Allergies Or Asthma - Do You Have Bed Bugs in Your Home?

Are you waking up in the middle of the night itching and have red welts on your body. You might be the victim of bed bug infestation. You can have large welts that fade away in a few days. The following are symptoms:
1. Itchiness while sleeping.
2. Localized swelling of the areas of bites.
3. Blisters around the bites.
4. Blood stains on the sheets where you sleep.
5. Dark spots or stains on the mattress.
The effects of these bites on people can vary from person to person. Typical symptoms are welts and swelling that are more itchy and longer-lasting than mosquito bites. Some people, can have little or no reaction to these bites. Everyone is different.
The first thing you need to do is a visual inspection in your area plus any adjoining areas. It is important to know the extent of the Bed Bug infestation. It is important to know how far this infestation has moved. You need to checks beds, bedding, baseboard/carpet edges, furniture such as nightstands and dressers, upholstered furniture such as couches and chairs, walls and ceilings, clothing, and appliances. They can hide in all these area.
Everyone always asks this question: "What Causes This To Happen?" Bed Bugs will likely start out in a hotel you stayed at recently. They will hide in your clothing, bedding and luggage that you bring home with you. It is no ones fault, they just move to areas where they can feed on humans or animals. They subsist on blood.
You can help stop them by doing the following:
1. Wash all bedding using hot water.
2. Clean the entire area surfaces thoroughly
3. Encase the mattress and box springs in a mattress encasement.
4. If they are under the carpet, the odds are you will have to replace the carpet. You can then thoroughly clean the area under the carpeted area.
5. Check your shoes.
If the problem is out of control, it is important that you call a professional pest control company. They will take care of the problem after a careful examination to see the extent of bed bug infestation.

If you have any questions, feel free to call us or visit our website. To learn more about your money and credit tips, visit our website at http://www.bedbugs23.com or http://www.debt23.com. Ron Lovell is available as a professional speaker to help educate your community or group function on the effects of Financial Stability.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Lovell

Myths of bed bugs debunked By Sarah Dallof

The mere thought of bed bugs can make your skin crawl, and a recent resurgence of the tiny pests across the country has everyone bugged. But do bed bugs only live in your bed? And can they hitch a ride on your clothing? We're debunking some of the myths about bed bugs and what you really need to do to get rid of them.

First of all, though they're name suggests bed bugs live only in beds, that's not true. They can live in couches, chairs, basically anywhere where you sit or lay quietly for long periods of time.

Vacuum the mattress (especially the seams and tufts), box springs, bed frame, baseboards, and any furniture near the bed on a daily basis.

The myths about bed bugs seem to be spreading faster than the bugs themselves. One currently being circulated via e-mail claims the bugs are coming in on clothing and towels from companies outside America.

At first it seems to have some truth to it, afterall several stores in New York city had to close due to infestation, but are the bugs really coming home with you on your brand new outfit? That is mostly false.
Diane Keay, environmental health area supervisor, with the Salt Lake Valley Health Department, said, "While it's a possibility, and anything is possible, I don't think it's a likely scenario."

 

How to get rid of bed bugs:

• De-clutter your home; caulk cracks, and repair wall coverings to eliminate hiding and breeding places
• Vacuum the mattress (especially the seams and tufts), box springs, bed frame, baseboards, and any furniture near the bed on a daily basis. Placing a dust mite resistant mattress cover over the mattress and box springs will make the vacuuming easier (keep on for one year). Empty, change or store the vacuum bag inside another container; vacuuming only removes the bed bugs, it does not kill them.

Source: Salt Lake Valley Health Dept.

Keay ran us through the bed bug truth test and says the bugs do not intentionally hitchhike on clothing. The majority of infestations come from international travel when they get inside suitcases.
The e-mail suggests people put all new clothing and linens in the dryer first thing. Does that really kill bed bugs?
"Putting things in a dryer will kill bedbugs and kill their eggs, most insecticides will not kill their eggs, "Keay said.

