bed bugs

What is Living in My Mattress?

March 1, 2011 by mattress1982

Not everyone knows what is sleeping in their bed with them and if they knew, may reconsider sleeping at all. Since the year 2000, pest control companies have reported an over 80 percent increase in infestations of bed bugs in motels, hotels and private residences and most people do not know how to kill bed bugs in a mattress.

In addition to bed bugs, dust mites also set up residence in your beds and dogs and cats can offer their contribution by bringing in fleas and ticks as well. If you suffer from allergies, some of the effects may be due to dust mites in the mattress. Using a dust mite mattress cover can eliminate that problem and can also help keep bed bugs out of the mattress.

All Those Hungry Pests

Using a dust mite mattress cover can help keep them out of your mattress, but bed bugs may be another story. Bed bugs can go about a year without eating so starving them out is not how to kill bedbugs in a mattress. While they wait in the seams of your mattress, they grow hungrier. Unfortunately, they feed at night, when most people sleep, and they can be quick to jump on the first meal that becomes available.

Bed bugs thrive in mattress where history has shown them that a blood meal will eventually be available. A proper mattress cover will likely keep them off the mattress but they can live just about anywhere on or around the bed. Knowing how to destroy bed bugs in a mattress can be beneficial to prevent infestation as well as the irritating bites to which many people are allergic.

Some Facts about Bed Bugs

These bugs are small, about one-quarter-inch long and nearly as wide, they are flat with an oval shape. They can slither into many areas in the bed or bedding, even in some anti dust mite covers, remaining hidden from view and come out at night to feast on nearby warm-blooded animals. Humans are not the only source of food for bed bugs as dogs, cats and any other warm-blooded animal that ventures near could be considered a healthy blood meal. Keeping your mattress encased in a dust mite mattress cover can offer some protection from them hiding in the mattress and contain them if they do.

Knowing how to kill bed bugs in a mattress is one reason many people call in a professional service as soon as they see indications they are present. Others will try many of the powders and sprays available on the market before reaching out for professional help. Portable steam cleaners are one way how to kill bed bugs in a mattress, but if not used properly can cause injury as well as be ineffective. Many of the chemicals sold for residential use are not strong enough to work as well as those used by professionals.

Another method of destroying bed bugs in a mattress is to vacuum the mattress frequently making sure you get into the seams and small spaces. Remove any dust mite mattress cover before vacuuming and get your fingers into the seams and pull them open to make sure you get as many as possible.

Should I Ever Buy a Used Mattress?

March 1, 2011 by mattress1982

Let’s face it. Most of us like to find ways to save money, and that includes purchasing items that are used. Some have no reservations about hitting the rummage sales or browsing through the local thrift store.

However, when it comes to choosing a mattress, most experts agree that you should never buy a used one.

Used Mattress vs. New Mattress

Used mattresses can pose a health issue and sanitation issue, and no matter how much you clean them, you never know if you’ve gotten them clean enough. Years of dead skin and microscopic insects are likely lurking in the layers of the mattress, which are quite deep. Additionally, you never know what kind of prior accidents might have happened on the mattress, including bed-wetting mishaps, blood stains or nausea outbreaks. Cold and flu germs could even possibly be embedded in the fibers.

Choosing a Mattress – Think about Dust Mites and Bed Bugs

One of the most common insects that live in mattresses is the dust mite. Dust mites are not visible to the human eye, so even after you’ve cleaned, there is no telling whether or not all of the little critters have been eradicated or if any still remain. Dust mites feed off of the dead skin that flakes off of the human body, and leave feces wherever they go. These invisible bugs love mattresses, logically because there are loaded with dead skin, and they likely take up long-term residence in the fibers. For some, dust mites cause allergies, and no one wants to break out into a sneezing fit when they’re trying to get some sleep.

Bed bugs are another concern. Although they seemed to have been unheard of since the early 1940’s, bed bugs have actually been on the rise again over the past decade or more. A bed bug, also known as a wall louse or redcoat, is a parasite that feeds off of human blood. Certainly no one wants to be the late night dinner of these insects, let alone have them crawling within the four walls of your bedroom!

