Bed Bugs: The Real Vampires of New York

It’s tough trying to keep these disgusting creepy crawlers from invading your home. It can be a nightmare if they do. It’s a nightmare if you don’t have the right battle plan --- if you can’t arm yourself.

If they've already marched in and set up camp in your otherwise happy home, you must learn how to fight back against these monstrous little blood-suckers and wipe them out.

This can be done in a non-toxic way so it won't harm the kiddies or the beloved pets or leave permanent stains on the furniture. Your auntie's plant she gave you for your birthday won't wilt. It’s important to do your homework in finding the right pest control company.

There is nothing worse than feeling helpless against an insidious invasion of invisible insects. What is even more disconcerting is that bed bugs prodigiously reproduce and can live for up to a year. They’re difficult to spot because of their spec-like size and their semi-transparency. You know you have them because they do leave a trail of tiny blood stains and droppings, usually around seams of mattresses and pillowcases or in the creases of upholstered furniture. Waking up and finding bite marks on your skin is not a good way to start the day. Those unsightly welts itch too and it can take a psychological toll just imagining that these vampires are sucking your blood while you sleep. There’s unfounded guilt too, a feeling that it’s your own fault for what is happening. Absolutely not. Get that idea out of your mind. Bed bugs don’t discriminate. They are equal opportunity predators.

According to the New York City Bed Bug Advisory board the numbers are staggering:

Here is an excerpt of its April 2010 findings based on the most recent figures:

“Private residential rental housing violations data in New York City show a greater than 240% rise in bed bug violations from 2006-2009, from 1,193 to 4,084 violations Reports from pest management service providers, residents, social and health services providers and other key workers— as well as highly-publicized infestations in workplaces—suggest an unprecedented rate of spread. In 2009, 311 received 33,772 bed bug-related inquiries, up from 21,922 in 2008, an increase of 54%. There were 426 confirmed bed bug cases resulting in treatment in 243 New York City public schools in FY 2009, twice as many as the preceding year.”

This New York City government website link extensively details methods of ridding bed bugs in your home.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vector/vector-faq1.pdf

“Clean areas where bed bugs are likely to hide.

• Clean bedding, linens, curtains, rugs, carpets, and clothes. To kill bed bugs, wash items in hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting. Soak delicate clothes in warm water with lots of laundry soap for several hours before rinsing. Wool items, plush toys, shoes, and many other items can be placed into a hot dryer for 30 minutes to get rid of bed bugs.

• Scrub mattress seams with a stiff brush to dislodge bed bugs and their eggs.

• Vacuum mattresses, bed frames, nearby furniture, floors and carpets. Pay special attention to cracks and open spaces. Immediately after vacuuming, put the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag, and dispose of it in an outdoor container.

• If you find bed bugs on a mattress, cover it with a waterproof, zippered mattress cover labeled “allergen rated,” or “for dust mites.” Keep the cover on for at least one year.

• If your box spring is infested, seal it inside a vinyl box spring cover for at least one year. If no cover is available, throw the box spring away.

• Dispose of infested items that cannot be cleaned and get rid of clutter. Seal tightly in a plastic garbage bag and discard in an outside container.

• Repair cracks in plaster and repair or remove loose wallpaper.”

For the traveler:
It doesn’t matter if it’s a five star hotel. Bed bugs don’t care about room service.
Bring a plastic bed sheet with you. You can buy one in medical supply store or a sheet roll of heavy-duty plastic from a hardware store. Place the plastic sheet under the hotel sheets. Bed bugs cannot penetrate plastic. Set another piece of plastic on the floor where you will place your luggage. Avoid using the dresser drawers. These simple steps can help prevent a massive headache when you get home.
Why do I know all about bed bugs. I work for a service called alliedcleaningservices.com. It’s a wide range of commercial and residential cleaning and janitorial services in New York City, Westchester and Yonkers.

You can keep checking my weekly blog for more clean living tips.
Next week: No more snow. It’s time for Spring Cleaning!