 

Fast facts on Bed Bugs

• Do not transmit diseases to people
• May trigger asthma
• Can not fly or jump, but can run fast
• Are large enough to be seen
• Can be transported in personal belongings
• Are often found on thrown out furniture
• Can travel through a building
• Can be difficult to control
• Can be eliminated and prevented

Source: New York State Integrated Pest Mgmt Program

In fact, homes that are trying to get rid of bed bugs should dry their sheets daily, in addition to using a pesticide, preferably applied by an expert. If you decide to do it yourself, will just any pesticide work? No, you should make sure it's specifically made for bedbugs.
"Be sure the label says it can be used on mattresses," Keay said.
One of the biggest questions is: Are bed bugs only in dirty homes? No they're not.
Keay said, "The level of housekeeping really has nothing to do with whether you are going to get bedbugs or not."
Another precaution you can take is to place a bowl under each leg of your bed, then fill it with a quarter to a half inch of mineral oil. And when traveling, keep your suitcase on the luggage rack as bed bugs have a hard time climbing the metal legs.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com

Your bed bug questions answered

This is from an article on MSNBC. 

On Lysol, sleep sacks, water beds, and the development of bed bug spray

Dini M. Miller, Ph.D., an associate professor in Urban Pest Management at Virginia Tech's Department of Entomology answered some of the questions viewers e-mailed Dateline after the report on bed bugs. Read below.

On preventing bites, hair
Question: If you put on "Off" or some other insect repellant before retiring in a hotel will this prevent them from biting? Can they get in your hair? --Dolores Hill, Bessemer, Ala.
Answer: Although we have not specifically tested mosquito repellants on bed bugs, we have tested repellant insecticides. Bed bugs do not seem to respond in the slightest to repellent insecticides. In fact, they will sit on top of them until they die. These results have been confirmed by the older bed bug literature (Usinger 1966) who stated that many repellant materials were applied to bed frames in an attempt to keep bed bugs from crawling up, but none had any effect. Because we have not tested repellants on skin, we can’t say for sure whether bed bugs would be willing to stick their mouth parts though repellant treated skin or not. But we have found bed bugs to be very determined little creatures and I think it would be hard to stop a hungry bed bug. In addition, the repellants that you buy for mosquitoes last only a couple of hours before the effects begin to wear off.  If you apply a repellant before getting into bed, a lot of the material could rub off on the sheets etc.  Also, bed bugs are most active between 3 and 5 am, which is several hours after the time you would have put the on the repellant to go to bed.  Bottom line, a repellant may prevent you from getting a bite or two but I do not believe that they will significantly hinder a hungry bed bug.
Bed bugs can get in your hair but the good news is that they really don’t want to be there. Unlike fleas and lice that have bodies or claws that are specifically designed for navigating through hair, the common bed bug does not have these modifications. In fact, bed bugs need to set their front claws in a particular position so that they can insert their mouthparts into the skin just so, in order to be in the proper feeding position.  Hair on the human head would make this very difficult. They would much prefer to feed on the bare skin.  If they encountered your head first, they would most likely move to your face (many people suffer face bites) or some other less hairy area to feed.  If you are bald, well, the head is fair game.

On sleep sacks
Question: Would the silk “sleep sacks” sold as a travel accessory be any help at all against bed bug bites at a hotel? --L Hart , Irvine, Calif.
Answer: Unlikely. Bed bugs can very probably feed directly through the weave of the “sleep sack.” Even if the bag were to offer some protection, the bed bugs could crawl to the opening of the sack and enter that way. The best defense is to inspect the bed (mattress and sheets) and the head board for signs of bed bugs.  If you find any, report this to the management and request a different room.

