How To Fumigate A Mattress

Are Dust Mites Dangerous

Maybe youre a critter-friendly human who doesnt mind the occasional ant or spider. Hey, we get it were all just creatures out here trying to survive. But dust mites can be harmful to your health and you should never openly invite them into your home.

Have you ever woken up with a stuffy nose or a dry cough that makes your throat feel itchy? You may just pass this off as that morning feeling but it is a sign that your allergies are being aggravated by common allergens, AKA dust mites.

Dust mites do not bite you or carry diseases, but their presence in your home, or even worse the bed where you sleep each night, can cause severe allergy issues including:

• Nasal congestion
• Skin irritation, potentially leading to eczema
• Asthma aggravation

That being said, if you dont take action to remove dust mites from your home, you will start to notice the effects they have on your health.

Dispose Of The Mattress

The best course of action to take in light of a bed bug infestation is to remove the mattress. Removing the bed can drastically reduce an infestation and save you a lot of time and discomfort. We understand that you may feel its not in your best interest to buy a new mattress, but if following the previous steps doesnt help, you may be left with no choice.

Can I Sleep In My Bed After Bed Bug Treatment

According to Michigan State University, you can sleep in your bed after the bed bug treatment. However, if you left any items inside the bedroom, you must wash them in hot water under the hot cycle for half an hour. Its also best to use new beddings just in case. Furthermore, remember to use the proper covers on the box springs and mattresses as added protection for any potential surviving bed bugs.

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How Long After Bed Bug Fumigation Is It Safe

Your fumigator will advise you when it will be safe to re-enter your home after the treatment. This can take up to five hours, depending on the procedure. You can also consult a health professional if you or any other family member has a condition that requires particular caution before re-entering a fumigated home.

After the treatment, make sure to aerate your house by opening all the windows and doors. You also want to clean every area, especially the kitchen and the bathroom where you use personal things. And after the treatment, make sure to vacuum thoroughly for additional cleaning and safety measures for four consecutive days.

Why You Shouldn’t Just Throw Out Your Mattress If You Find Bed Bugs

The problem with tossing your mattress once you’ve found bug beds is that the insects reside in more than just your bed. Since they hide in carpets, and even behind picture frames and in nightstands, you aren’t eradicating the problem. In fact, you could be making it worse. As you drag your mattress through your house, you risk depositing the bugs and their eggs in areas of your home that they may not have reached yet, creating an even greater infestation. Throwing out your mattress, or any of your furniture, should not be the primary and only method of control. However, after an infestation has been eliminated, many homeowners opt to purchase a new mattress for peace of mind.

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Signs Of A Bed Bug Infestation

Bed bug infestations are incredibly common, and while they can be quite troublesome and inconvenient, they’re entirely treatable. Your home is not doomed forever. Bed bugs are very good “hitch-hikers”, and can invade your home in luggage, packed goods, etc. If you notice signs of an infestation, call a professional pest control service right away. If left untreated, the number of bugs will multiply quickly, making them even more challenging to get rid of. These insects are cryptic, very good at hiding, and are known to be tough, resistant and hardy. Because of this, many times the best treatment method of a home for bed bugs is fumigation. The fumigant will control the bed bugs, even in the hard to reach places. In an apartment or condo where fumigation may not be feasible, conventional liquid treatment to the room and adjacent rooms may be an option. Because treatment can be so burdensome, early detection and treatment at the first signs of activity is very important. It is very important to consult a professional pest control company when dealing with bed bugs, because these bugs are known for reinfesting. This is not an infestation a homeowner should try to treat on their own.

What Does A Bed Bug Bite Look Like

Bed bugs love fast food. They like to feed and then scurry back to their hiding places. They try to avoid crawling all over their food for fear of waking it/us. They usually bite the bare skin they find closest to the mattress. Thats why its common to see two or three bite marks in a line along the skin that was in contact with the mattress or pillow. When this happens its time to learn how to get rid of bug beds fast.

Everyone reacts differently to a bed bug bite. Some will develop small itchy bumps like mosquito bites others will suffer from large, puffy red lesions the size of a quarter. A lucky few will have no reaction at all. Other signs of bed bugs are bloodstains on your sheets, pillows and blankets. Are you scratching yet?

