Have you ever found bed bugs lurking in your bed? It’s a nightmare for any homeowner. The discovery of these tiny, blood-sucking pests often raises immediate concerns: “How did they get in?” and “How do I get rid of them?” Fortunately, there are answers and solutions to manage bed bugs safely. Here’s what you need to know about how bed bugs spread and the best ways to prevent and eliminate them from your Albany or nearby home.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Bed bugs are small but surprisingly easy to spot if you know what to look for:

• Size and Shape: Adult bed bugs are about 1/4 inch long, brown, and oval-shaped, with flat bodies almost as wide as they are long.
• Immature Bed Bugs: Smaller and lighter in color, they often hide near adult bed bugs.
• Eggs: Bed bug eggs are tiny, about 1 mm in size, white, and harder to detect.

Recognizing these signs is key to identifying an infestation early.

Common Hiding Spots for Bed Bugs

Bed bugs usually nest close to their food source—you. Here are some common hiding spots:

• Bedroom Furniture: Mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture are prime locations for bed bugs.
• Seams and Upholstery: Bed bugs can hide in stitching, seams, and even around buttons on furniture.
• Other Places: You might also find them in luggage, the folds of clothes, or around electrical outlets and baseboards.

Understanding their hiding spots can help you spot infestations before they spread.

How Do Bed Bugs Enter Your Albany Home?

Bed bugs travel by hitching rides on belongings like luggage, bags, and even clothing. They often come from:

• Hotels and Public Transit: High-traffic areas where bed bugs can latch onto bags and clothing.
• Visitors: Bed bugs can unknowingly come in with guests who have encountered them elsewhere.
• Travel: The more places you go, especially during travel, the higher the risk of bringing bed bugs home.

Knowing how they enter can help you take preventive steps to keep them out.

Tips to Prevent Bed Bugs in Your Home

Preventing bed bugs is challenging, especially if you frequently travel or have guests. Here are some helpful prevention tips:

Before and During Travel

• Inspect Rooms: Check hotel rooms for signs of bed bugs before unpacking.
• Keep Luggage Protected: Use sealable bags for unused belongings inside your luggage.
• Avoid Floor Contact: Keep personal belongings off the floor if possible.

At Home

• Unpack Outside: If possible, unpack luggage outside to avoid bringing bed bugs indoors.
• Clean Regularly: Wash bedding frequently, focusing on seams and edges of upholstery.
• Post-Visitor Cleaning: After guests leave, clean thoroughly to remove any hidden pests.

Implementing these habits can help protect your home from an infestation.

Professional Bed Bug Removal: Why DIY Isn’t Always Enough

Bed bugs are notoriously stubborn and tend to hide in hard-to-reach places. DIY methods often fail, as these pests burrow into cracks and crevices. At Thomas Pest Services, our bed bug control methods include heat treatments and mattress covers designed to fully eradicate infestations.

Our tailored bed bug response plans ensure complete extermination, so you can rest easy knowing the problem is fully addressed.

Call us today at 518-861-4921 or contact us for a free inspection and estimate! Let Thomas Pest Services handle the work, so you can enjoy a bed bug-free home.