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Bed bugs, bed bugs, and more bed bugs! They seem to be on the forefront of the American consciousness over the past few years. With these blood sucking critters seemingly hiding under every mattress, piece of clothing and suitcase, how are we supposed to avoid becoming overrun by these annoying insects without having to hire a San Diego bed bug exterminatorto rid ourselves of this irritating problem? Well luckily Gerhard Gengelbach, the owner of All Cities Pest Control, gives us some helpful tips and information to lower our chances of coming into contact with bed bugs. The San Diego pest control owner shares his ideas of staying clear of bed bugs in San Diego or when you travel outside of California:

• If you are staying in a hotel or motel, Gengelbach suggests first putting your luggage in the shower and not to open it. Then you need to walk over to the bed and lift up the mattress and check for bed bugs. You will be able to spot them pretty easily – they are about the size of a tick. If the area is clear, you’re good; if they are there in the room, time to go down to the front desk and explain your predicament.
• If you are traveling on a plane and need to check your luggage below, Gengelbach recommends you first wrap up your clothing in a black plastic bag and then place it into your suitcases.
• The San Diego bed bug exterminatoris a fan of the indoor insect spray called Bedlam. This is great for eliminating bed bugs (along with ticks, fleas, dust mites, nymphs, and adult lice). You do need to be careful not to spray the aerosol on any areas or items you will launder. Also, allow the areas you spray to completely dry first before re-entering the room. Moreover, keep away from food areas, pets, and children.
• When you come back from a trip, don’t bring you luggage into the house. Bring it directly to your laundry room and clean the clothes immediately, and then place in dryer. While the cleaning by itself doesn’t kill the bed bugs, the excessive heat of the dryer does.

In Gengelbach’s opinion, there are a few reasons why there has been an uptick in bed bugs in the U.S. over the past few years:

• Some countries residents outside of the U.S. do not have the same cleanliness standards as we do, and thus when they visit the United States they bring their bed bugs with them in their clothing and luggage.
• Due to environmental concerns, the EPA over the past decade or so has regulated the types of chemicals we can use for pesticides in the U.S. So now, while the chemicals being are better for the environment and overall health of people, the make-up of today’s pesticides are simply not as effective; plus, the bed bugs over time build up a resistance to these chemicals.

While bed bugs are prevalent in and around the U.S. today, by taking these aforementioned precautions and proactive approaches, one can lessen the chances of a complete bed bug infestation.