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 MAIN CONTENT |
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Sleeping With the Tiny Enemy |
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There's an enemy lurking in millions of homes around the world. It's so small that it's barely noticeable to the naked eye, yet one single bite will leave the victim feeling uncomfortable for days. This enemy is surprisingly common and may be closer than you think, even as close as your own bed.
A bed bug is a tiny pest that makes its home in furniture, mattresses and bedding. While not nearly so big and creepy as its larger cousins like the cockroach, this wee insect has the power to gross you out and leave your skin crawling.
These small, wingless insects live in small holes, cracks and crevices in walls and floors, mattress seams and even the folds of bedding. They seek dark places and tend to converge in untidy corners and portions of the house.
Blood is the only source of food for bed bugs. They are usually nocturnal creatures, thriving on the blood of sleeping victims. While experts claim that they transit or carry communicable diseases, they bites can cause a great deal of itch and discomfort. Some people, including those with sensitive skin or allergies, may experience more serious health issues.
Control Bed Bugs
If you think that you may be sharing your bed with bugs, there are several steps that you can take to get rid of the problem. First, DON'T PANIC. Think clearly and make a sensible plan. Madly running about your home spraying pesticides will only drain you of cash and energy. Chances are, the bed bugs won't even notice. So, the basic question remains: "How are bed bug infestations controlled?"
Prevention should always be your first priority:
* Even if your home is clean and bug-free, make sure that you know where bed bugs come from, and how to avoid an infestation.
* Cleanliness is a key factor in controlling or preventing bed bugs from thriving in your home. Keep your furniture, floors and walls spic and span.
* Bed bugs love to make their homes in cozy, dark, comfy mattresses. Change your bed sheets regularly, vacuum your mattress and make sure that your mattress is free of holes and tears.
If you find that there are bed bugs in your home, create a plan of attack that includes one or more of the following options:
* Following manufactures instructions, apply pesticides or insecticides to the infested areas. There are many pesticides available and readily accessible on the market, including those specially formulated for bed bug control. Again, be sure to carefully read all labels and instructions before use.
* Pesticides are created with harsh chemicals that can knock out insects like bed bugs. Insects are extremely resilient to chemical formulations, so if they're strong enough to control bed bugs, they will also pose a health threat to all of the other living things in your home. You, your family and pets may also be at risk.
Many people choose to hire professional help. In the long run, this can be the most effective and budget-wise alternative:
* Controlling your bed bug infestation should not involve 'spur of the moment' decisions. It takes thorough planning to devise a successful plan. This is where the advice of a pest control expert can be irreplaceable.
* Check your telephone book or look online for a pest control company in your community. All you have to do is make the call, and help will be on the way.
* If you live in an apartment building or condo, deal directly with your landlord or the person in charge of building maintenance. It is his or her responsibility to make the necessary arrangements for pest control measures.
* Depending on where you live, state, provincial or civil laws may mandate building owners or property managers to ensure that the building is safe and pest-free. Discuss the matter with them, and find out who is responsible for the pest control service fee payments.
* Notify anyone living in your building when you plan to control a bed bug infestation in your home.
Residue and odor from the pesticides will likely reach other living areas and apartments, and these may pose serious health risks for some people.
* Bed bugs are extremely persistent, so be prepared for the control process to be tiresome and tedious. Insects have extremely strong systems and have developed resilience to pesticide chemicals, so repeat treatments will likely be required.
* Each visit from the pest control professionals will take several hours. These experts need to be extremely thorough in their work, and will carefully check and treat any crevices, small cracks and holes where bed bugs might be hiding.
* Furniture and home accessories must be checked. If even one bed bug is overlooked, the infestation can start all over again.
* Eradicating bed bugs may involve certain sacrifices. In extreme cases, pest control experts may advise you to discard bedding, clothing and even furniture. Most mattresses are made up of foam and other porous materials with tiny holes, creating the ideal breeding ground for bed bugs. Be prepared and be willing to accept and follow through on this advice.
* If you are instructed to dispose of your mattress, be sure that it will not be used by anyone else. Otherwise, the bed bugs will simply transfer from your house to another.
* Environmental concerns will prevent you from burning the mattress, so you'll need to use a special bag to seal the bed bugs inside.
Bed bugs are a persistent force, but they can be overtaken. Arm yourself with the help that you need, and you can sleep safe and sound once again.
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