Stopping Bed Bugs for Carolina Homeowners
- Dana Allen
- Sep 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 28
If there ever was a pest that can unite all Carolina homeowners into collective action it would almost certainly be the bed bug. This is a very resilient pest that can cause havoc, and can be quite costly and difficult to defeat in your home. Nelon-Cole gives you a primer on this all-too-common foe so that you will be armed with the knowledge to both identify and defeat this enemy of your home. WHAT IS A BED BUG?
Bed bugs are tiny, wingless insects that feed on the blood of humans (and occasionally animals) while they sleep. They are typically identified by their appearance, which can be reddish-brown, oval, flat-bodied, and about the size of an apple seed (4–7 mm). They are nocturnal and hide during the day in cracks, seams of mattresses, box springs, furniture, or behind baseboards. They don’t fly or jump but crawl quickly and can travel between rooms through small gaps. Bed bugs typically bite exposed skin, such as arms, legs, neck, and face. Bites often appear as small, itchy, red welts in clusters or lines. They are not known to transmit diseases directly, but scratching can lead to secondary infections.
HOW DO BED BUGS GET INTO HOMES? Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, which is how they usually end up in your home. They don’t fly or jump in from outside like mosquitoes; instead, they’re accidentally brought in by attaching themselves to whatever they can find - clothing, luggage, shoes, hair, among other items. Staying in hotels, motels, or dorms where bed bugs are present is the most common cause. They hide in seams of luggage, clothes, or travel bags and enter your home along with you. Bringing in secondhand couches, chairs, mattresses, or bed frames can also introduce bed bugs if they’re infested. They can ride in on coats, purses, or backpacks from infested places (public transportation, theaters, offices). Guests may unknowingly bring them from their homes; in apartments or condos, bed bugs can also crawl through wall voids, electrical outlets, or plumbing between units. Shared laundromats or laundry rooms sometimes spread them when infested clothes are mixed or when hampers sit near each other.
They’re not attracted to dirt or clutter—they’re drawn to blood meals. Clean homes can get them just as easily as cluttered ones, though clutter makes them harder to find and treat.
ARE BED BUGS DANGEROUS TO MY FAMILY?
Bed bugs are not known to spread diseases to humans the way mosquitoes or ticks can, so in that sense they’re not “medically dangerous.” They are a serious nuisance pest that can cause itching, allergic reactions, and emotional stress if not dealt with quickly. However, bed bugs can still cause significant health and quality-of-life issues, such as
Itchy, Red Bites:Their bites often appear in clusters or lines on exposed skin (arms, legs, neck, face). Scratching can break the skin and lead to secondary infections.
Allergic Reactions:Some people develop stronger reactions—large welts, intense itching, or even hives. Severe allergic responses are rare but possible.
Sleep Disruption & Stress:Knowing you’re being bitten can lead to insomnia, anxiety, and stress, which can affect overall health.
Anemia (Rare):In very heavy infestations, repeated bites over time may contribute to mild anemia, especially in vulnerable people like children or the elderly.
WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE BED BUGS IN MY HOME?
Suspecting you may have a bedbug infestation in your home can indeed be cause for great alarm. There are steps you can take to further identify any problems or infestations you may have. Thoroughly inspect beds and furniture. Look along mattress seams, box springs, headboards, couch cushions, and baseboards. Look for live bugs (tiny, reddish-brown, apple-seed size), shed skins, small white eggs, or dark fecal spots. If you are unsure about what you are seeing, catch a specimen in a bag or on tape and have it identified by a Nelon-Cole technician free of charge.
Cleaning can be a key to finding or containing a bed bug infestation. Try to reduce the clutter in your home; the fewer hiding places, the easier control becomes. Vacuum your mattresses, bed frames, furniture, baseboards. Immediately seal and discard vacuum bags. Wash your bedding and clothes on hot (≥120 °F) and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Heat kills all stages of bedbugs (eggs, nymphs, adults). Bag or seal non-washables; leave them sealed for several months or treat with heat.
If found in or around your bed, move the bed slightly away from walls. Install bed bug–proof encasements on mattresses and box springs (these can be easily found via online marketplaces). Place interceptors (sticky or pitfall cups) under bed legs to monitor and block bugs climbing up.
Bed bugs can be extremely difficult to eradicate on your own, as they are resistant to many store sprays. The licensed pest control professionals at Nelon-Cole can use heat treatments, targeted insecticides, or integrated approaches that are far more effective. Bed bug eggs can hatch after treatment, so multiple inspections and treatments are often needed. Keep up with vacuuming, laundering, and monitoring for several weeks.
Don’t use total-release “bug bombs”: These often drive bed bugs deeper into hiding and don’t reach where they live. Above all, be patient: Complete eradication can take several weeks or months depending on the size of the infestation.
The award-winning team at Nelon-Cole specializes in the removal of bed bug infestations, and the best time to call is when you notice the very first specimen. Bed bug infestation can get out of control quickly, and if left uncontrolled can cause you great discomfort and expense. Our team is standing by to help quickly, as we have done for hundreds of other homeowners across the Carolinas. If you see or suspect a bedbug infestation in your home, call Nelon-Cole right away for effective and affordable solutions.
Charlotte Pest Control - Gastonia Pest Control - Asheville Pest Control - Spartanburg Pest Control - Hendersonville Pest Control - Lincolnton Pest Control
