What should you do so that bed bugs don’t bite? - briefly
Use tightly fitted mattress and box‑spring encasements, wash bedding in hot water weekly, and reduce clutter around the bed. Apply an approved insect repellent to exposed skin before sleeping.
What should you do so that bed bugs don’t bite? - in detail
Preventing bed‑bug bites requires a combination of environmental control, personal protection, and vigilant monitoring.
Regularly inspect sleeping areas for live insects, shed skins, or dark‑colored spots on mattresses, box springs, and headboards. Use a flashlight to examine seams, folds, and crevices. Immediate removal of identified specimens reduces the chance of feeding.
Maintain a clean sleeping environment. Wash all bedding, pillowcases, and clothing in hot water (minimum 60 °C) weekly, then dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Vacuum mattresses, bed frames, and surrounding floor surfaces daily; discard the vacuum bag or clean the canister afterward.
Apply physical barriers to deny insects access to the skin. Install zippered encasements on mattresses and box springs, ensuring no gaps. Place a thin layer of diatomaceous earth around the bed frame, under the legs, and along baseboards; the abrasive particles damage insect exoskeletons upon contact.
Use chemical deterrents responsibly. Apply EPA‑registered bed‑bug insecticides to cracks, crevices, and baseboards, following label instructions. For personal protection, consider applying permethrin‑treated clothing or a topical repellent containing DEET or picaridin to exposed skin before sleep.
Adopt travel precautions to avoid introduction of pests. Store luggage in sealed plastic bags while away from the bed. Upon returning home, unpack directly onto a hard surface, wash all garments, and inspect the suitcase interior for hitchhikers.
If an infestation is suspected, enlist professional pest‑control services. Certified technicians can perform heat‑treatment or fogging, which reach hidden pockets inaccessible to standard cleaning.
Consistent implementation of these measures minimizes the likelihood of bed‑bug bites and limits population growth within the living space.