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Signs Of A Bedbug Infestation: Small Blood And Fecal Stains On Your Sheets And Bedding

Bed bugs most often crawl onto sleeping humans or pets and feed on their blood until they become engorged. Once they’re full, they will crawl away to digest the meal. Unpleasant, yes. If you notice small red and brown spots of blood and fecal material on your bedding, and you know the blood is not from a cut or scrape you got the day before, there’s a possibility that you have bed bugs. You can find this staining in the areas you sleep, and also in the cracks and crevices on the perimeter of the bed mattress where bed bugs like to rest when they digest your blood.

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In A Mattress

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Bed bugs are a common problem in American households. One out of five homes has had a bed bug infestation within the past year. Bed bugs are found in all 50 states, and once they enter a home its difficult to permanently remove them. There are a few DIY methods we share here which could help remove or at least reduce the problem, but we highly recommend disposing of your current mattress and calling in pest control services.

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Signs And Causes Of A Bed Bug Infestation

While most people think bed bugs are isolated to dirty hotel rooms, these pests can easily find their way to other places, including your home. Typically, bed bugs are carried from an infested area to your home by hitching a ride on your luggage, purse, backpack, or other personal item. These pests can also travel from one room to another in multi-unit buildings like apartments or condos.

Similar to ticks, spotting bed bugs is difficult because of their small size and ability to hide in cracks and crevices. The signs of a bed bug infestation are different from the signs of a flea infestation. Here are a few things to look for on your bed if you suspect you have bed bugs:

• Blood stains on sheets and pillowcases
• Black or dark brown spots along mattress seams or bed frame slats
• Small eggshell-colored skins along your mattress
• Pungent odor akin to the smell of rotten raspberries

Another sign of bed bugs is small red bumps across your skin. These bites are usually congregated in exposed areas of the body, such as the neck, hands, shoulders, and legs. While some people dont develop any symptoms after experiencing a bed bug bite, others can have severe reactions that cause fevers or blisters.

Keep The Infestation From Spreading

• Remove infested items. Place them in a sealed plastic bag and treat them. Learn more about treatment methods in the sections below.
• Items that cannot be treated should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and left there for up to a year to ensure any active bugs are dead.
• Empty the vacuum after each use. Seal the bag as tightly as possible and immediately throw it out in an outdoor trash container.
• Discard furniture responsibly if you cant safely eliminate the bed bugs. Destroy it so someone else won’t be tempted to bring it into their home. For example:
• Rip covers and remove stuffing from furniture items.
• Use spray paint to mark furniture with “Bed Bugs.”

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Factors That Affect Bed Bug Extermination Pricing

The cost of bed bug extermination is influenced by multiple factors, including the number of infested rooms, type of treatment, infestation level, and treatment frequency.

If your home has a severe infestation, your bed bug exterminator may have to schedule a series of inspections and treatments for a few months. Below are cost estimates based on how often a pest control specialist has to come to your home.

Get A Quote From Exterminators Near You

Is Fumigation Toxic To Humans

3. Safety precautions and safety devices. Fumigants can be harmful to humans as well as insects. Any exposure prior to, during or following a fumigation treatment could be hazardous therefore, anyone who uses fumigants needs some understanding about their harmful properties and must take every precaution to stay clear of exposure.

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Bed Bugs In A Mattress: Bag Your Mattress

Once youve vacuumed and chemically treated your mattress and box spring, enclose them in encasement bags. If the bed bugs found a way inside the mattress, the odds are that the spray chemicals did not kill them. Encasement bags have special zippers that trap the bed bugs and prevent them from escaping. Keep these bags on for at least a year because a fully fed bed bug can live more than 10 months between meals.

If the idea of sleeping on a tiny bed bug cemetery is too much to bear, the only alternative is to toss the mattress and box spring and buy new ones. Just be sure to wrap up the infested one before hauling it through your house, and dont buy a used mattress!

Bigger Job Call In The Pros

If you tried do-it-yourself fumigation and it didnt work as well as you wanted it to, or if you just know its a task that youd rather leave to the pros, hire professional fumigators who can help you tackle pest problems as efficiently as possible. Read up on our tips for how to hire service providers for your home so that you can be sure to choose a reputable company.

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Do You Have A Bed Bug Problem

Before fumigation is chosen as a control option for a home, property, or structure there needs to be a confirmation of the bed bug problem. More frequently than not, these insects are confused with other look-alikes.

However, bed bugs are not the only insect pests that feed on blood, so also do fleas and ticks. Youll need to capture one for identification.

Bed bugs are tiny oval-shaped and flat creatures. Adult bed bugs should be about the size of apple seeds. One of the things these pesky bugs have going for them is their ability to move quickly. Bed bugs do not fly and their bodies will swell and turn reddish after a feeding session.