On Lysol
Question: When traveling I carry a can of Lysol spray and spray the bed with it. Is this helpful in getting rid of bed bugs?  --Ennis, Tex. Answer: The only way that Lysol spray could help you is if you sprayed the bugs directly.  The alcohols and propellants would probably kill bed bugs if you wetted them down with the material.  However, dried spray on or around the bed would have no effect.
If you are traveling, always inspect your mattress for bed bugs by pulling back the covers and looking carefully at the seams and tufts for bed bugs or bed bug evidences (black fecal spots).  If you find bed bug, don’t spray them yourself.  This may cause them to move around and infest other areas.  Instead, contact the hotel management inform them of the bugs and ask for another room immediately.  Leave the spraying to a professional.

On bed bug spray Question: Are the pesticide companies trying to develop an effective bed bug spray? --Diana Shea, Descanso, Calif. Answer: This is an excellent question.  All pesticides that are labeled for use in the United States have to be registered by the EPA.  To get an EPA registration, the pesticide product has to be thoroughly tested for acute and chronic effects on mammals (laboratory rats and dogs), the potential effects on birds, fish, and honeybees has to be documented, and the environmental fate (half-life) of these products in water or soil also must be quantified.  The cost of having a product registered is now estimated to be around $ 100 million.  This cost naturally limits the number of products that make it to the marketplace.  In addition, there has been a 10 to 15 year trend in reducing the number of pesticide products that receive registration for use in the indoor environment.  In short, it is very hard to get new pesticides registered that are labeled for indoor use (as opposed to agricultural use).

However, throughout this trend of limiting indoor pesticides, we were bed bug free. Like the EPA, many people have concerns about applying chemicals where children sleep or play.  But, if bed bugs should become as big a problem as they were at the beginning of the 20^th century, the public may demand that the federal government register products that are effective against bed bugs.  We will just have to wait and see.  At this time, we do not know of any product that is in development specifically for bed bug control. 

Waking up with bed bugs
Question: Why is it that I get bit but my husband does not? --Denise, Indian Trail, N.C. Answer: Bed bugs tend to aggregate together when they are resting.  It is possible that you are on the “bed bug side” of the bed. Bed bugs don’t switch back and forth from one host to another so if they find you first, you may be the only one bitten.  It is also possible that your husband is getting bitten but does not have a significant reaction to the bed bug bites.

On where they bite
Question: Will a bed bug ever bite a reproductive body part?  --Tyler P., Brookfield, Conn. Answer: Yes.  They do not discriminate; any body part that is accessible and with good blood flow is fair game to a bed bug.

Bed bugs on cruise ships?
Question: I’m getting ready to go on a cruise, should I be concerned about bed bugs there? --Debbie  Answer: Because we know that bed bugs are an increasing problem (some would call it an epidemic), it is prudent to inspect any location away from home where you are planning to sleep. Inspect your cabin thoroughly, looking for signs of bed bugs prior to unpacking.  Look behind the head board if possible, and inspect your mattress.  There is no need to tear the room apart, but a close look at the mattress seams and inside the cabin drawers prior to putting away your clothes should become part of your traveling routine. 
Editor's note: Dateline did receive some e-mails with anecdotes from cruise ship goers who say they were bitten.

On treating bites
Question: Once a person has been bitten by a bed bug, how does one treat it? Lotions? Creams? -- Rachelle Berven, Denver, Colo. Answer: First, do not scratch it.  Just like mosquito bites, scratching makes the reaction much worse. Instead wash the area with warm soapy water and then apply an anti-itch cream (examples: Benadryl cream or Hydrocortisone cream).

