It happens to even the best of apartments. bugs can catch a ride in your suitcase or used furniture (beware of second handor on your clothing. The critters can even travel from another apartmentIf you’re not sure if you have bed bugs (maybe it’s fleas from your dog?), check out the article How to Identify a Bed Bug Infestation by a Virginia Tech professor. And if you really want to know everything about bed bugs, check out the website BedBugCentral and see the EPA Bed Bug Here’s how to deal with a bed bug infestation. (Hint: A can of Raid is not going to do the If you suspect bed bugs, contact your landlord or managerYour landlord should bring in a qualified exterminator to inspect for and measure the concentration of bed bugs in your rental (and also give you proper notice of entry for the exterminator’s inspection. Some states, such as Maine, have specific laws on the books covering landlord and tenant duties regarding
See the website of the National Conference of State Legislatures for a list of state information beforehand what to expectTypically, a pest management professional will examine the main bed bug site (such as your mattress and bedding), as well as look closely into drawers, closets, and shelves. A professional will also “box” or “map” the source, and attempt to confirm where the bed bugs originated, and learn whether and how the problem has spread. Mapping the infestation may also help determine when a particular rental unit became infested, which the landlord may use to apportion financial responsibility for the extermination. Exterminators usually recommend that tenants in bed bug-infested units take the following steps: Keep in mind that if you don’t follow the exterminator’s advice, and the bed bugs reappear, you’ll have to start the whole process all In keeping with their responsibility to provide habitable
housing, landlords must pay to exterminate pests, such as bed bugs, that a tenant has not introduced. In some states such as Florida, this duty is explicit. But, determining who introduced the bed bugs (and who must foot the bill) is often very difficult in multi-unit buildings: Many tenants may be moving in and out, some may have recently traveled abroad and brought home bed bugs, and others may have picked up used furniture that contained bed bugs. As a result, landlords (under their insurance policies) often end up footing the bill for extermination and relocation costs in properties with several rental units. rent a single-family home, especially if you are a long-term tenant, you may be more easily saddled with the cost because there won’t be any other residents to Depending on your situation, if your landlord fails to take care of a major bed bug problem, you may be able to withhold rent or use the repair and deduct remedy to cover costs such as extermination, break your lease and
move out early, or even sue the landlord for damages. See the Nolo article Tenant Options if Your Landlord Won’t Make Major Repairs for details on these options. Eradicating bed bug infestations caused by the tenant, however, can be the tenant’s financial responsibility. If you are clearly the source of the bed bug problem, your renters’ insurance (if any) should cover the costs of moving out and replacing any Most tenants don’t want to move into a rental unit that has problems such as flooding, and several states have laws requiring these types of landlordFor details on states that require landlord disclosure of bed bug problems, see the Nolo article, What Landlords Need to Tell Tenants About Bed Bugs in the Building . When you are travelling with babies and young children there is always so much extra gear you need. We make it possible for you to hire all the baby equipment you will require. Our range includes bassinettes, cots, change tables, car seats, prams, high chairs and more.
Check out our baby hire range below. Having guests to stay and don't have spare beds for them? Then call us and we can solve your problem for you by supplying strong, comfortable rollaway beds with foam mattresses. The beds have wheels and can be folded away neatly during the day. They are suitable for 8 year old children to adults. Camping and Outdoor Gear We have a wide range of beach essentials available to ensure that your time spent at the beach is relaxed and fun filled as possible. The items include beach umbrellas, beach shelters, beach chairs, eskys and boogie boards. Our large range of electrical hire items includes refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, microwaves and TVs. We also have smaller electrical appliance hire items such as fans and heaters. Are you visiting family or friends on the Sunshine Coast and would like to leave your mobility aids at home? Well, we can help you by supplying you with the ltems you require. Our range of goods includes wheel chairs, wheelie walkers, commodes, shower chairs and crutches.
Why not opt for the hassle-free option to hire all your linen requirements for your holiday. This saves you the effort of having to pack bulky linen and towels and also saves the hassle of washing and ironing when you return home. Let us do all the hard work for you! The Baltimore City Health Department does not have any bed bug mitigation programs; however, we are providing informational materials on bedbugs as a resource for the public. Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. They can reach about 1/4 inch in length and have flat, oval-shaped, wingless bodies. They are reddish-brown in color and may be mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches. How Does a Home Become Infested with Bed Bugs? Bed bugs ‘hitchhike’ and people often unknowingly carry bed bugs into homes in infested luggage and bags, furniture, mattresses and boxsprings, bedding or clothing. They can also travel between houses and apartments through cracks and openings in or around doors, windows, walls, and floors.
