Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on blood. Bed bugs are mainly active at night and chew on their human hosts while they sleep in their beds, thus their name "Bed Bugs." Bed bug bites can be uncomfortable and itchy, but are not known to transmit disease. However, in some people, they can develop into painful welts, or a rash, that lasts several days.

Bedbugs are very small, only about as big as an apple seed. They are mainly found in bedclothes and mattresses but can also be found in headboards, wallpaper, suitcases, boxes and shoes.

It is difficult to identify bed bugs by their bite. They are little red bumps similar to mosquito or spider bites, but occur in bunches. An accurate way to identify if a particular bed is infested is to look for physical signs of bed bugs, for example, small blood spots and/or dark fecal spots on pillows or sheets.

Bed Bug Control

Controlling bed bugs takes time and patience. Bed bugs take their blood meals at night, then hide during the day. The bed bugs hide in the curves and folds of the bedclothes and mattress. They also can hide in the box spring and crevices in the bed frame and headboard.

First remove all the sheets, pillow covers, pillows and the mattress cover, if it is cloth. Put them in the washer, then the dryer. The heat of the dryer, if it is above 140 degrees fahrenheit, will kill the bed bugs. Then using a safe insecticide, (see below) spray the mattress and box spring all over. Then let them dry a few hours. Also spray the bed frame and headboard, especially any cracks or seams. Also spray around the bed and baseboards of the room near the bed.

When you put the mattress back, put it within a plastic or vinyl mattress cover.

You can usually get some relief from the itching by rubbing in some Cortaid cream.

A good insecticide spray is "All Stop Dead Bed Bugs Contact Killing Spray." This spray is eco-friendly and does not include harsh pesticides.

Follow this link to see Dead Bed Bug Spray available on Amazon.com.

Be Careful Where You Sleep

If you have bed bugs they may have been brought in from somewhere else. We should all be very cautious when we travel and where sleep, whether it is for business, vacation or pleasure, or even to visit family or friends."

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