This winter season as the weather starts to get colder, we will all want to cozy up inside and stay warm. However, we are not the only ones thinking that way. Often bed bugs have the same mindset when it comes to these winter months. That is why A-1 Able Pest Doctors are here to help you with preventative steps you can take. This article will serve as a how to prevent bed bugs for the winter.

Do Not Wait for Spring to Clean

One of the first and most basic steps in prevention would be to clear away any clutter in your home or garage. This would include organizing storage spaces and reducing the amount of places these pests have to hide. Make sure you hang up your clothing and do not leave it on the floor. Also make sure you are regularly cleaning, sweeping, and vacuuming.

Travel Carefully this Holiday Season

Winter is a season full of holidays, family trips, and traveling. Make sure that you are careful traveling this holiday season and keeping bed bugs from traveling back home with you! Check your suitcases for bed bugs as well as wash any clothing you packed in hot water. This being said, it is important to practice these habits all year round. Make sure you wash your bed sheets, comforters, blankets, and clothing regularly and use heat to dry.

Seal Your Doors and Cracks

By taking preventative measures such as sealing your door or cracks you make it harder for bed bugs and any other insects that will try to invade your home this winter. Make sure your doors have weather strips. Also keep an eye out for rotting wood or siding and make sure that it can get repaired. Along with these tips, using caulking to fill in any crevices where insects might be able to get through is another great way to avert bed bugs.

Cover Large Openings

Like we mentioned before it is important to cover any small openings. And just as importantly, you should cover the large ones too. We are talking about making sure doors are closed, windows are shut, and chimneys are covered properly. For chimneys, using fine wire mesh or mesh cloth is a good way to prevent bugs from entering.

Essential Oils

Bed bugs are repelled by certain essential oils. Having essential oils around your house such as peppermint, lavender, or tea tree oil can help rid off those unwanted guests. You can put drops of these oils around your bed or spray them around an area to prevent bed bugs this winter.

Tidy Up Outside Too

Make sure this fall that you are preparing your outdoors for winter. Without proper clean up around your house, you could be providing bugs a gateway into your home. Make sure you are cleaning up debris around the home in the yard, gutters, garden, etc. Trimming trees and pruning bushes can also be a good measure to take. Make sure your stacks of firewood and piles of leaves are far away from the house as wood especially can be a haven for these bugs.

Or You Could Just…

All these tips and tricks are great for the winter months approaching us. They are great pieces of advice to help you prevent bed bugs this winter. Seems like a lot of work and not to mention costly and time consuming. In that case…just call A-1 Able Pest Doctors. We will do the work so you don’t have to! The professionals at A-1 Able Pest Doctors provide a wealth of information and experience on every job regarding pest removal and control. Go into this winter with ease knowing that your home is protected from bed bugs!