Do kinds of beds matter?
Question: Can you have bed bugs if you have a water bed? --E. Merlino, Rockville Centre, N.Y.
Answer: Absolutely, you can have bed bugs anywhere in a room (behind pictures hanging on the wall or in popcorn ceilings) because the attractant is not the bed itself but the warm blooded person that lays in it quietly for hours at a time.  We have seen bed bugs in many types of beds: egg foam, sleeping bags, or stacks of cardboard on the floor.  We have also seen them in a metal frame with a blanket over it, and even a balled up jacket in a corner that someone was using as a pillow. Basically, they can infest anything that people sleep on. I think the bed bugs might enjoy a water bed. Water bed frame typically have many nooks and crannies where bed bugs can hide and the heater would keep them quite comfortable.
Question: Can bedbugs also live in visco-memory foam beds? I have read some claims online that say that the bedbugs cannot get into the foam beds.
Answer: Remember that bed bugs get on mattresses and harbor and under the sheets in the seams and tufts. While they may not be able to get into the actual foam, it hardly matters. They can harbor on the foam, in the seams of the mattress cover or in the bed frame.  Remember the mattress itself is not the bed bug attractant, the host that uses it is.  So bed bugs do not have to live inside the mattress in order to feed on you at night.  They might crawl down from the picture frame hanging above your bed or from some other location.
Question: A similar question has to do with mattress covers, can they prevent bed bugs?  
Answer: The answer is no.  Bed bugs can still get on top of the mattress cover or harbor in the bed frame. The advantage of the mattress cover is that if you already have bed bugs, you can trap them inside the cover and they cannot bite through.  If you don’t have bed bugs the cover saves you from having to throw out the mattress if you ever get bed bugs.

On trauma, psychological impact
Question: My husband recently stayed at a very reputable hotel and was bitten by bed bugs, he has been so severely traumatized that he is not only having me wash the bedding and clothes everyday, he has to inspect the bed several times before he is okay to get in it. He also continues to wake up in the middle of the night throw back the covers and flip the light on just to make sure there are no bugs in the bed. He has even gone so far as to buy a pair of magnifying goggles with lights and an extra magnification lens just to be able to inspect our bed. This is driving me insane! What can I do to help him? He is not a man who is easily bothered or effected by things like this normally, but after his (one night)encounter with the bed bugs he is truly freaked out. I need help! --Lezlie  H., Navarre, Fla. Answer: One of the things that I tell everyone about bed bugs is DON’T FREAK OUT! Why? Because it does not effect the bed bugs one bit.  Not a bit. They could care less, those self-centered little creatures.
That being said, I understand that bed bugs can cause a lot of stress, and you can best help your husband by dealing with the problem calmly and systematically.  Is your husband still experiencing bites?  If not, it is quite possible that he did not bring any home.  If he is experiencing bites, you should contact a pest control operator to inspect the room for bed bugs. If you are not sure if he is getting bitten, I suggest using bright white bedding (sheets and pillowcases) and using them on the bed for a week or more, so that you can more easily see blood spots (black specs)  that might be left by feeding bed bugs.  If after a week or more you do not see any signs of bed bugs, you can reassure your husband that he may have been fortunate and didn’t bring any home with him.

On elder care
Question: I am writing from Ma. My mother lives in elderly housing and has been dealing with this for about a year now. For the longest time she had none and did all the precautions that she could, but finally they arrived at her apartment. They did the extermination and had to remove her sofa, luckily they did not make it to her bedroom. Right now she has none and was recently checked but she lives with everything in plastic bags and the fear that they will be back. The problem though is that they are not doing all the apartments as I feel they should. They do one at a time as they are found you could say. They wash the tenants clothes for them and exterminate. The problem though is that most of these tenant’s are elderly, some their vision is not the best and have no idea what to look for and unless something is said they don’t go in and always check. My question is how do I get the city to listen and take more affirmative action. I have talked to some employee’s but it is always the same thing, “ they are working on it” and of course my mother doesn’t want to say or do too much in fear of being shunned, embarrassed, or doesn’t want to cause waves as she says. Hopefully someone can tell me what more I can do to help her and the other tenants with this problem. Thank you for your time. --Joy B., Swansea, Mass. Answer: Dealing with bed bugs in a “sensitive” environment is particularly difficult.  First, I tend to agree with the management that pesticide applications have to be made on a case by case basis.  Elderly people are known to be particularly sensitive to bronchial contaminants and applications of pesticide as a preventative measure may be more dangerous to these people than the bed bugs themselves.  If pesticide is applied in an apartment that does not have bed bugs and someone gets sick, the apartment management could be in serious trouble. Currently, bed bug treatment is pesticide intensive with several products being used multiple times.  Even so, these treatments may not be 100% successful.  So how do we protect the elderly from bed bugs using as little pesticide as possible?   The immediate answer is, do not simply rely on the apartment management or the pest control company to take care of the bed bug problem.  You must play a role as well.  Bed bugs are everyone’s problem, and you may have to be the monthly inspector for your mother if she cannot do it herself.  Next, ask the apartment manager to put you in touch with the pest control company.  Ask that company to give you, the apartment staff, and the tenants a training seminar in how to inspect for bed bugs.  Most companies will gladly do this.  They need all the help they can get.  If the company won’t help you, call the health department and ask them if they would be willing to train the apartment staff and the tenants how to inspect for bed bugs.  If the apartment staff is reluctant to put you in touch with the pest management company or refuses to attend the bed bug training, you can remind them about the bed bug lawsuits taking place all over the country and the bad press involved with these lawsuits.  I believe that in the future the success of surviving a bed bug lawsuit will depend on whether or not a facility has a bed bug inspection policy in place.  Give the apartment management the opportunity to act in good faith.  They might think your bed bug training seminar is an excellent idea.      

