest assured that while bed bugs don’t spread disease, they can inflict itchy swollen welts. And who wants to spend their vacation time digging at their flesh or making an unexpected trip to Urgent care?

I am often asked: can you actually see bed bugs? The answer is yes, you can! The adult bed bugs are about a 1/4-inch long by roughly an 1/8-inch wide. Bed bugs are a reddish brown in color, but may appear more red after feeding. Bed bug nymphs,(or young) are visible as well, but hard to see as they are smaller - about 1/32 inch.
 
The last thing you want to do is bring bed bugs home back from vacation with you! I have been told over and again about how horrible people have felt after taking bed bugs from a hotel to a friend or relative’s house. While it's not really your fault, we definitely encourage everyone to take these steps to vacation bed bug-free.  
 
IN HOTELS

• Place your luggage on smooth-surfaced furniture away from the bed, like a desk. If using a luggage rack, inspect it for bed bugs before placing your luggage on it - it only takes a few seconds. Look underneath, check the frame and so forth.
• Pull back the four corners of bedding and check the mattress and box spring for bed bugs - follow the seems as this is where bed bugs typically hide. If you notice black dots on the mattress, that could be an indication of a problem.
• Inspect all night stands, desks and headboards for signs of bed bugs.
• If you believe your hotel room has bed bugs, call the front desk and ask for a different room. Each time I stay at a hotel I ask if there has been any bed bug issues I need to be aware of at the time of check in.

 
AFTER TRAVEL

• Before unpacking, inspect your luggage for bed bugs. Do this outside.
• Place clothing from luggage in the dryer for at least 15 minutes on high heat. This will kill any bed bugs that may have come back with you. 

By following these simple steps you can easily enjoy your vacation this year without worry of bed bugs keeping you up in your hotel room at night. You need to relax and have as much fun as possible so what are you waiting for? Have a great vacation!

The Psychological Effects Of Bed Bugs In Our Lives

If you haven't ever felt unwelcome in your own home you will with a bed bug infestation! Bud bugs are probably the most feared pest in recent years. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to find bed bugs feeding on you.  Worse yet, think about trying to go to sleep at night with the thought of your kids being fed on. Could you even walk into your own house knowing bed bugs are hiding somewhere just waiting for you to fall asleep? Living in a home with bed bugs is certainly no way for anyone to live.

Over the years I have spoken to our customers, listened carefully, and truly felt their fears with them. By far, the one thing I have heard from everyone is how quickly we brought them peace of mind. By following bed bug prevention guidelines and hiring a professional at the first sign is the most effective way to ensure a good night’s sleep. Feeling safe and secure in your home is essential for optimum wellness in your life.

A bed bug infestation isn’t just an inconvenience for you and your family or an unexpected expense – they can provoke a psychological impact on you for a long time. So, if you're worried about the cost, health risks, or the lack of sleep, give us a call so we can bring you the peace of mind you deserve. Let Gladhill Services check out the situation for you and determine the best way to handle it. 

Check out this video of a technician discovering a bed bug infestation in a living room chair.

Gladhill Services finds bed bugs in living room furniture