We’ve all heard the nighttime saying, “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” But in recent years, that saying has taken on new meaning. Rather than lull you to sweet dreams, that refrain is likelier to give you nightmares! Bed bugs have made a roaring comeback, especially in the Midwest, and getting rid of them isn’t child’s play.
It’s hard enough to deal with the financial, emotional, and physical toll of bed bugs, without adding on extra worry based on false information. Knowing the facts is your best protection against bed bugs, and that’s why today’s post tackles common bed bug myths.
Let’s bust some bed bug myths, so you can sleep soundly!
Bed Bug Myth #1: They only come out at night, and light protects against them.
This is false! Bed bugs are primarily active at night, but that doesn’t mean they are never active during the day.
Bed bugs prefer darkness; however, sleeping with the light on won’t protect you from bed bug bites.
Bed Bug Myth #2: They only show up in dirty homes.
Again, this myth is resoundingly false. Bed bugs can infest any home, whether it’s squeaky-clean or filthy, affluent or impoverished.
Clutter in the home can give bed bugs more places to hide: this is true. But that doesn’t mean bed bugs showed up because of the dirt or clutter.
Bed Bug Myth #3: You can get rid of an infestation by throwing away your furniture.
There are two reasons this myth is false.
First, not all furniture needs to be thrown away when you have a bed bug infestation. That’s because many of your possessions can be saved (saving you money on replacing them!). It’s also important not to carelessly throw away your items because that can spread the bed bugs to other people. (For example, you should slash your mattress so someone else doesn’t take it home with them.)
Second, simply throwing away your mattress, box spring, and bed frame almost certainly won’t be enough to eliminate an infestation. Bed bugs can hide anywhere, including in unusual places like picture frames, wall outlets, floorboards, and more. If you throw away your furniture and consider the problem solved, you can guarantee you’ll be dealing with an even bigger infestation a few months from now.
Bed Bug Myth #4: You can spray away bed bugs.
We talked about this myth in our in-depth post on why DIY bed bug removal doesn’t work. In short, it’s not efficient or effective to try to eliminate an infestation by spraying a few bugs at a time. As we mentioned above, bed bugs can hide anywhere, so you won’t reach all of them with a spray.
Bed Bug Myth #5: Bed bugs will give you diseases.
You will hopefully rest a little easier knowing that, unlike other pests like ticks and mosquitoes, bed bug bites don’t transmit diseases!
Other secondary problems can happen: for example, scratching the bites excessively might cause infection. (And of course, there’s the psychological impact of bed bugs.) However, bed bugs are not known to spread any disease to humans.
Keeping Your Home Bed Bug-Free
The ScherZinger blog has tons of information on bed bugs on our website and blog. We’ve covered the bed bug signs to watch out for, how to identify bed bugs, how to avoid bringing home bed bugs when traveling, the best way to get rid of bed bugs, and more!
Arming yourself with the facts—not scary myths—is the best way to protect against bed bugs.
Still, since bed bugs are so widespread, it’s possible to get bed bugs no matter how vigilant and careful you are. That’s not your fault!
The good news? ScherZinger Pest Control is here to help.
Bed bugs aren’t easy to get rid of: it’s a pest that can quickly escalate into a full-blown infestation, especially if you try to handle the problem yourself. The best solution is hiring a professional for the help you need, so you can rest easier at night—and all day long.
We understand how difficult it can be for homeowners to deal with a bed bug infestation, so we do all we can to get your home bed-bug free—quickly, effectively, and discretely.
Scherzinger Termite and Pest Control is a trusted pest control company in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, including Dayton, OH, and now Columbus, OH. We’ve been pioneers, engineering new standards for ways of eliminating and controlling bugs and pests. Contact us by phone at 1-877-748-9888 or via web inquiry, Facebook or Twitter.