On city policies
Question:  Bed bugs have been found in my daughter’s “industrial loft” apartment in Brooklyn, NY. The landlord has treated one room at a time with insecticide spray and floor varnish, yet not all spaces in the apartment have been treated at the same time. Other apartments on the same floor have also been found to have bed bugs. Is there any remedy or effective treatment to rid the building of the bed bugs? Also, what can a person take to reduce the reaction to the bites? Does the county or city have an extermination policy for rental units? --Margaret S., Buffalo, N.Y.
Answer: At this time we are not very good at curing bed bug problems. There is no pesticide or application method that works 100 percent of the time.  Depending on the clutter that may exist in each apartment, treatment can have variable success.  Bed bugs are very tough and the more clutter there is, the easier it is for bed bugs to hide away from the treatment.  Sanitation efforts on the part of the resident may need to be extreme to get good bed bug control.  So bed bug management requires just as much cooperation from the occupants as from the management and pest control company.  Actual treatment requires patience and persistence. Treatment usually requires multiple products being applied at least 3 times at 2 week intervals. So, bottom line: treating an entire building will require all tenants and management to join in a cooperative, ongoing to inspect for bed bugs on a regular basis and keep sanitation levels high so that bed bugs problems do not get established.  Is this cooperation a possibility in your daughter’s loft?  
Question: Is there any remedy or effective treatment to rid the building of the bed bugs?
Answer: Fumigation has been tried but with limited success and the cost is usually more than $20,000, a lot more. 

Anti-allergen Bedding Guide

If you've been diagnosed with indoor allergies, your bedding is a good place to begin protecting yourself. We spend a third of our lives asleep, so for those who suffer from allergies, it's crucial to make sure the bedroom is a safe haven. Whether you have trouble with dust mites or animal dander, you can make your bed an allergen-free zone with anti-allergen bedding and a bit of housekeeping.

What You Need to Know:

1. Know the enemy: Dust mites, tiny insects that are invisible to the human eye, are a major offender when it comes to bedroom allergens. Mattresses, pillows and comforters all provide hospitable environments for dust mites; a typical mattress can harbor up to 10 million of these pests. These creatures consume dead skin cells in order to survive, and they thrive in dark, warm, humid environments.
   Dust mites aren't the only threat to your allergies in the bedroom, however. Dust and pet dander are often the cause of discomfort for people with allergies. All horizontal surfaces can hold dust, and pet dander often hangs in the air, so you'll want to take measures to reduce their presence in your bedroom, too.
   
2. What to eliminate from the bedroom: The first step you should take to battle allergens is to eliminate excess fabric and upholstery. If it's feasible, the removal of carpet can be beneficial as well. If you're allergic to pet dander, ensure that animals are barred entry to your bedroom. Use a HEPA filter vacuum and a HEPA air cleaner to eliminate lingering dust and pet dander, and then use the devices to maintain the level of such allergens.
   
