It's been a half-dozen years or so since bed bugs made a big, unwelcome comeback into the homes and consciousness of NYC apartment dwellers. In the 2011 fiscal year, complaints to 311 peaked at 13,140. By mid-2013, the number of 311 complaints dropped to 9,233, according to this article, with pest control experts attributing the fall to better education about how to spot bed bugs and what to do if you've got them., one of the country's largest online retailers of anti-bed-bug gear."There’s not as much panic from New Yorkers as there was in 2010 and 2011," Greenberg confirms. "The panic aspect has migrated west as New York has made it through the worst part, which was the lack of education and awareness about bed bugs. We spend less time talking consumers off the ledge when often times they are not even sure they have bed bugs. Most, but not all, have become more educated about bed bugs and what their telltale signs are."Product-wise, says Greenberg, "It has become less popular to purchase sprays to try and keep bed bugs away as they are not very effective unless applied in a targeted manner by a professional.
The business from New York now tends to be more from people that are sure they have a problem and from building managers needing products for ongoing control."So what are New York City residents ordering most when the bed bugs start biting these days?, which pays BrickUnderground a portion of sales generated here, at no additional cost to you. How to bed bug proof your NYC apartmentHow bed bugs spread through apartment buildingsHow to tell a bed bug from an imposterCan you get bed bugs and lice in the communal laundry room?Finding an apartment without bed bugsBedbugged! She's lived through it. And she doesn't want to freak out.The price of bed bugs: $4,100 (extermination not included)About that bed bug insurance bill...The best advice I can give youDiatomaceous Earth: Natural Bed Bug Control Diatomaceous Earth Health Benefits (31) Farm & Garden (17) A-Z Guide to Diatomaceous Earth (102) Bed bugs live in warm locations and often make their homes in bedding, clothes, carpets, and furniture.
You, their constant supply of food, are why bed bugs enjoy these locations. To check for them, look over mattress and furniture seams and the headboard or surrounding area for black fecal matter and blood smears. Treat Bed Bugs With A Natural Pesticide: we sell an effective bed bug powder which: Bed bugs aren't immune to Is the lowest cost treatment on the market Diatomaceous earth (DE) absorbs the oils and fats from insects, dehydrating them. Bed bug's exposure to DE dehydrates them in just a few hours. DE is easy to apply around your home and safe to apply near food, pets, and children. How do I treat bed bugs? Effective natural bed bug treatment comes down to 5 simple steps: Before beginning, bug proof your home by sealing up any entrances, cracks, or crevices.The chances of re-infestation are much lower for people who do this first. Step 1: Steam Clean Your Home You need a steam cleaner Bed bugs cannot survive in temperatures above 130°F for more than a few hours.
Steam clean your linens and furniture thoroughly to increase the temperature. Step 2: Wash All Fabrics You will need a washing machine, dryer, and plastic bags Put all fabrics through the wash on very high or very cold temperatures. Dry on a high heat and store all washed fabrics in sealed plastic bags or containers. Use a carpet cleaner to remove any bed bugs from the carpeting. Step 3: Vacuum Your Entire Home You will need a vacuum, preferably with a hose attachmentOnce your clothes, linens, and other fabrics have been washed and stored properly, begin to dismantle furniture and vacuum every surface. Once you have dismantled your furniture, vacuum every part, paying particular attention to furniture's seams and frames. After the treatment is over, you may reassemble your bed. Consider using a Total Encasement Mattress Cover in the future. Step 4: Apply Diatomaceous Earth You will need diatomaceous earth and a couple different applicators
Diatomaceous earth works as both a tool for prevention and treatment. After cleaning and steaming your home, proceed to apply DE by following these steps: Find areas around your home where you suspect bed bugs may be hiding or return to. Apply DE along moulding, in drawers, in any cracks or crevices, behind appliances, along windowsills and door jams. Use an applicator to make this easier. You will also want to remove all electrical faceplates and use the applicator to inject DE behind electrical switches and outlets. Cover furniture and mattresses with DE and work it into the furniture, mattresses, and carpeting with your hands. Step 5: Clean Up We recommend leaving the DE down as long as possible. Although it's far from a fashion statement, keeping a constant barrier down against the bed bugs will help ensure your victory. After about a week, you can wipe it all off and vacuum it up. A word of warning here: DE is very hard on traditional filtered vacuums.
Unless you're only cleaning a small section, we recommend using a shop vac to avoid burning out your vacuum's motor. For more information on cleaning up diatomaceous earth after you've applied it, check out our article here. Step 6: Repeat as needed Repeat the cleaning, vacuuming, washing, and DE application every 7-9 days until the problem subsides. Repeat the steam cleaning as needed. Follow these steps in every part of your home. Repeating these steps is necessary to break the cycle of infestation. If you continue to use DE in your home it will help prevent future infestations. Bed bugs are resilient but they can be eliminated from your home with thorough cleaning and DE treatments. DE is a reliable product which is simple to use and cost effective. Take Back Your Home Today!I thought bedbugs were a problem of the post. What can I do to keep from getting bedbugs? I had the exterminator come but bedbugs keep coming back...what else can I do? Is the only solution to bedbugs to get rid of the mattress?
