Finding bed bugs in your home is an unpleasant situation and can temporarily turn your life upside down. Bed bugs bite, reproduce quickly and they’re extremely difficult to kill. If you’ve found what you think are bed bugs, here’s what you need to do to get rid of them permanently.

Educate Yourself

Before you go into a full-on distress mode, make sure you’re absolutely positive you’re dealing with bed bugs. Insects such as fleas, bat bugs and carpet beetles have often been mistaken for bed bugs. Bed bugs leave tell-tale signs such as blood spots on your sheets as well as wings and insect casings in mattress seams.

Call an Exterminator

If you’re sure you’re dealing with bed bugs, hire an exterminator specialized in bed bugs Staten Island. Professional exterminators will inspect your entire home and they know exactly where to look. Plus, their high-grade chemicals are superior to anything you could buy and best for permanent removal.

Wash and Steam-Clean

Even though extermination is the best solution for bed bugs, there are certain measures you can take yourself. Strip all of your bedding and throw away whatever you can. For the rest, wash it in hot water and throw it in the dryer on the hottest setting possible. It’s also a good idea to steam-clean your bed, furniture and rugs.

Declutter Your Home

Bed bugs can be quite elusive when it comes to finding them in your home. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs don’t just live in beds, but also inside headboards, behind walls and outlets. Plus, the more clutter you have, the more places they have to hide should you have an infestation.

If you’ve discovered bed bugs in your home, don’t panic! Once you’re sure they’re bed bugs, call an exterminator immediately and begin the process of eliminating these unwelcome guests.