Bed Bug FAQs

The CDC has rules that bed bugs do not generally spread diseases that can affect people. However excessive scratching bed bug bites might lead to an increase chance in a secondary skin infection. 

Bed bugs like to travel and sometimes they catch a ride on you or your luggage. According to the CDC, bed bugs can crawl into small tight spots and hide there for long periods of time with out a meal.

Bed bug bites look similar to mosquito or flea bites but they appear in a pattern. Bed bug bites occur singly in clumps or in a line. 

Avoid scratching the area where the bite is located and then wash the bite with soap and water. This will help decrease the risk of a skin infection and help reduce itchiness.

If the bites itches, apply a corticosteroid cream.

No ER or urgent care visit is needed. 

Learn more here at the American Academy Dermatology Association website.

The EPA has outlined guidelines for landlords when it comes to bed bugs and the protocols to follow. 

Landlords need to educate themselves on the signs of bed bugs and develop a plan for when they show up on your property. 

Landlords need to keep their tenants informed about what the building's policy is for bed bugs and what to do if signs of bed bugs have been spotted. 

Bed bugs are not the result of dirty homes, they are the result of hitchhiking. Bed bugs can attach themselves to people and items to travel to new locations. 

For more information please visit the EPA or give us a call at 816-237-5342 to learn about how we have helped other landlords with bed bugs. 

There are laws and protocols that need to be followed when bed bugs have been discovered inside a building.

Here are the laws that affect the treatment of bed bugs in the State of Kansas. 

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 4-27-2, Lodging Establishments -Definitions

• Bed bugs are defined as an "imminent health hazard".

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 4-27-5, Lodging Establishments -Imminent Health Hazard

• Licensees of lodging establishments shall cease operations in areas where an "imminent health hazard" has been found and will notify the Secretary of Agriculture within 12 hours.
• A lodging establishment is a "short-term rental" such as a motel, hotel, resort, or inn. 

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 4-27-9, Lodging Establishments -Guest Rooms

• No guest room that is infested by insects, rodents, or other pests shall be rented until the infestation is eliminated.

For more information about how other states address the public safety issue of bed bugs please see this EPA document. 

If you have additional questions please give us a call at 816-237-5342

This is a popular TikTok trend that has been making the rounds on the internet. 

The theory is that washing your clothes after vacation will kill any bed bugs that could hitchhike their way into the suitcase. 

This is Correct

It's best to put your clothes through the washer and dryer cycle before putting your clothes back into your suitcase. The washer and dryer will kill any bed bugs and eggs and the sooner you do this the better. 

Putting your suitcase in the bathroom is an additional step you can take to prevent bed bugs from coming home with you. The more distance you have between your suitcase and the bed will decrease your chances of bed bugs.

If you feel that bed bugs may have infiltrated your home or business give us a call, at 816-237-5342 SOS Pest Control offers free inspections. 

While fleas and bed bugs can look very similar, there are some tricks that you can use to tell them apart and call the right people. 

Bed Bugs Bites:

There will be small specks of blood on your bed. Bed bugs feed on your blood and can leave a trail. 

Bed Bug bites will appear in a line or cluster on your arms, hands, face, and shoulders.

The picture below is an example of bed bug bites. 

Flea Bites:

While they look very similar to bed bug bites the key is the location. Fleas will bite you on your legs, feet, and ankles. 

Also, check on your dog or cat since fleas will bite them too. Your furry friends will be scratching constantly if they are getting beaten by fleas.

For more information please visit Tom's Guide.

If you see any sings of bed bugs, please if us a call at 816-237-5342 for a free inspection.

Like all animals, bed bugs have a sense of smell and there are some smells that they will try to avoid. 

Please be advised that these are not permanent or 100% guaranteed solutions to bed bugs. 

Tea Tree Oil

Put the oil in a spray bottle and apply it in areas where you think bed bugs might be or where you have seen signs of them.

Cinnamon

apply some cinnamon around or on your bed to repel bed bugs.

Lavender

Getting a Lavender plant or multiple pots is a good way to help prevent bed bugs from setting up shop in your home.

You can also apply a lavender oil spray where you see bed bugs to drive them out.

Lemons

Bed bugs don't like the smell of citric acid. you can use a lemon-scented cleaner to repel them. 

Peppermint

The scent from this plant is so powerful that it drives bed bugs away. You can apply the scent of peppermint as an oil to your bed, a spray for a room, or get a peppermint essential oil candle to burn in your home. 

If you see the signs of bed bugs in your home please give us a call at 816-237-5342 for a free inspection.

See these websites for more information:

Tip Bulletin

Bed bugs are durble pest that are able to go several months without blood. 

This means that bed bugs are able hide in luggage, furniture and buildings until a new food source arrives, people. Bed bugs feed on people's blood are they are able to wait months until they get their next meal.

If you think you have bed bugs then please give us a call at 816-237-5342. SOS pest Contol offer free inspections.