How Do I Know if My Home is Infested with Bed Bugs? Bites are often one of the first signs of a bed bug problem. Most bed bug bites are painless at first but later become large, itchy skin welts. These welts do not have a red spot in the center like fleabites. Although bed bugs are a nuisance, they are not known to spread disease. The bites can be very similar to other insect bites, and bed bug infestations cannot be confirmed by bites alone. You may also see the bed bugs themselves, small bloodstains from crushed insects or dark spots from their droppings, especially on sheets or other bedding. How Can I Get Rid of Bed Bugs? For residents who can afford to do so, the Baltimore City Health Department recommends hiring licensed pest management professionals for bed bug eradication. At a minimum, the pest control company should: Inspect your home to confirm the presence of bed bugs. Find and remove bed bugs and eliminate hiding places. Make at least one return visit to make sure bed bugs are gone.
Be sure to hire and work with a licensed professional. Bed bug treatment will involve extensive preparation and follow-up on the part of residents that may require a ‘working relationship’ with a professional. Ask to see a copy of the license or check directly with the Maryland Department of Agriculture by calling 410-841-5710 or visiting the MDA's Website. Pest control professionals may use a pesticide. Talk with the professional about safe use of pesticides and make sure they: Use the least toxic pesticide. Follow instructions and warnings on product labels. Advise you to stay out of treated rooms and when it is safe to return. In all cases, please note that many conventional, over-the-counter pest control products, such as foggers and bug bombs, are ineffective and could make a bed bug problem worse. Find out where bed bugs are hiding in your home. Starting on or around a bed, use a flashlight to look for bed bugs and signs such as shed skins or stains from droppings.
Check:Behind your headboard and in joints of bed frames. The seams of your mattress and inside the box spring. In and around nightstands and other furniture. Other bedroom items and locations where bed bugs could hide, such as windows and door casings, pictures, moldings, cracks in plaster and partitions, in or around electrical outlets and venting, and clutter. In general, any space the width of a credit card can be a hiding place for bed bugs. Clean and de-clutter areas where bed bugs are likely to hide and remove bed bugs.Clean up the clutter. A cluttered home provides more places for bed bugs to hide and makes locating and treating for them more difficult. Heat kills bed bugs and their eggs. Clean bedding, linens, curtains, rugs, carpets and clothes. Wash items in hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting for 60 minutes. Such items also can be placed dry in a dryer on the highest setting for half an hour. Soak delicate clothes in warm water with lots of laundry soap for several hours before rinsing.
Carefully scrub mattress seams with a stiff brush to dislodge bed bugs and eggs. Vacuum mattresses, bed frames, furniture, floors and carpets. Pay special attention to cracks and open spaces. Immediately after vacuuming, put the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag and dispose in an outdoor container. If you find bed bugs on a mattress, cover it with a zippered mattress cover labeled for bed bugs. Pay special attention to the zipper enclosure to ensure a tight seal. Keep the cover on for at least one year. If your box spring is infested, also seal it inside an encasement for at least one year. If no cover is available, seal the mattress in 6 mil plastic and duct tape and label "Bed Bugs" and throw away. Bed bug interceptors can be very effective for trapping bedbugs moving to and from beds and other furniture. Dispose of infested items or clutter that can't be cleaned. Seal tightly in a plastic garbage bag and discard in an outside container. Repair cracks in plaster and loose wallpaper and seal or eliminate other potential hiding places.
Be very cautious about using pesticides yourself. Pesticides can be hazardous to people and pets. Pesticides alone are rarely effective for bed bug eradication and is not advised. If you choose to use a pesticide, follow these precautions:Only use pesticides clearly labeled for bed bugs. Never use a cockroach spray, or other pesticide that does not list bed bugs on the label. Follow label instructions exactly. Understand that use may build resistance to the pesticide within the infestation. Never spray pesticides on top of a mattress or sofas, or in areas where children are present. Avoid "insecticide bombs" and "foggers" in your home. These products can spread hazardous chemicals throughout your home and often drive bed bugs into ‘deeper’ hiding places. Safer products such as food-grade diatomaceous earth are no less effective for control than any other residual pesticide. How Can I Keep Bed Bugs Out of My Home? Wash clothing and bedding immediately after returning from a trip.