Bedbugs. The word alone is enough to make the skin crawl. From Hollister to Victoria's Secret, it seems there is no refuge from these persistent little creatures. Here are some tips to to ensure the bedbugs don't bite.
The Most Commonly Asked Bedbug Questions Answered
If My Colleague Has Bedbugs, Will I Get Them?(01 of09)
Sometimes there is a stigma associated with having bedbugs, so not everyone is going to share if they are currently experiencing a bedbug infestation. This is why it is always good to be aware of your working environment regarding bedbugs and any other pests that you might take home. If you have a relationship with a colleague who is dealing with an infestation, ask them if they are currently being treated by a licensed pest control company. Speak with your supervisor and/or human resources department and request a certified bedbug inspection of your office as a precautionary measure. It is also a great idea to carry an over-the-counter spray such as Pronto Plus. These types of sprays kill the bedbugs and their eggs on contact and can be used around your office, work station, at a hotel during business travel and even your car. A bedbug infestation in the workplace is a concern for not only you and your family, but all of your colleagues in the office.
What If I Open A Box From The Mail And One Falls Out?(02 of09)
Remove both the bedbug and the box from your home. Thoroughly vacuum the area where this happened and clean it with warm, soapy water. After the area is dry, use an over-the-counter bedbug spray around the room in which the sighting occurred. Remember to always follow the label. Lastly, phone the company that sent you the package and make them aware of your findings. For future security, call a professional to inspect your home to make sure an infestation did not occur.
What If I Ate At A Restaurant Or At A Friend's House That Was Later Revealed To Be Infested?(03 of09)
If you find yourself in this situation it is best to have a certified inspection team visit your home to determine if you carried any bedbug eggs or live bedbugs into your home. If you see a bedbug while in one of these locations, remove all of your clothing/items before you enter your own home. Wash the items you were wearing immediately in hot water and dry them in the dryer. Do not place your clothes in the hamper. If you need to wait to wash the items, it is best to put them directly in an airtight, plastic bag. It is also a good measure to spray your car with an over-the-counter spray.
What If I Wake Up In A Hotel Room With Bites?(04 of09)
Call the hotel management and make them aware of your bites. They then should have a certified inspector check your room for bedbugs. Sometimes bedbug bites can be confused for other insects, such as mosquito bites. Regardless of the result, it is best to have your clothing washed prior to bringing anything home. Spray your luggage inside and out with a preventive bedbug spray that is EPA certified. Make sure the spray kills both the bugs and their eggs.
How Do I Know If My Office, Home, Dorm Room Or Even Child's Day Care Has An Infestation?(05 of09)
The best advice when visiting places where you live, eat or work is to keep an eye out for anything that looks like a bedbug and to inspect yourself and your family for bedbug bites. Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals including humans and pets. They do not fly and are carried or transferred by crawling from person-to-person and material-to-material. Their eggs are very small, about the size of a poppy seed. Their larvae are the size of a grain of rice. Adult bedbugs are about a quarter of an inch long, reddish-brown in color, and fairly flat. They live in dark crevices, such as those in mattresses and bed frames. They can also live in other furniture, openings in the floor, or in carpeting. Even if you do not see any signs of actual bugs, their eggs, or larvae, it is still good to check for bites. When it comes to a child's daycare, check the mattresses used at naptime and speak openly with the school director about whether they have preventative measures in place to protect against this epidemic. It is also helpful to do some research on mattress and box spring encasements, such as Protect-A-Bed encasements. Encasements help ensure that bedbugs or other pests will be kept out.
What If I Can't Afford A Pricey Dog Sniffer/Exterminator?(06 of09)
It is always best to seek concrete answers to your bedbug questions from a certified expert. My company, GotchA! Bedbugs Inspectors, doesn't sell you a service--we are consultants. We guide you through the process by educating you to make the best possible choice for your current situation, if you actually have a bedbug problem. Should we detect an infestation, we can help prepare your home, office etc., and discuss your options for determining a solution that will eradicate your specific problem. Overall, one should work with a certified company and ask if they can offer a payment plan. You should also know if the company personally trained with their bedbug sniffing dog. You might also be surprised at how affordable a K-9 bedbug inspection is. If your infestation is not severe you can also use an over-the-counter product that is preventative and will also treat your current infestation.
How Do I Use Over-The-Counter Options?(07 of09)
My company offers a detection service and prepares residential and commercial properties for a licensed pest control company to come and eradicate bedbug infestations. If you would rather try to treat your pest problem on your own, there are many products on the market that you can use. However, since some work and some don't, I recommend doing your research. First, determine if you even have bedbugs. If so, read up on the "do-it-yourself" products on the market and make sure they are approved by your state's pesticide regulatory departments. Always follow the instructions as per the label--you never want to use a product if you are not sure what you are dealing with. I frequently recommend an over-the-counter spray, such as Pronto Plus, that is EPA certified to kill the bedbug and their eggs. The most common issue with over-the-counter use vs. professional is misuse of the product. If the product is not used as indicated on the label and sprayed in the specific areas we consider "Hot Zones," it is not likely to completely eradicate an infestation. It is important to use an over-the-counter spray in accordance to the specific instructions, as well as to repeat use every 14 days to ensure the infestation is eradicated.
What Steps Should I Take If I Purchased Clothing From An Infested Store?(08 of09)
If you've purchased clothing from a store that was found to have bedbugs, there are several steps you should take. If the clothing is still in the bag, take it outside your home and wash it at a laundromat. Be sure to use detergent and wash in warm water. Also dry the item thoroughly on high heat. If it is a dry-cleaning-only item, it is best to take it to a professional dry cleaner. If you have placed the item in your dresser or closet, it is best to vacuum the closet and do your own inspection to see if you identify any live bed bugs on the clothing. You can take it a step further by washing all clothing that was in the closet or dresser with the infested item. Next, call a professional to inspect your home. A K-9 inspector will pinpoint exactly where bedbug eggs and/or live bedbugs are living. That will give you the reassurance of identifying an infestation stage early on, rather than waking up with bites before you realize you have a problem. You can also use an over-the-counter spray in the area after you removed all of your belongings and vacuumed.
How Can I Protect Myself And My Family When I Travel?(09 of09)
It is always important to keep your eyes open when renting a car, shopping or sleeping in a hotel. Automobiles are usually not areas that should cause you great concern. You can use an over-the-counter spray if you would like as a preventative measure. There is one coming to market in 3-ounce travel size for this very use. If you are traveling and staying in a hotel, make sure you keep your clothing inside your luggage and use the luggage stand to hold your luggage. Try not to use the drawers or the closet in the hotel room. Check your bedding before going to sleep, paying close attention to mattress seams, headboards and box springs. Look for any stained spots you might find on the sheets, pillowcases and comforters. Carry a preventive spray with you that you can check in to the hotel to spray your room with. Again, always follow the instructions on the label. If you find something in your hotel room that causes alarm, call hotel management and express your concerns immediately. If there is an infestation, you will want to follow the same steps noted in the above and take care of your items before bringing them back into your home.
Michael Colongione is a spokesperson for Pronto Plus, manufactured by Insight Pharmaceuticals. The advice and opinions he expresses in this article are his own.
By Michael Colongione, President and Owner of GotchA! Bedbugs Inspectors, on behalf of Insight Pharmaceuticals.
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