3. Defend yourself with allergen barrier covers: Next, you'll want to encase your mattress, box spring and pillows with allergen barrier covers. Regular mattresses and bedding are prime real estate for dust mites, so it's smart to deprive them of a home if you're worried about allergens. Allergen barrier fabrics and mattress encasements can help you get the job done.
   
4. Allergen barrier pore size: Choose allergy mattress covers with a pore size that is suitable for your particular allergen. For example, if you have a dust mite allergy, you'll want bedding with pores sized at 10 microns or less. To minimize problems with pet dander, look for pores that are under 6 microns in size. Pore size is usually indicated in product descriptions.
   
5. Keep your bedding clean: In order to kill dust mites that may be in your bedding, wash your blankets and sheets once a week in water that is at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit. For bedding that can't be washed in hot water, use a special anti-allergen detergent.
   

Tips from Overstock.com:

1. Mattress pads with allergen barrier fabric and bedding with hypoallergenic fill are musts for allergy sufferers. Today, new fabric technologies and finishing techniques make allergen-relief bedding comfortable, stylish and safe. Overstock.com offers several types of allergen barrier products, some of which are also waterproof. We offer everything you need to keep allergen exposure to a minimum while you sleep.
   

View All Bedding

This article was written by Staff Writer from Overstock.com

What the EPA has to say about Bed Bugs

 

 

 

EPA.GOV - Bed Bugs

Resources

• Bed Bug Product Search tool
• Top Ten Bed Bugs Tips
• Joint Statement on Bed Bug Control

While bed bugs are not known to transmit disease, their presence is unwelcome and has presented difficult challenges and distress to many people. Experts suspect the resurgence is associated with more international and domestic travel, lack of knowledge necessary to prevent infestations, increased resistance of bed bugs to pesticides, and ineffective pest control practices. The encouraging news is that there are ways to control bed bugs. While there is no chemical "silver bullet" or quick fix, there are effective strategies involving both non-chemical and chemical methods. On this page;

• Identifing Bed Bug Infestations
• Treating Bed Bug Infestations
• Bed Bug Product Search tool
• Preventing Bed Bug Infestations
• Bed Bug Pesticide Alert - Important!
• Hiring Pest Management Professionals
• Bed Bug Biology
• Common Bed Bug Myths
• Questions and Answers
• For More Information

Identifying Bed Bug Infestations

Much of the time, a bed bug infestation is only suspected when bites appear on a person. Oftentimes, the bites are misidentified, thus allowing infestations to go unnoticed, which gives the bed bugs time to spread to other areas of the house.
When cleaning, changing bedding, or staying away from home, look for:

• Dark spots (about this size: •) which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would
• Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and white
• Skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger
• Live bed bugs
• Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed

Canvas strap of old box spring covering that is housing adults, skin castings, feces, and eggs. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Louis Sorkin)	Close up of blood stains on pillow (L. Sorkin)	Close up of eggs on cardboard (H. Harlan)

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Treating Bed Bug Infestations

Bed Bug Pesticide Alert

• Never use a pesticide indoors that is intended for outdoor use. It is very dangerous and won’t solve your bed bug problem.
• Using the wrong pesticide or using it incorrectly to treat for bed bugs can make you sick, may not solve the problem, and could even make it worse by causing the bed bugs to hide where the pesticide won’t reach them.
• Check if the product is effective against bedbugs -- if a pest isn’t listed on the product label, the pesticide has not been tested on that pest and it may not be effective. Don’t use a product or allow a pest control operator to treat your home unless bed bugs are named on the product label.
• Before using any pesticide product, READ THE LABEL FIRST, then follow the directions for use.
• Keep in mind that any pesticide product without an EPA registration number has not been reviewed by EPA, so we haven’t determined how well the product works.