These are the basic characteristics to look out for when inspecting for bed bugs. Cracks, crevices, and tight spots provide ample hiding spots too.

Calling a licensed bug control service is another alternative to inspecting for bed bugs yourself. This is a more thorough process, which not only identifies the problem but finds a lasting solution by locating nesting or hiding spots.

Bed bug fumigation by a licensed fumigation company is usually backed by a warranty.

Wash Bed Linens Regularly

Sweat, oils, hair, and skin cells are all expelled while you sleep. It is not uncommon for pets to bring in various items they have tracked in from outside the house, including food crumbs. Not only does this smell bad, but it can also foster bacteria and encourage the growth of dust mites if it makes its way into the mattress.

Most housekeeping professionals recommend washing bed sheets and blankets every week to every two weeks. The cleanliness of your sheets is essential even if youre wearing a mattress protector. Additionally, the mattress protector should be washed in accordance with the manufacturers guidelines.

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Is It Dangerous To Live Next To A Tented House

Sulfuryl fluoride is a serious issue as it is an incredibly powerful central nerve system depressant. This means that youll lose control of your body and fall into a collapse. Its a deadly chemical and you should never visit or be near a home that has been which has been treated for termites, or other insects.

How Much Does It Cost To Fumigate A Mattress

The amount youll spend to fumigate a mattress can range from $500 to $1,500. Remember that you can choose between fumigating yourself using Borax or hiring a professional that will provide a rate according to the size of your home. Note that you also need to account for other potential expenses, such as lodging in another place if the infestation is heavy.

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How To Prevent Infestations

If you’ve ever had a bed bug problem, or are looking to prevent a possible infestation in the future, there are steps that you can take. First, if you know that a friend or family member currently has an infestation, stay away from the home until it’s been treated. Bed bugs can cling to your clothes and shoes, and you run the risk of tracking them into your own house.

Check furniture from garage sales and free furniture on the side of the road for signs of bed bugs before you purchase it or bring it home. If you see signs of a current or former infestation, stay away.

Use a mattress and pillow encasement. Mattress and pillow encasements are made from a material that’s designed to prevent bed bugs from making their way into your bedding. They can also serve as anti-allergens, protect against dust mites, and are often waterproof. They are low cost and can be purchased at most home goods stores or online.

Mattress Cleaning Tips And Diy Solutions

In This Article:Mattress Cleaning FAQs

Sometimes, life can get messy. And try as you may to keep your bedroom a clean and cozy sanctuary, everyday grime has a way of following you to bed.

Besides the time you spend sleeping, you likely spend some extra hours in bed snuggling with pets, watching Netflix, or sharing intimate time with your partner. All this activity contributes to a mattress full of germs, dead skin cells, dust mites, and sweat residue.

But don’t worryour comprehensive mattress cleaning guide will teach you how to combat common stains and what to use to make your mattress look, smell, and feel brand new.

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Should I Throw Out My Mattress If I Found Bed Bugs

Often, people panic and start throwing away bedding, clothing, pillows, and mattresses once they’ve found a bed bug infestation. However, this isn’t always necessary. A professional pest control service can effectively treat bed bug infestations, and just throwing out your mattress may not solve your problem. If you buy a new mattress but don’t kill the other bed bugs that are hiding in your room, they will just come back. It is very important to inspect the entire room or home and fumigate or treat wherever needed.

Keep Your Mental And Emotional Health In Check

It is true that a lousy mattress can disrupt your sleep. Sleeping on a terrible mattress on a regular basis can lead to sleep deprivation, even if the first effect is just to cause insomnia. Short-term and long-term effects of sleep deprivation have been documented, and they can have a significant impact on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

The following are some of the most typical affects on your mental and emotional well-being of getting insufficient or bad sleep:

• Absence of focus and acuity.
• It makes you drowsy during the day and causes you to yawn a lot.
• Mood swings and irritation are made worse.
• Anxiety, sadness, and bipolar disorder are just a few of the disorders that are made worse by this medication .
• Poor cognitive functioning and performance are induced by this drug..

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Bagging Clothes Before And After Fumigation

Another question arises when you do fumigation, do you need to put your clothing and other fabrics in a bag?

The answer is fumigation doesnt affect the clothing and other fabrics of your home, therefore you dont need to waste your time by putting them in bags to protect them from the harmful side effects of fumigation.

Many people, because of their ignorance, make this mistake and hence waste a lot of time. You better dont be one of such people if you value your time.