Post-Bed Bug Treatment Recommendations

In this episode Jeff will discuss what people should and shouldn't do after a bed bug treatment has been performed in their home. Viewers have submitted several questions that have asked what they can and cannot do after a bed bug treatment has been performed so that they can avoid deactivating any pesticides that have been applied. The truth of the matter is that is a question that is best answered by the pest control company who performed the treatment. Without knowing what the company applied and where they applied those pesticides, it is impossible for anybody to comment on what you should do other than the pest control company who performed the work. If you have bagged and laundered clothing you can either choose to live out of those bags until the bugs have been declared eliminated or unload those bags and put the clothes back if evidence was not noted in the closets or dressers. Please be aware that if you choose to unload those bags that if the closet or dresser is found to have evidence, you may have to launder the clothes again. That being said, bed bugs are not typically found on the clothes in closets and dressers so typically you can put the clothes back after they are laundered. But please remember, before you do anything you should always contact the company who performed the treatment.

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Mattress and Box Spring Encasements

In this episode, Jeff will discuss mattress and box spring encasements and the roles they play when dealing with bed bug infestations. Bed encasements play a critical role when dealing with bed bug infestations. The intention of encasements are to lock bed bugs inside of the encasements in an effort to make beds easier to treat and limit the amount of pesticide being applied to mattresses. In addition, encasements are designed to keep bugs out of the bedding to protect your bedding and limit bed bugs to the outside of the encasements. This can ease future inspections of the bedding because the encasement make bed bugs much easier to see. When shopping for encasements it is important to ask for research that backs the companies claim that they are effective for bed bugs. There have been encasement companies that say they are good for use with bed bugs but the encasement zipper fails to keep bed bugs inside the encasement. Encasements are a great option when dealing with bed bugs from both a proactive (protecting the bedding and making inspections easier) and reactive (assisting with treatment) perspective.

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Bed Bugs In Retail Stores

In this episode Jeff discusses the recent news articles on bed bugs being found in retail stores such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister and Victorias Secret and what you should do if you're concerned about encountering bugs in retail stores. Even though most of the information presented in this episode is in generalizations (from working with bed bugs for years I know anything is possible), the likelihood that you are going to encounter bed bugs in a retail store is extremely remote. Retail stores are not ideal environments for bed bugs as a host is not theoretically sleeping there nor sitting still long enough for bed bugs to feed. Therefore, if bugs are found in these environments, they were most likely introduced from either a shopper or employee that has a problem at home and bed bugs hitched a ride into these stores on a personal belonging. If you are still concerned about this possibility you just need to educate yourself on what bed bugs look like and how to inspect the items you purchase at these stores. You can also watch the Bed Bug TV episode on how to treat personal belongings ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LASW1c… ) for more information on options you have to proactively treat items that you are concerned about. Again, the chance you are going to encounter bed bugs in a retail store are slim due to the biology and behavior of bed bugs.

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