Bed Bug Prevention Tips
In today's blog, we bring you a summary of tips from RealSimple.com about how to prevent bed bugs:
- "Prevention is key." Bed bug extermination can cost upwards of $1200 and the physical and emotional toll the process exacts can be costly as well. Prevention is not only obviously desirable, but easily attainable. Bedbug-proof bedding, such as mattress covers and box spring covers, laundering your clothes, and the hiring of pest interceptors to advise on bed bug infestation prevention are all recommended. Early detection of a problem also saves money, so becoming educated about how to prevent and spot bed bug problems is an integral component of prevention.
- Inspect your hotel room. As much as even just thinking about the possibility of bed bugs in your hotel room might give you the heebie-jeebies, it's important to take the time to inspect for them when you're staying at a hotel – no matter how nice the establishment. Pull back the sheets to look for signs of bedbugs on the mattress and box spring, and also inspect the headboard.
- Don't bring bed bugs into your home. After a "suspicious" hotel stay, where you may have encountered bedbugs (and for sure if you know you did): unpack your suitcase outside of your living area (like in a garage or outside); put all clothes through a hot wash or dry cycle to kill bedbugs; disinfect your suitcase with no-pest strips.
- Recognize bedbug bites. Bites are often the first sign of a bed bug infestation. But what do bedbug bites look like? They look like mosquito bites but typically come in clusters of at least three. In addition, they tend to affect areas of the body that are exposed while sleeping, like arms, the neck, face, and shoulders.
- Call a professional bedbug exterminator. The key word here is professional. While you're waiting for the professional's visit, do what you can at home, including steam cleaning and vacuuming the mattress. Be sure to empty the vacuum cleaner outside the home. DO NOT use over-the-counter pesticides, which can make the problem worse. Bedbugs that aren't killed by the pesticide sense the chemical and flee, thereby spreading the infestation to other areas of the home.
- Don't panic. Horrifying as it would be to confront a bedbug infestation in your own home, RealSimple.com reports that only about 10 percent of cases are considered severe enough to require disposing of all furniture and cleaning each item of clothing. As a rule of them, the article indicates, it's safe to only consider your case severe if you actually see the bedbugs walking around your home. Yikes.
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On 10/12/2011 bossfavourite wrote:
Eliminating Dust Mites within your mattress and carpet in your bedroom will have you sleeping tight again. Most people have allergies to either dust mites or their feces. As gross as it sound, mite poo is circulated in the air from everyday activities. Up to five million dust mites call your mattress home, and you sleep with your face just millimeters from them. They feed on your dead skin and thrive in this environment.
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On 10/12/2011 bossfavourite wrote:
Eliminating Dust Mites within your mattress and carpet in your bedroom will have you sleeping tight again. Most people have allergies to either dust mites or their feces. As gross as it sound, mite poo is circulated in the air from everyday activities. Up to five million dust mites call your mattress home, and you sleep with your face just millimeters from them. They feed on your dead skin and thrive in this environment.
Leave a Comment
