need bed bug answers?

If you're dealing with bed bugs right now, we know exactly what you're going through.

The itching…the anxiety...the complete and utter frustration! 

Losing sleep over bed bugs?Credit: Bark/flickr (CC)

You’re probably feeling dazed and confused - and a little freaked out. We certainly were. Read more about me and our story here... 

You need good solid answers to all of your questions. And you need them now.

The problem is that too much of most prevalent and easy to access information is misleading, incomplete, or just plain wrong.

There’s a lot of misinformation and some very bad advice floating around out there. 

The best information is buried in scientific research papers, pest management industry journals, and government agency publications. It's certainly accessible online - but you have to dig for it. And unfortunately, it's rarely presented in an easily digestible format.

To solve that problem, I designed this website to:

  • Cut through the hype & dispel the myths
  • Provide the critical, accurate information you need
  • Present it in a quick-reference format 
  • Make it easy to read, understand, and actually use 

Whether you're trying to figure out if you have bed bugs, desperate to get rid of them, or hoping to prevent them from coming home with you - you've come to the right place.

So let's get started! 

4 Key Things You Need to Know About Bed Bugs

If you're dealing with an infestation, it's very important to understand these things:

  1. You are not alone. 
  2. It's not your fault.
  3. You can get rid of them if you do the right things.
  4. It's very easy to do the wrong things and make your situation worse.

(Click on the links to jump to a section or scroll down to read the whole page)


Fact #1: You're Not Alone

1 in 5 affected by bed bugs

A study by the National Pest Management Association found that 1 out of 5 people has had a bed bug problem or knows someone who has.  

Chances are, some of your neighbors, co-workers, family members, or friends are dealing with the very same issue right now - or have done so at some point in time.  

It's just that no one wants to talk about it because of the perceived stigma. 


Fact # 2: It's NOT Your Fault

Bed bugs don’t discriminate and they can be brought home from literally anywhere. They are found everywhere from public housing projects to the most expensive luxury hotels.

Infestations have been reported in schools, hospitals, major retailers, public libraries and more. They're tricky little "tag-alongs" that make their way into your home on clothing, purses/luggage, furniture, and just about anything else they can hitch a ride on. 

So if you've got them...or more accurately...if they got you... 

It's NOT a reflection on:

  • who you are
  • how clean you are
  • how smart you are
  • your level of income
  • who you hang out with
  • whether you're a good person
  • or anything else at all about you  

Of course, there are steps you can take to prevent bed bugs from infesting your home.


Fact #3: Your Situation is Manageable

Can you get rid of bed bugs, even if you have to do it yourself because you just can't afford to hire an exterminator?

Absolutely! The good news is that it's not really rocket science. 

But...and this is a BIG but...getting rid of them is NOT a simple, one-shot deal. 

Run away fast from anyone that promises they have the "cure-all" or that you can "get rid of bed bugs in one easy step". 

The key is to forget the "quick fix"... It doesn't exist. 

Take the time to learn what you need to know about bed bugs and how to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to get rid of them.

Sound complicated? Don't worry. You’ll find out how to do it successfully right here.

This site is designed to help with well-researched answers, "been there...done that” experience, and links to the most reliable resources on the internet wherever you might need to dig a little deeper or get some additional help.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I wholeheartedly recommend hiring a reliable exterminator that has verifiable experience and success dealing with this particular pest. Unfortunately not all pest control professionals are truly bed bug experts. Learn how to choose a good one and what to expect in the exterminator section.

Finally, the most important thing you need to know from the start is more of a warning than a fact...


Fact#4: It's Easy to Make Things Worse

Please, don't do anything to try to deal with a bed bug problem until you get educated. The unfortunate fact is this:

Most of the things that seem like the BEST actions to take... are exactly the WRONG actions to take.

Don't let panic cause you to jump the gun and do something you'll regret!

So many people make the classic mistake of throwing out their bed - and in some cases most of their belongings. 

That's completely unnecessary - and it doesn't solve the problem. In fact, it can cause the infestation to spread to other places in your home.

The bottom line is that there are many perfectly reasonable-sounding things you may be tempted to do that will actually make your situation worse. 

Okay, one of them is so important that I'm going to call it out right here...

DON'T use a fogger or "bug bomb" to try to treat bed bugs. Not under any circumstances. Not even if it's labeled for bedbugs. Releasing a fogger is one thing that's pretty much guaranteed to make your infestation worse.

If you're tempted to use a fogger or "bug bomb" (or if you've already done it) please read 3 reasons foggers don't work and 5 ways they make it harder to get rid of bed bugs. 

So please, if you're worried you might have bed bugs (and even if you've found evidence of them in your home) before you do anything else...

STOP.

Take a deep breath...and get educated. Then take action.


Ready to Learn More? Good!

The 10-Minute Bed Bug Crash Course is the best place for most people to start. It's absolutely the quickest way to get a handle on your situation - whether you need to prevent them, find out if you have them, or get rid of them once and for all.

It's a mini-guide...and a road map...rolled up in one. At just 6 pages, it can be read cover to cover in under 10 minutes. 

And it's totally free just for the asking.  Enter your details below and I'll send it right to your inbox!

How to Use this Site

You can access the main sections of this site by clicking on the navigation menu on the top of the page. Each section features a brief overview with links to more in depth information and resources on additional pages.

Most pages contain quick links near the top so you can jump straight down to the specific sections that have the information you need or the videos you want to watch.

Need to find something super fast? Use the search bars at the end of each article to find the pages that contains the content you're looking for quickly. 

Bottom Line?

There's plenty of good bedbug information available from government agencies, university entomology department websites, pest control industry trade journals and a small handful reputable independent websites. 

It just takes the wherewithal to search till you find it, then sort it all out so you can apply it to your situation.

But when you're dealing with an active infestation...crawling out of your skin from itchiness and anxiety...desperate for a solution right now...and you just can't sleep at night...that's just too overwhelming for most people. 

And that's why so many people fall for the readily available quick-fix advice that just doesn't work and often does more harm than good.

The good news is that you don’t have to wade through pages upon pages of government publications and jargon-filled research documents to get the answers you need.

On this site you'll find solid information, scientific research, and best practices regarding bed bug prevention, detection, and pest control  - all boiled down into easy to use info-graphics, how-to articles, and mini-guides. 

After all, bed bugs probably have you stressed-out enough as it is. My aim is to help alleviate that.

What's Next?

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