Good night, sleep tight and don't let the Bed Bugs Bite! Followed by playful tickles this is a fond childhood memory for lots of us. A cute little bedtime rhyme - right? The reality is that bed bugs are not cute, and there is a scary truth to the innocent saying. So what are the tricks to protecting yourself?
Bed bugs are not picky. They like everyone - and no one is safe from their bite. They hitch rides in luggage and on clothes. They can be transported from summer camps and hotels to your home. They can come from your child's schoolmate, or your housekeeper, or your coworker, or... you get the idea! No one is exempt from getting bed bugs! Once they arrive at your home - their new home! - they live in your mattress, around your baseboards, on your lampshades, in your closets and in the clothes in your dressers. Then...they bite you while you sleep. Everyone is at risk and bed bug infestations are on the rise everywhere - rural areas, city centres and suburbs. If there's no hiding from them you'll have to face them head on. So - what can you do??
Start off by being proactive. When you arrive home from holidays and trips you can unpack your luggage and wash your clothes in hot water and dry them for at least 30 minutes on hot. Check your luggage for bed bugs (or their feces) before you put it away. Be wary of borrowed items or freebies from neighbours or friends. That free couch or mattress might come with a surprise! Ok - so how do you get rid of them once they've moved in?
You could call a pest control company to come. The cons to this are many. You have to wait for them to fit you in. When you are suffering with bed bug bites you want the situation resolved FAST! When they do come, there is always a good chance they will miss some. Then - you got it - you have to wait for the exterminator to come back! Another negative is the methods commonly used. The chemicals used to kill bed bugs are toxic, which you don't want on your mattress. And you know that old saying: If you want something done right...
DO IT YOURSELF!! So you are probably thinking - but I'm not an exterminator! I don't know the first thing about pesticides and chemicals. I can't afford all that stuff they use. Well that's true. But you can take care of the problem yourself.
If bedbugs have a weakness, it's elevated temperature. Temperatures of 120oF are lethal to most insects. The advantage of steam is that heating is intense and immediate, killing both bugs and eggs on contact. Using steam is a very effective method of killing all stages of bed bugs. Delivered correctly, steam will contact bugs on the surface and those hidden inside stitch seams. Dry steam will allow you to kill bed bugs without soaking your mattress, carpet, upholstery or furniture with water or chemicals.
So who can you contact to use steam to kill bed bugs?? There are some proactive, green companies that may offer this service to you. Or you can purchase a home use steamer from a reputable company that you can use to apply treatment whenever and however often you want. The attachments available with a good steamer will allow you to get into the bed bugs favourite spots: between the mattress and bed frame/headboard, between the carpet and baseboards, along the piping on the edge of the mattress and in any crack or crevices in your furniture.
The other nice thing about this equipment is that you can use it for cleaning your bathroom tile and grout, toilets, BBQ's, ovens, windows and floors too! You can often find a great steamer for less than one visit from a pest control company. If you live in an apartment building you can check if the superintendant or landlord will pay for the equipment, or if they are willing to purchase a system for all residents to use.
Once you have steamed the bed bugs, you need to vacuum up the carcasses. Wash your bedding in hot water and run on high heat cycle in the dryer. Keep an eye on the situation, as you will need to repeat the procedure if you notice any that were missed the first time.
Act now - there is no reason not to have a good night and Sleep Tight without having those bed bugs bite!
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