A bedbug infestation can happen to anyone, any place and at any time. If you have a bedbug problem, getting rid of these pests would require you to cooperate with your licensed pest control technician in order to achieve the desired effects. Hiring Melbourne's top-rated pest control service isn't a one-sided operation.

Here's what the cooperation will entail. In order to get rid of the infestation and keep pests out, you'll need to collaborate with your pest control specialist and follow their specific requirements so you can adequately prepare your home for a bedbug pest control treatment.

Prior to performing the bedbug treatment, Melbourne's pest control specialists will provide you with a list of requirements that need to be completed before your technician arrives. The success of the service depends on the prep as well as on the whole treatment. Your part as a homeowner or resident in an apartment building includes following a list of preparation steps so you can get your home ready for pest control.Let's take a look at the steps you'll need to take to properly prepare your home for a bedbug pest control treatment:

Focus on the rooms that will be treated

Go through all the areas of your home that will be professionally treated, clean up any clutter and throw away any unwanted items.

Inspect items for signs of bedbugs

Take a look at the items you have in your room and leave only those that have signs of bedbugs. Put all other things in bags or storage containers and set them aside. Leave any items you suspect are infested with bedbugs for the technician to inspect.

Remove all linens

Take all sheets, pillowcases and bedding out and put them in plastic bags so they can be washed. If you can, take out all plastic bags and containers outside, and let them sit in the sun for a few days to kill any bedbugs that are trapped inside. If that's not an option for you, make sure you pack each item properly and set them aside so they can be washed later on.

Store all personal items

Use plastic bags or containers to store all your personal items, clothes, toys and books that are lying around the house.

Empty out closets and drawers

Remove and pack everything from your closets and drawers and mark each bag, so you know which items will be washed and which will be run through the hot dryer cycle only. Things like fabric-based items, stuffed toys and clean clothes will need to be run through the hot dryer cycle for at least 15 minutes, while dirty linens, bedding, pillows, worn clothing and so on will need to be washed and dried as well.

Prepare to leave your home

Prepare your family and pets to leave your home during the treatment and a few hours after, just to be safe. Remove all pets except for fish tanks. You can cover your fish tank with a plastic wrap and turn off the pumps during the treatment to keep them safe.

Once you've completed your required preparation steps, you can leave everything up to Melbourne's pest control experts and come back into a bedbug-free environment where you can finally feel at home.

No matter how clean and tidy you keep your home, bedbugs can still find their way in. All bedbugs need is a means of entry, which can be almost anything including a purse, clothes, second-hand furniture and other similar items. Once they enter your home and find a food source, they can start multiplying fast, leading to a serious problem.

How to Tell If You Have Bedbugs

Since they reproduce quite rapidly, even a small problem can quickly escalate to an infestation if left untreated. To help you figure out if you’re dealing with a bedbug problem, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 telltale signs of a bedbug infestation so you can detect your problem faster and start working on a solution.

1. A distinct smell

Bedbugs leave behind a strong musky odour similar to that of a wet towel. The smell is caused due to the pheromones they release and can be noticed by smelling your linens and your mattress. Depending on the severity of the situation the smell can also take over the entire room.

2. Stains

As they moult or shed their skin, they leave behind rust-coloured stains and spots on your mattress and bedding. These can usually be found near the corners of the bed. You can also look for red, blood stains on your sheets, bedding and on your skin. These can be caused by unconsciously squishing bedbugs in your sleep.

3. White spots in joints or crevices

If you find tiny white spots in the joints or crevices of your mattress and furniture you may be looking at tiny bedbug eggs which have been laid there. Use a flashlight and a magnifying glass to do a more thorough investigation of your furniture and see if you can find more signs of bedbug activity.

4. Bite marks across your skin

If you wake up with a bite pattern all over your body, or on areas of your body that have been exposed during sleep, such as your legs, arms, neck and so on, you may be a victim of a bedbug infestation. Before you start cleaning your entire home, make sure your bite marks aren’t caused by mosquitoes, spiders or other insects and start looking for additional signs of infestation by inspecting your mattress and bedding right away.

5. Itchy, red spots

Similarly to the bite marks on your skin, you may also notice itchy, red patches which may be a reaction to the bites. While some people don’t manifest any reaction to bedbug bites, those that do often experience this symptom.