Signs You Have Bed Bugs In Your Clothes: Virginia Experts Share Insights

Bed bugs are a waking nightmare that no homeowner wants to encounter, but with Americans across the nation experiencing a surge in infestations, you may be wondering, “What if I’m next?” Now, prevention is always the best cure, so if you can stop a population from ever establishing in your home, that’s for the best. But if you can’t avoid an infestation, a professional pest control company will be able to get rid of bed bugs for you - all within the same day.

What Causes Bed Bug Infestations

Don’t feel bad if you discover bed bugs in your home. Reports of bed bug infestations have been on the rise due to increased travel, population densification, and favorable housing conditions. According to Virginia exterminators Connor’s Pest Pros, laundromats are another common source of bed bugs, as the pests can easily move between dirty clothes and clean clothes and may even inhabit laundromat furniture or flooring as they await an opportunity to be transported to better environments. Your favorite chair in the laundromat could be housing dozens of these tiny pests, and some of them may even latch onto you if you decide to have a seat. That’s how easy it is to bring these things home.

But there are still signs you can watch out for. Although bed bugs are difficult to spot, rust-colored stains, dark smudges that look like ink spots, or pinhead-sized eggs in clothing seams are a clear indication that the pests have infested the fabric. 

Prevention is the Key

To avoid introducing bed bugs to the home from laundromats, the Environmental Protection Agency offers several recommendations: First, use sealed plastic bags to transport laundry and unpack these bags directly into the washer; second, avoid placing any items directly on the floor, as this is where bed bugs often lie in wait. You should also use high heat settings where possible when washing your clothes; this will kill any insects and eggs that may already be in the fabric.

Get a Pest Pro on the Job

If you fail to prevent an infestation in spite of your best efforts, don’t try to handle it on your own. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to eradicate with only DIY methods. Instead, call a professional company. These companies are capable of eliminating all bed bugs in the home within a few hours with safe, environmentally friendly heat treatments. 

And the best part? In the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing, these treatments use significantly fewer chemicals, require little preparation, and will not damage your home or belongings.

Bed bugs may be distressing, but there are many ways to prevent them from settling in and even more ways to get rid of them. So don’t worry if you spot them; with the right pest control company, they’ll be gone in a heartbeat.