How do you get bedbugs? What do bedbugs look like? How do bedbug covers work? What kind of bed bug cover should I get? How long do I have to leave a cover on? I thought bedbugs were a problem of the past. You may have heard recent stories about bedbugs coming back in epidemic levels. Through increased travel and the decreased use of pesticides, bedbugs are on the rise again. Today, as many as 90% of pest controllers report receiving calls about bedbugs. Unfortunately, many hotels are becoming infested, putting customers at risk of being bitten or worse, bringing bedbugs home. Fear not, however, as there are ways to protect yourself and your bedding. What can I do to keep from getting bedbugs? Cover all mattresses, box springs, and pillows before an infestation occurs. This prevents the bedbugs from hiding out in your bed. Keep in mind that bedbugs can spread through common air ducts or spaces, so apartments, condos, and townhomes are more susceptible to infestations.
NEVER place luggage on the carpet or bed. ALWAYS use the luggage rack – it is there for a reason! Be sure to check for signs of bugs – lift up the corner of the sheet and look on the edge of the bed near the seam for any dropping or exoskeletons (they shed!) Wash all items in hot water when you return to kill any bedbugs that may have come home with you. If it is winter and below freezing, consider leaving your bag outside to freeze any remaining bugs. If you do get bedbugs, don’t think that tossing the old mattress will get rid of all bugs. An female adult bedbug can lay up to 200 eggs in her lifetime. Vacuum thoroughly and promptly dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed bag outdoors. Cover your new mattress because often, bedbugs come back. Make sure your exterminator uses an old-fashioned bug spray, not bait, as bedbugs are blood feeders and do not take bait. The best treatment is prevention, so it is best to cover your bedding and take precautions when traveling.
I had the exterminator come but bedbugs keep coming back…what else can I do? If you have already had an exterminator come, but the bugs are not gone, it is probably because you have eggs remaining in your home. Sprays kill living bugs, but bedbugs lay hundreds of eggs, making them particularly difficult to get rid of. If you have bedbugs, be sure to cover all mattresses, box springs, pillows, and non-washable comforters to encase the bugs. This will prevent new bugs from getting in and old bugs from getting out. Covers should be used for at least 1 year after getting bed bugs. Any bedding you do not encase (sheets, mattress pads, blankets, washable comforters) should be washed in HOT water to kill any bugs and destroy the eggs. This should continue to be done every 2 weeks until you no longer see bugs and then periodically. Finally, vacuum your entire house thoroughly, including carpets, draperies, wall hangings, couches, and any other fabric items to sweep up any bugs or eggs.
Then, promptly remove the bag and place it in a sealable bag, dispose of it in an outdoor trashcan. If you follow these few easy steps in conjunction with an exterminator’s treatment, you should be able to get rid of bedbugs. Is the only solution to bedbugs to get rid of the mattress?In fact, just tossing the mattress may not rid you of the bedbug problem. Instead of getting rid of the mattress, you can encase it in a bedbug proof cover to trap bugs already there and keep new ones from settling in. Be sure to cover all mattresses in the entire residence as well as box springs, pillows, and comforters to be sure you have removed any habitats. If you do choose to throw away your old mattress, you should cover your new mattress to ensure any residual bugs don’t get in and wreck your new investment. How do you get bedbugs? You can pick up bedbugs from just about anywhere. There are reports of infestations in malls, schools, subways, and hotels. By bringing home a single female bedbug, you can get as many as 200 new bedbugs in one generation.
Bedbugs are also know for traveling through central air systems so multi-family residences like apartments are especially susceptible. Typically, if one room in a hotel or apartment gets bedbugs, the entire building will eventually acquire the bugs. The best way to protect yourself is to encase all bedding that cannot be washed and vacuum and wash the other items frequently. What do bedbugs look like? Bedbugs are about 1/5 of an inch long and oval shaped. They are brown unless they have recently fed, in which case they may appear dark red. They resemble an apple seed. Bedbugs molt about 5 times in their life, so you are more likely to see their leftover shell than the actual bug. Their eggs are almost impossible to see with the naked eye and appear like a speck of dust on a dark surface. Bed bug bites often appear as other bug bites. The best ways to differentiate between a bedbug bite and a mosquito bite are: Are the bites in a line? Are the bites on your torso? Are your bites in the winter?
Do they appear in the morning? If you have answered “yes” to any of those questions, your bites may be from bed bugs. Check your sheets for reddish brown marks which are tell-tale signs of squished bedbugs. Also, check the seam of your bed for any molted shells or dark droppings. You could have bed bugs. How do bedbug covers work? Bedbug covers work by trapping bedbugs you already have and preventing new ones from getting in. This keeps the bugs from nesting in your bed and keeps you bite free. Bedbug covers MUST have a zipper to be effective. What kind of bed bug cover should I get? We offer two kinds of bedbug covers. The least expensive bedbug covers are plain vinyl encasements. We recommend heavy duty vinyl for bedbugs as you must have your mattress encased for at least 1 year to prevent a relapse. The 6 gauge covers are more durable than the thinner 3 gauge covers and hold up better. While vinyl is economical, it is not as comfortable to sleep on because it does not breathe and can be loud.
Vinyl is best for the box springs which are not slept directly on, although many people use vinyl covers for their top mattress as well. If you choose a vinyl encasement, you may want to get a plush mattress pad to provide some ventilation between you and the vinyl. A more preferred option for mattresses is to use a premium encasement. Premium encasements are a urethane cover with a terry-loop top which provide breathable and comfortable mattress protection. These are the best bedbug covers because they provide reliable coverage, comfortable breathability, and last a very long time. Our premium covers carry a 10 year warranty. We also carry premium pillow and duvet covers to protect your entire bed. How long do I have to leave a cover on? You must leave your bed bug encasement on for at least 1 year to ensure all bugs AND EGGS have died before removing your encasement. This is another reason you may want to invest a little more in a premium cover. You will be sleeping on it for a long time.