What does a bed bug look like?
Bed bugs are small nocturnal insects that feed exclusively off the blood of hosts while they are sleeping. Bed bugs are ¼ inch long, relatively flat, and lead a very cryptic lifestyle.
Please see pictures below for some reference of bed bugs at different life stages.
Can bed bugs transmit disease?
At this point in time, research suggests that bed bugs are not transmitters of any diseases.
How can I determine if the bites I have are from bed bugs?
What can I do on my own if I find bed bugs?
If you think you have found bed bugs, we recommend you first contact a qualified pest control technician. Once they confirm you have bed bugs, you can begin treatment with them. [How to choose a qualified pest control company?]
If you cannot afford treatment, please read [What can I do if I cannot afford treatment?]
How can I get them out of my bed?
We recommend encasing all mattress and box springs in the home. After they have been encased, thoroughly wash all bedding.
Should I sleep on the couch?
We recommend that you sleep in your normal sleeping location, because regardless of where you go, the bed bugs will eventually follow.
Will fogging kill them? I’ve seen foggers in the store for fleas.
Yes, foggers will kill visible exposed bed bugs, but we do not recommend the usage of foggers for killing bed bugs. Foggers are not effective in eradicating bed bug infestations because foggers are a space treatment, and since bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices in the walls and inside the bedding, this treatment does kill bugs in these locations.
Service
What do I need to know to pick a good pest control company to treat my bed bugs?
There are many different aspects to consider when choosing a pest control company to treat your bed bug infestation. Please click here to learn more.
How can I tell if I need professionals to come in? Can’t I just take care of it myself if I catch it early enough?
We do not recommend attempting self-treatment when dealing with bed bug infestations. We suggest contacting your local pest control company and discussing your options for treatment with them. If you would like our professional consultation, or would like us to help in choosing a qualified pest control company, please [click here].
I have gone to court with a bed bug issue, is there anything you can do to help me?
We suggest having your lawyer contact Richard Cooper, as he may be able to help you with any legal questions you may have. Please click here for Richard Cooper’s contact information.
Products
Can I spray the luggage spray on my mattress too?
According to JT Eaton “Rest Easy Bed Bug & Insect Control for Luggage” Product Label to Control Bed Bugs:
Spray mattresses lightly, particularly around tufts and seams. Take beds apart and spray in all joints. Treat baseboards, moldings and floor. Allow all treated surfaces to thoroughly dry before use.
Precautionary statements:
- Wash thoroughly after handling and before smoking or eating
- If swallowed, call a poison control center or doctor immediately for treatment advice. Have a person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting unless told to by a poison control center or doctor. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person
- If in eyes, hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after 5 minutes, and then continue rinsing. Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice.
- If on skin or clothing, take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice.
- If inhaled, move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, and then give artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth, if possible. Call a poison control center or doctor for further treatment advice.
- You may also call 1-800-858-7378 for emergency treatment advice. This product is also toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms. Do not apply directly to water, to areas where surface water is present or to inter-tidal areas below the high water mark. Do not contaminate water when disposing of equipment wash waters.
Why do I need to encase the box spring?
Do not let the name fool you, bed bugs do not just live in beds. Bed bugs live as close as possible to their hosts, regardless of if this is in a dresser, behind a picture frame or in a wall. If you encase the mattress and not the box spring, the next location they will look to infest will be the box spring. Also, bed bugs sometimes infest box springs first because there are tears and rips that make access easy.
What do I need to look for in an encasement to make sure it is bed bug bite proof and escape proof?
Look for products that have been researched by a third party to be effective against bed bugs. Please click here to see Richard Cooper’s encasement comparison study.
Can I remove the encasements from my bedding?
We recommend that you leave on encasements for the life of the bedding, but if you have to remove it for any reason, we recommend removing it after at least a year. We understand that a situation may arise where you feel the need to wash and dry your encasements before that time frame; however, it is crucial to understand that by removing encasements, you are increasing your chances of re-infestation.
Can I machine wash my Protect-A-Bed encasements?
Yes, you can wash your Protect-A-Bed Allerzip® Bedding Encasements; however, we do not recommend removing encasements and washing them after you have already installed them on your mattress and box spring.
Keep in mind when drying encasements; you should dry at low to medium heat (65°C/150°f to 70° C/160°) with other linens to prevent burning.
Can I dry clean my Protect-A-Bed encasements?
Unfortunately, you cannot get your encasements dry-cleaned. The chemicals used when dry-cleaning actually will destroy the Miracle Membrane®.
Can I iron my Protect-A-Bed encasements?
No, do not iron your encasements because it could also damage the Miracle Membrane®.
Can I use bleach when washing my Protect-A-Bed encasements?
No, you cannot use bleach when washing your encasements because the bleach will destroy the Miracle Membrane®.
Have a question not answered above? Submit your own to Stephanie.madden@bedbugcenral.com. We will also post the question here for others to see who might have the same question.