Tag: bed bug covers

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Bed Bug Treatment if you Bring Bed Bugs Home

The last few posts have been about bed bugs. We talk quite a bit about avoiding bed bugs. But what do you do if you didn’t manage to avoid them and now you have them.   What is the scoop on bed bug treatment.
Bed Bugs Like to Hide
Many people try to handle bed beg treatment on their own.  While you can vacuum and wipe and clean, the problem with bed bugs is that they will hide in small cracks and crevices that you can’t get into.  One of their favorite hiding places is the crevice between the wall and the baseboard. So, if you try to do it yourself, keep in mind you will need to also be handy with a caulk gun to fill all the cracks and crevices in the room.  You will also need to invest in a high quality steam cleaner.
You will also want to take apart all the furniture.  I’ve so many stories of people finding them on top of the rails for the drawers in their dressers.
No EPA Registered Pesticide for Bed Bugs
No pesticide is registered with the EPA for bed bugs. There are many cedar oil companies that make claims about cedar oil and bed bugs, but none are EPA registered for bedbugs.  The EPA only requires efficacy studies when the pest in question is a public health menace (bed bugs are annoying but not considered a public health risk).  So, if you are trying to do it yourself, you are truly going it alone, with no government standards or studies to back you up.
How to Hire a Professional
If you want to hire a professional, take your time.  Look for someone that practices Integrated Pest Management. Make sure they are licensed and ask for references.  Ask if they provide a written inspection report. Avoid companies that quote one flat fee.  Every home is different, every infestation is different, every bed bug treatment plan is different.  Anybody that quotes flat fees isn’t taking into account these differences.
No Matter the Bed Bug Treatment Don’t Forget the Covers!
Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, they all agree that you must encase all bedding in zippered bed bug proof covers.
Bed bug proof covers should be constructed so that no bed bug can get out, no bed bug can get in, and the ones that are trapped in by the cover can’t feed through the fabric. Most dust mite covers that are marketed for bed bugs don’t meet this criteria.  Ask if there are lab certifications for the covers you buy.  A reputable dealer will have no problem with this request.  We are so proud of our bed bug cover lab reports, we posted them on the web for everyone to see!  Read lab results here.
I surely hope that you never need to put any of this information to use in your home.
Til Next Time!

Cheryl

The Allergy Store

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Bed Bugs Are Bad Don’t Get Bitten By Bed Cover Costs Too

Just got off the phone with a customer wanting to know why our bed bug mattress cover for a king size bed was half of what the first company she called wanted to charge her.  She wanted to know who was ripping her off.  Bed bugs are bad enough, who wants to be made more miserable by overpaying for bed bug proof mattress covers.

She asks a great question.  But, the answer is not so simple though. First of all it is not my place to say how much another company should charge for their products. We charge our customers what we feel is a fair price for the products and services we deliver. It is a simple concept we have used for all the years we have been in business and it has worked. Secondly, there are some companies that try to play on fear to make a quick buck.  Having bed bugs is bad, some people are afraid and their fear makes them a target for the unprincipled.

Our past experience tells us that many of the companies popping up claiming to be bedbug experts will not be around next year. Sad to say but true. Look at all the so called mold experts that are no longer in business.

As far as the bed bug cover we sell, the fabric has been laboratory tested and we feel it is just as effective against bedbugs and allergens as any other cover on the market. Our bed bug covers for the mattress and pillows are made from a 100% stretch polyester material fused to a urethane membrane. Bed bugs can’t chew through it. The zippers we use are heavy duty and made where bed bugs can’t pass through. Our manufacturer is always looking at ways to improve an already effective product.

Many companies are selling non-membrane covers for bed bugs and to be honest I don’t feel comfortable telling my customers they will be just as effective. I would not use a non-membrane fabric myself if I had an issue with bed bugs.  Bed bugs are bad and I am not going to mess around with anything I am not confident will provide 100% protection.

There are several very good companies, the Allergy Store included, that will give you honest information, effective products at a fair price. It is up to you to ask questions and feel comfortable that the information and products the company is providing is what you need.

Dealing with bedbugs is a big enough pain as it is.

Wishing you the best of health
Mike Krause
AllergyStore.com – Serving  customers since 1989
800 771-2246

©Copyright 1996-2013  AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved