Good Advice about Bed Bugs!
October 23, 2010
"There is an epidemic of bed bugs now occurring in America." - Dr. Ellen Rudolph
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Since much of our clothing, sheets, towels, etc. now comes from companies outside of America, even the most expensive stores sell foreign clothing from China, Indonesia, etc.
The bed bugs are coming in on the clothing as these countries do not consider them a problem.
RECOMMENDATION:
When you buy any new fabric products, underwear, socks, shirts, sweaters, scarves, sheets, towels, place mats, etc. that you bring them into the house -- put them in your clothes dryer for at least 20 minutes. The heat will kill them and their eggs. Use the highest heat the fabric will withstand. Wash and wear items should be put through a complete wash/dry cycle before you put the items in your closet or dresser drawers.
It does not matter what the price range is of the clothing, or if the outfit comes from the most expensive
store known in the U.S. They still get shipments from these countries and the bugs can come in a box of
scarves or anything else for that matter.
Bed bugs were once a common public health pest worldwide, declining in incidence through the mid 20th century. Recently, however, bed bugs have undergone a dramatic resurgence and worldwide there are reports of increasing numbers of infestations. Bed bugs are one of the great travelers of the world and are readily transported via luggage, clothing, bedding and furniture.
Things to look for are the bugs themselves, and the light-brown, molted skins of the nymphs. Dark spots of dried bed bug excrement are often present along mattress seams or wherever the bugs have resided. Oftentimes, the gauze fabric underlying the box spring must be removed to gain access for inspection and possible treatment.
Successful treatment of mattresses and box springs is difficult, however, and infested components may need to be discarded. Cracks and crevices of bed frames should be examined, especially if the frame is wood. (Bed bugs have an affinity for wood and fabric more so than metal or plastic). Headboards secured to walls should also be removed and inspected. In hotels and motels, the area behind the headboard is often the first place that the bugs become established. Bed bugs also hide among items stored under beds.
Check other common places: [Check] along and under the edge of wall-to-wall carpeting (especially behind beds and furniture); cracks in wood molding; ceiling-wall junctures; behind wall-mounts, picture frames, switch plates and outlets; under loose wallpaper; amongst clothing stored in closets; and inside clocks, phones, televisions and smoke detectors.
The challenge is to find and treat all places where bugs and eggs may be present. Bed bugs tend to congregate in certain areas, but it is common to find an individual or some eggs scattered here and there.
Persistence and a bright flashlight are requisites for success. Inspectors sometimes also inject a pyrethrum-based, "flushing agent" into crevices to help reveal where bugs may be hiding. A thorough treatment of a home, hotel, or apartment may take several hours or days.
Article Source: Wilkow.com/Get-Rid-of-Bed-Bugs
Note: A well-traveled home inspector from Las Vegas saw our Web page with content from Dr. Rudolph, advising she had come across other content not only about bedbugs but about other unwanted crawly creatures in the home. The article's author provided the information for a modular home site. But as you can see from the left logo, modular homes have a whole new meaning. Enjoy the added content. - Webmaster |
Nice Resource From Massachusetts Pest Control Company
Be sure you check out their Pest Library! - Webmaster
Other Bed Bug Resources:
Traveler Q & A: Preventing bed bugs from hitchhiking to your home
University of Minnesota Extension Services: How do I prevent bringing them home?
Wilkow: How do I prevent bedbugs?
Howcast Video: How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?
The RV Mattress Specialists: Bed Bug Fact Sheet
| Bed Bugs Official Site |
| TKS to Colusa County, CA, Librarian, Melinda, for additional link. |
Click to visit Dr. Ellen Rudolph's excellent site for professional photography, personal tips, and information from around the world.