Bedbugs are a real pain to get rid of once they have found their way into your home and furnishings. These tiny pests can literally lurk in light sockets, electrical outlets, and any cracks or gaps in your walls, moldings, and windows, breeding and driving homeowners nuts. There are five tried-and-true strategies that can prevent these bothersome bugs from setting up camp inside your home.

Keep the following in mind to prevent bedbug infestations:

1. Examine your surroundings.

One way that bedbugs can travel home with you is from a stay in a hotel room; typically, they climb aboard your suitcase and come out when you arrive home. The best way to nip this in the bud is to carefully check your belongings in and out of your suitcase. Also, check around the room for signs of unwelcome visitors that may try to hitch a ride home with you.

2. Wrap your mattresses.

These pesky pests can squeeze and fit in the smallest spaces, including around the seams of your mattress or inside your box spring. Use zip-style encasements for your box spring and mattress to prevent the bugs from hiding. These are a good investment that could save you a lot of grief later on.

3. Be careful what you bring home.

Sometimes a deal isn't really a deal; use caution when bringing second-hand furnishings and apparel into your home. Examine each item carefully for signs of bugs, and wash in very hot water before using. It takes a keen eye to spot these pests, but leaving them outside for a while before you bring them into your home may also reduce the risk of an infestation.

4. Wash in hot water.

When you suspect you might have bedbugs in your home, use lots of hot water to reduce the chance that a bedbug is able to lead an infestation. Be sure to dry on a high-heat setting to further reduce the chance that these pests will survive and thrive in your home.

5. Contact a pro quick.

It makes sense to control the situation before it has a chance to get out of hand. Bedbugs breed quickly, so you may be wise to reach out to a professional exterminator for a quick and effective resolution to your pest issue. Also, talk with the pros about the reasons you think you have bedbugs, as they may be able to confirm your suspicions and suggest the appropriate intervention. One place you can call is Ace Walco & Sons Termite & Pest Control.

There are few things as distressing as a home that is infested with bedbugs. Take measures to avoid these pests from setting up house in your home or dwelling. Talk with a pro to take a firm stance against these annoying bugs and to protect your family from the headache, bites, and grief that bedbugs can wreak.