TorontoRentals
On May 3rd we will be publishing an infographic and blog about how bed bugs are a growing problem in Toronto apartments, despite efforts to keep them under control. In fact, bed bug instances were increasing in apartments even more than in hotels, motels and hostels.
If you’ve got bed bugs in your Toronto apartment, read our blog and infographic about how to get rid of them.
If you don’t have bed bugs, this article is for you.
How to prevent bed bugs
For apartment-dwellers, or future apartment-dwellers, preventing bed bugs is harder than for most people. Because we share walls, we’re affected by whether or not our neighbours have bed bugs.
Still, there are steps you can take to keep bed bugs out of your Toronto apartment.
Laundry
Apartment buildings with shared laundry rooms are a major place where bed bugs can move between units, by getting into your laundry from your neighbours’ clothes and sheets.
Prevent bed bugs in the laundry room by:
- Bringing your laundry down in a plastic bag.
- Removing your items from the dryer and placing them directly into a new plastic bag.
- Folding your laundry in your apartment.
Vacuum
Vacuuming often helps eliminate bed bug eggs. Vacuum your couch, mattress, pillows, curtains, throw blankets and any other soft surfaces.
Inspect
Check your house for bed bugs and their feces (ew!). Bed bugs are about the size of a grain of rice and can be white, dark brown, tan or burnt orange colour.
Mattress
Buy a protective plastic cover for your mattress and box spring. Get one that is a high quality material so it won’t rip.
De-clutter
Bed bugs hate sunlight, so they’ll hide in dark spaces. Reducing the amount of clutter in your apartment eliminates bed bug hiding spots.
Isolate
Block bed bugs from getting into your unit from neighbouring apartments by sealing it off. Install door sweeps at the base of your front door. Seal cracks and tiny openings around door frames, baseboards, window sills, light sockets and walls.
More tips on how to apartment in Toronto? We have you covered:
