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 you Baby & Kids (1) Showing 1 - 16 Bed Guardian by Sleep Philosophy 3M Scotchgard Full Mattress Protector KING, TWIN, QUEEN, FULL, TWIN XL, CAL KING Remedy Bed Bug and Dust Mite Queen Mattress Protector in White
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Hygea Natural Bed Bug Box Spring Cover or Mattress Cover : VINYL : Waterproof Box Spring Encasement - Size XL Twin Set your store to see localavailabilityWhile bedbugs may be pests, you'll be almost as infuriated wasting your money on so-called remedies that don't work. Don't let a bedbug scare lead to a bedbug scam. The recent surge of bedbug cases in New York has prompted a rash of anti-bug products, but experts say many of them are bogus. The expensive sprays, powders and plastic barriers may give you peace of mind - and nothing else. "With some of these products, you're better off using the bottles to crush the bugs," said Andy Linares, owner of Bug Off pest control in Washington Heights. There were 404,000 bedbug cases reported in 2009, the first year that the city tracked them, and 311 has reported a surge in bedbug-related calls this year. Linares and other experts caution consumers against relying on untested solutions sold in pharmacies and on the Internet. "If you want nails, go to the hardware store.
If you want drugs, go to the pharmacy. But if you want to kill bedbugs, go to an expert," he said. A common mistake is going for water-based "all natural" products that contain plant and spice extracts and little else, he said. "These so-called natural products don't have to be tested for efficacy," said Linares. "It may be green, it may be natural, but you want to see the data that proves it works on contact and leaves residue ... that will continue to kill." The Daily News purchased nearly a dozen bedbug products to run by Linares. The first was a "bedbug certified" polyester mattress cover that cost $71. "That's a fabulous product," he said. "It's breathable but virtually impenetrable to bedbugs." Vinyl covers are much cheaper, but also far less effective, he said. They tend to rip and are uncomfortable to sleep on. Next was a bedbug repellent spray called Buzz Barrier, bought online for $9.99. Aside from water, the active ingredient in the herbal-scented spray are plant extracts geraniol and citronella.
"Use this to keep mosquitoes away, but bedbugs crave blood. You can't repel them," said Linares. He was similarly skeptical of TV-advertised Pristall SaniSleep, a mix of lemongrass, mint and cinnamon oils, and Spray Away, made from the food additives sodium chloride and potassium sorbate. While advertised as safe to use around pets and children, products like these are relatively expensive and ineffective, he said. While Linares would never call a pesticide completely safe, he said several natural products can be used in homes when applied correctly. "Anyone who decides to treat bedbugs on their own needs to follow the instructions carefully," he said. Effective natural options include JT Eaton's Bedbug Control for luggage and mattresses or EcoEXEMPT KO spray. They are far more effective than extract-based sprays - and noticeably cheaper at about $10 and $16 respectively, said Linares. The companies that got panned didn't respond to requests for comment. Vanessa Aquino, 32, who lives in the Marble Hill Houses in the Bronx, said she has had bedbugs in her apartment for three months.