How to Prevent Bed Bugs

Once bed bugs creep into your home, it’s costly to get rid of them. Use these suggestions to prevent an uncomfortable and expensive infestation.

Prevention Is Key

This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com.

It’s all over the news: Bed bugs have reached epidemic levels in lots of big cities around the country. And, according to research entomologist and bed bug expert Jeff White, “This bug isn’t going away any time soon.” So, we asked him, how much does it cost to get rid of bed bugs once you’ve got them? The answer can vary widely, but we estimate it around $1,200. That’s a lot of money, but the good news is that the best way to reduce that cost is free: Detect the problem early on, and it’ll be cheaper to treat.

Although New York City has most often been in the news for this problem, he says, “You can take what’s going on in New York City right now as a barometer for what is going to happen to the rest of the country. New York is just ahead of the curve.” But, he says, the media hype has turned the issue into a hysterical problem. There’s no need to freak out; the most important weapon in the war against bed bugs is education. Especially if you’re going away, we’re here to make sure you don’t bring these pests back home with you.

Here’s the math:

Average cost of pest control professionals: $800 - $1,200 (Will vary by location and severity of infestation. Some companies will provide encasements and devices; some won’t.

Encasement to protect mattress: $80 - $120

Encasement to protect box spring: $30 - $50

Doing a full load of laundry on all of your clothes: $50 - $75

Insect interceptors to help with existing problems and prevent future ones: $20

Total: $1,000 - $1,500

Here’s what you need to know.