In fact, if you were to examine the fibers of a used mattress under a scientific microscope, it would be enough to make you run away screaming in complete disgust. All of the filth and bacteria that you would be subjecting yourself to is not worth shortcut of trying to buy used. And, the greatest horror is that it’s not even your dirt! Who knows who used the mattress before you!

Sure, you could hire a professional to come and deep clean the mattress, but since services such as these are pricey, in the end you would not be saving yourself money in the long run. Additionally, most mattresses are not meant to last that long anyway. The maximum life expectancy for a mattress is approximately ten years; so if you were to purchase a used mattress, who knows how long it would be usable? It could be completely shot within a year or two.

Finding the Best Mattress for You

In conclusion, when choosing a mattress, it’s best to buy new. Just like you would not want to buy a used pair of shoes or someone else’s previously sampled cosmetics, you don’t want to rub someone else’s bacteria from their mattress all over your body. The best mattress is a brand new, perfectly clean mattress – one that you know will last you a number of years, and when you clean it, you at least know that the germs you are removing are your own.

Dealing with Bed Bugs and your Mattress

February 28, 2011 by mattress1982

bedbug evidence mattress — CC Flickr photo of bed bug evidence courtesy of cuttlefish.

Bed bugs are nasty little creatures. Although bed bugs seemed to be a thing of the past, and were rarely heard of since the 1940’s and 50’s, over the past decade or so, bedbugs have made their return. This is due in large part to the fact that many of the chemicals used 60 years ago to eradicate such pests are no longer available for use.

What Are Bed Bugs

Bed bugs, as can be derived from the name, are parasites that live in bedding and like to show up during the night and feed off of the blood of humans. They are approximately a quarter-inch long and are reddish in color. You will know if your home or hotel room is infested with bed bugs if there are red bites on your skin, and brown bug excrement markings on your sheets as well as on your walls.

Sadly, if you visit a hotel that is infested with these critters, there is a possibility that you can carry them home with you on the sleeve of your shirt or the hem of your pants or blouse. They also can ride home on your luggage as well.

How to Kill Bed Bugs in a Mattress

If you do end up dealing with a bed bug infestation in your bedroom and mattress, it can be difficult to exterminate them altogether. Your best bet is going to be to get rid of the mattress completely, and make sure any new one is fully encased.

However, there are a number of resources online that can be helpful in learning how to kill bed bugs in a mattress.

One of the first things that you will want to do is inspect the room for any areas where bed bugs may be hiding. Vacuum everything thoroughly, including your box spring and mattress. Any linen that may have been infected should be washed in hot water or placed in the dryer for several minutes. Additionally, check the mattress for any holes or tears. If there are openings, then the bed bugs very well may have crawled inside and it may be impossible to get rid of them. You may have to resort to purchasing a new mattress.

Chemicals and Bed Bugs

However, if there are no tears in the fabric, then you can proceed by treating the mattress with an insecticide. Pyganic dust, Temprid SC Insecticide, phantom aerosol, and bedlam aerosols are all possibilities if you’re thinking how to kill bed bugs in a mattress. Apply these with special attention to the folds and seams of the mattress. You can also hire an exterminator to do the work for you, but you will likely spend a lot of money doing so.

Dry Steam Mattress Cleaning

If you don’t like using chemicals in your mattress cleaning, you can also utilize a steam cleaner. The heat from the steam will kill both the bed bugs and their eggs on contact. Be sure to apply the steam to all areas of the mattress including any crevices where the bugs might be hiding. A dry steam cleaning of a mattress is especially desirable as it lets off little moisture, thus reducing your chances of causing mildew growth on the mattress.

Regrettably, even after all of this effort, sometimes the bed bugs may still remain. If you miss any bugs and they lay more eggs, then you will have the same problem all over again. Simply put, be extremely thorough in your mattress cleaning, and keep in mind that these critters are very hard to get rid of.

Reputable Resources Related to Bed Bugs

The Mayo Clinic writes about bed bugs, and symptoms you might have if you are infested.

WebMD also has a good page about bed bugs.

The University of Kentucky has this informational bulletin about bed bugs.

The EPA also covers the issue of bed bugs in great detail.