Bed bugs are a serious concern these days. A recent survey released by the National Pest Management Association reported that one out of five Americans has had a bed bug infestation in their home or knows someone who has encountered bed bugs at home or in a hotel. Whether you have an active infestation or are at high risk of an infestation (you or someone in your family travels frequently, someone in the household sleeps away at college or boarding school, you live in multi-unit family housing, you have had an infestation in the past, etc.), it makes sense to protect yourself and protection begins with your mattress and box spring, the two places where bed bugs strike most frequently. Finding the best bed bug mattress cover can be a good first step to prevention, early detection of bed bugs and also an excellent part of an ongoing bed bug program. You will quickly find out that not all mattress covers are created equal. Here is a list of things to consider in your search: • Determine what is most important for you to protect: the person sleeping on the mattress, the mattress itself or both.
Some covers offer protection to just the mattress; encasements are one example of mattress-only protection. Just as their name suggests an encasement fully encases the mattress preventing bed bugs from infesting it. This does not prevent bed bugs from infesting on the surface(s) of the encasement where people sleep, it simply protects the mattress. Encasements are also available for the box spring, a major repository for bed bugs. However, they are highly prone to ripping and tearing given the sharp edges associated with bed frames. If you are looking for protection for both the mattress and the person sleeping on it then an active mattress liner, one specially formulated to kill bed bugs like ActiveGuard® Mattress Liners, will be a better choice. • If you are looking for a cover liner that kills bed bugs then you have a couple of options. Active mattress liners that are specially formulated with an insecticide will kill bed bugs typically within 72 hours. Encasements will also kill bed bugs typically over a one year period, bed bugs trapped inside of an encasement will starve.
• If ease of installation is important to you in cases where you have a large number of beds to cover or installation will be reliant on a student or even the elderly then consider a liner that can be installed as easily as a fitted sheet. Encasements typically require two people for installation and require lifting of the mattress and/or box spring. • The best bed bug mattress covers do not require ongoing maintenance, but rather offer you the ability to set it and forget it. Some mattress protection products on the market, like enecasements, are meant to trap bed bugs inside and require ongoing inspections to ensure that rips or tears have not allowed bed bugs to escape. • Some homeowners may prefer a product that will serve a dual purpose like killing both bed bugs and dust mites at the same time. Finding the best bed bug mattress cover for you and your home’s needs doesn’t have to be difficult. We hope the list provided above offers you a good starting point to help you make an informed decision.
For more information about bed bugs, to learn more about ActiveGuard® Mattress Liners or purchase our liners directly, visit us online today.The first line of defense: Bed bugs earned their name by being more commonly found hiding on or near the bed than anywhere else in infested homes. Bed bugs feed on human blood while their hosts are sleeping, then hide in a tight and secure place to rest, digest, and reproduce. If left unchecked, a small number of bed bugs with access to a nightly meal can multiply into an infestation in just a few weeks. SafeRest mattress encasements and box spring encasements are essential to the process of making your bed bed bug proof. Bed bug encasements seal off the mattress and box spring, eliminating those common hiding places that bed bugs use to breed and to avoid treatment efforts. Rather than disposing of expensive mattress sets, SafeRest bed bug proof encasements can be used to seal off the mattress and box spring, trapping any bed bugs inside and preventing them from escaping.
Over time, these trapped bed bugs will die of starvation due to the lack of a blood source. When designing their encasements for bed bugs, dust mites, and fluid protection, SafeRest selected only the finest materials and developed their own exclusive features. The result was a breathable, noiseless encasement that prevents bed bugs, bacteria, dust mites, and fluids from passing through. This premium level of protection has helped thousands with allergies and asthma to improve their health by providing a more sterile and allergen free sleep environment. SafeRest encasements have also helped others to protect and treat their mattresses against bed bugs. Finally, those who suffer from heavy night sweating or have children, pets, or incontinence have benefitted from SafeRest's breathable waterproof design, which blocks all fluids from passing through. 360° Secure Micro Zipper SafeRest's patented zipper and enclosure completely seal your mattress on all six sides. The micro zipper spans three sides of the encasement for easy installation and removal.
The micro zipper's teeth that are too small and close together for bed bugs to fit through. The secure velcro enclosure seals off the end of the zipper to ensure there are no gaps that bed bugs can enter or escape through. Premium Cotton Terry Surface While other encasements use low-cost materials that rustle and retain heat, SafeRest's designers went out of their way to ensure that your sleep experience would be as quiet and comfortable as it would be without a mattress cover. SafeRest Premium's cotton terry surface design is soft, smooth, and noiseless. Cotton terry naturally absorbs water while allowing air and heat to pass through, keeping your bed cool and dry. Protect your mattress from fluid spills like sweat and urine with SafeRest's exclusive membrane layer. This unique design blocks any fluids from reaching the mattress while still letting the mattress breathe to prevent heat buildup. SafeRest's waterproof membrane is free of vinyl and PVC. It has no phthalates or fire retardant chemical treatments.
It's perfect for children, allergy and asthma sufferers. Protects against bed bugs, allergens, bacteria, dust mites, perspiration, urine, and fluids Hypoallergenic cotton terry surface naturally absorbs moisture Breathable membrane allows airflow while repelling liquids Micro-zipper technology for the ultimate bed bug protection 360° Secure design prevents accidental openings Surrounds and protects the mattress on all six sides Completely waterproof and noiseless Great for asthma, eczema and allergy sufferers Prevents bed bugs from entering or escaping Machine washable hot or cold Tumble dry on low heat Installing a SafeRest bed bug encasement is very simple, but may require two people since it involves lifting the mattress from the bed. Before you begin the installation, strip the mattress of all bedding, such as sheets and pillows, and remove the encasement from its packaging. With the help from another person, remove the mattress from the bed frame and lean it upright against the wall.
Unzip the mattress encasement on all three sides and wrap the short, unzippered side over the top of the standing mattress. Gently pull the encasement down so that both sides of the mattress are covered, and begin closing the zipper. Set the mattress back down on the bed to finish closing the zipper, and use the velcro enclosure to seal off the end of the zipper. SafeRest's Premium encasements are designed to last for many years if cared for properly. By following the included care instructions, you'll be able to take advantage of all of the protection and health benefits offered by these encasements for the length of their 10-year warranty and beyond. Note that SafeRest's 10-year warranty covers manufacturing and fabric defects, and will not cover damage caused by failing to adhere to the care instructions. Wash the encasement with the rest of your bedding at 95° Celsius (200° Fahrenheit), usually reached by the medium or high heat setting of your washing machine.
Tumble dry the encasement only on low heat to avoid damaging it. Temperatures over 55° Celsius (130° Fahrenheit) can melt or warp the waterproof membrane layer. Do not iron or dry clean the encasement. The high temperatures involved will melt the waterproof membrane layer, causing the encasement to no longer be waterproof. Do not use bleach or fabric softener when laundering the encasement. Bleach, detergents containing bleach, and fabric softeners can damage the waterproof membrane layer. Complete your bed proofing with a box spring encasement and pillow encasements, eliminating as many potential hiding places as possible. Give your children the same protection with SafeRest's crib mattress encasements. All of SafeRest's Premium encasements feature the same cotton terry surface, waterproof and breathable membrane layer, and patented 360° Secure design. Premium Box Spring Encasements Your box spring has tons of potential hiding places available to bed bugs.