A Guide on Handling Bed Bugs by the Professional Pest Control Dubai Residents Trust

    DUBAI, UAE, January 24, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Bed bugs have reportedly been alleged to pose great threats to UAE residents as advised by the Pest Control Dubai based experts operating under McKleenz. The recently instituted pest division actively works on raising awareness by guiding city locals and residents on handling common pest problems.

Bed bugs are insects (ectoparasites) that feed on human blood. Even though they do not transmit diseases, just the thought of them makes one itchy. Their bites can result in a number of health impacts including skin rashes, psychological effects, allergic symptoms and can cause skin changes ranging from minor red patches to prominent blisters. They are usually picked up on planes, trains, hotels and spread into homes.

Densely populated cities such as Dubai are facing an exponential increase in bed bug infestations as a result of blazing summer temperatures. The problem is compounded by social stigma which often results in a reluctance to seek professional advice on the eradication and prevention methods. This is mainly because a significant proportion of the population have no physical reaction to bed bug bites and are seldom aware of an infestation. The problem is a global one and there is literally no country on the face of the planet that has not witnessed a bed bug problem.

Where do bed bugs originate?
Scientific research on fossilized bed bugs indicates that they have been around for thousands of years. It is believed that they originated in the Middle East, in caves that were used by both humans and bats. They are found all over the world, but perhaps surprisingly, the worst infestation problems tend to occur in developed countries where people use bed frames and soft beddings.

Between 1930 and 1980, bed bugs were almost eliminated because chemicals like DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) were used to tackle infestations. Since the banning of DDT, there has been a huge increase in infestations. Most bed bugs are now immune to conventional pesticide treatments. With increased levels of international travel, the spread of infestations is unquestionably on the rise.

What is the perfect condition for growth?
Bed bugs tend to feed on humans, dogs, cats and other pests using blood for growth and reproduction. These tiny and nocturnal critters rely on human blood for nourishment and usually hide in and around bed corners and cracks.

Bed bugs need to feed at least once before each molt (shedding of their outer exoskeleton), although they could feed as often as once a day. Under favorable conditions, adult bed bugs can live for about 2 to 4 months.

What is the Best Method for Eliminating Bed Bugs Based on the Pest Control Dubai Residents Trust?
In order to properly treat bed bugs, a full site inspection by a licensed and insured pest control Dubai based company is of utmost importance. Bed Bugs can live in headboards, floor cracks, crevices, electrical boxes and even sockets. They are so elusive and can adapt to their surroundings so well that we have now started to use canines to 'sniff out' the insects.

How to get rid of an existing bed bug infestation?
Step 1: Reposition and Protect Your Furniture
The first step is to move or displace all of your furniture or materials out of the affected area. However, because you do not know if these pieces of furniture also have bugs in them, make sure that you are careful about where you take them. If possible, bring them into the yard where the bed bugs would not be able to infest more rooms in your property.

Wrap a tape around the legs of your furniture about an inch from the ground. That way, any bed bugs that try to get up from the ground and into the furniture will get stuck and eventually die. Whether or not you find them on the tape, replace it every few days.

Step 2: Wash your bags, carpets and rugs
If you have any removable carpets, rugs and bags, go ahead and deal with those first, because if these can be lifted off the ground, it becomes easier to see and tackle the bugs.

If your bags and rugs are small and machine washable, the best thing to do is throw them in the washing machine. However, note that for the optimum results, dry these items on the highest setting because heat is among the best ways to kill bed bugs and their eggs.

Step 3: Steam Carpets, Curtains and Soft Furnishings
As earlier mentioned, bed bugs do not react well to high temperatures. You can either buy or rent a steamer that can achieve high temperatures of up to 118 degrees Celsius or more which be more than adequate to exterminate bed bugs.

Move your steamer inch by inch over the carpet while ensuring that you spend at least a few minutes steaming individual sections, as the steam will not kill bed bugs upon contact. For best results, regulate the steamer to its highest possible temperature while ensuring that your fabric will not be affected.

Step 4: Add Borax Powder or Diatomaceous Earth
After steaming your furniture and other materials, it is time to get scientific. Borax and diatomaceous earth are both products that can break down a bed bug's exoskeleton leading to dehydration. Sprinkling one of these products on your carpeting can help kill off some more of those persistent critters.

When using either of these products, make sure that you read the instructions and the warning label. Both are irritants and should not come into contact with your skin, eyes or in your nose or mouth. Prior to application, ensure that pets and children are kept off the premise. Once the borax and diatomaceous earth is sprinkled on the surfaces, leave it for at least 3 to 4 hours.

Step 5: Vacuuming
Vacuum your soft furnishings thoroughly by going over carpets, beddings and mattresses multiple times. Use any hose attachments to vacuum the tight spots including the baseboards. Once you feel certain that you have gone over every inch of materials multiple times, it is now time to dispose of the vacuuming waste bag. Take the vacuum machine outside and remove it before placing it into a garbage bag. Finally, tie the garbage bag so that it is completely sealed, so as to prevent the escape of any bugs. All disposable materials used to remove bed bugs from your home must be taken out to a sealed trash dumpster.

How to prevent bed bug infestations?
It is not just the bites that make you feel uncomfortable if you have an infestation of bed bugs. The simple fact is that it can be very easy to wind up with bed bugs in your home or workplace without having an idea about it. It is very important to note that an Infestation does not reflect on your standards of cleanliness in any way.

Prevention Tips
At Home
• Wash and dry clothes at the highest possible temperatures.
• Eliminate clutter in your home or office to give bed bugs fewer places to hide.
• Avoid spreading bed bugs to your friends and family by not taking any clothes, suitcases or furniture to their homes.
• Tidy all areas of your bedroom, especially the floor around/underneath your bed and bed-side cabinets.
• Vacuuming can greatly reduce the size of the bed bug population, but only when they are clearly visible. It cannot guarantee total elimination. Empty and clean vacuum pumps to avoid transferring eggs to other rooms.
• Use Dubai Municipality approved products, to help eliminating some bed bugs – it is a good start but should not b be relied on to get rid of the problem completely. You need a licensed pest control Dubai based company to completely get rid of infestations.

When Travelling
• Check hotel bed linen and mattresses for live bed bugs, small dark bloodspots and a distinctive sweet and sickly smell.
• Avoid putting your suitcase on the bed.
• Hang clothes in a wardrobe rather than using drawers.
• Store suitcases in the garage between trips.

McKleenz is the leading provider for a wide range of on-demand home services since 2009. Through its user-friendly and convenient phone apps available on Android and IOS, the company caters to over 25,000 customers across Dubai and other emirates.

Our customer service professionals are always glad to help with all your home queries.

Feel free to reach out to us on:
E-mail: [email protected]
Toll Free: 80055336

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