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods like pesticides, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
IPM methods for bed bugs include:

• Inspecting infested areas, plus surrounding living spaces
• Checking for bed bugs on luggage and clothes when returning home from a trip
• Looking for bed bugs or signs of infestation on secondhand items before bringing the items home
• Correctly identifying the pest
• Keeping records – including dates when and locations where pests are found
• Cleaning all items within a bed bug infested living area
• Reducing clutter where bed bugs can hide
• Eliminating bed bug habitats
• Physically removing bed bugs through cleaning
• Using pesticides carefully according to the label directions
• Following up inspections and possible treatments
• Raising awareness through education on prevention of bed bugs

For more information on IPM visit http://www.healthyhomestraining.org/ipm/.

Non-chemical treatments

• Wash and dry bedding and clothing at high temperatures to kill bed bugs.
• Heat infested articles and/or areas through to at least 113 ºF (45 ºC) for 1 hour. The higher the temperature, the shorter the time needed to kill bed bugs at all life stages.
• Cold treatments (below 0 ºF (-19 ºC) for at least 4 days) can eliminate some infestations. Again, the cooler the temperature, the less time needed to kill bed bugs.
• Use mattress, box spring, and pillow encasements to trap bed bugs and help detect infestations.

Chemical treatments

Pesticides are one component of a comprehensive strategy for controlling bed bugs. Currently, there are over 300 products registered by EPA for use against bed bugs – the vast majority of which can be used by consumers. Several classes of chemicals are utilized in these products -- each class share a similar mode of action, or way in which the chemical affects the biological functions of a bed bug.
To help you find a product, EPA has developed a Bed Bug Product Search tool to help you find a product that meets your needs.
If you find that a particular chemical treatment seems to be ineffective, please read When Treatments Don’t Work before reapplying or trying a different product. You may want to consult a pest management professional to inspect your residence and, if needed, apply approved pesticides to treat any infestation. For assistance with choosing a pesticide registered for consumer use, you may also check with the Cooperative Extension Service office in your area.

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Preventing Bed Bug Infestations

Bed bugs are very successful hitchhikers, moving from an infested site to furniture, bedding, baggage, boxes, and clothing. Although they typically feed on blood every five to ten days, bed bugs can be quite resilient; they are capable of surviving over a year without feeding.
A few simple precautions can help prevent bed bug infestation in your home:

• Check secondhand furniture, beds, and couches for any signs of bed bug infestation, as described above before bringing them home.
• Use a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs which eliminates many hiding spots. The light color of the encasement makes bed bugs easier to see. Be sure to purchase a high quality encasement that will resist tearing and check the encasements regularly for holes.
• Reduce clutter in your home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs.
• When traveling:
• In hotel rooms, use luggage racks to hold your luggage when packing or unpacking rather than setting your luggage on the bed or floor.
• Check the mattress and headboard before sleeping.
• Upon returning home, unpack directly into a washing machine and inspect your luggage carefully.

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Hiring Pest Management Professionals

Getting a pest management professional (PMP) involved as soon as possible rather than taking time to try to treat the problem yourself is very effective at preventing further infestations. Each pest management company should have instructions for residents on how to prepare the unit for a treatment which will include laundering and cleaning.
The PMP will inspect your residence, take apart furniture if necessary and use vacuums, heat and pesticides to treat the infestation.
EPA’s Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety (PDF) (54 pp, 2.37M, about PDF) offers more tips on how to choose a pest control company.

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Bed Bug Biology

Life cycle of the bed bug, starting from the top left, moving counterclockwise: eggs (1mm), 1st stage nymph (1.5 mm), 2nd stage nymph (2 mm), 3rd stage nymph (2.5 mm), 4th stage nymph (3 mm), 5th stage nymph (1.5 mm), unfed adult (5.5 mm), and fed adult. Photo Courtesy of Stephen Doggett, Department of Medical Entomology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) has long been a pest – feeding on blood, causing itchy bites and generally irritating their human hosts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all considers bed bugs a public health pest. However, unlike most public health pests, bed bugs are not known vectors for the transmission and spread of diseases.
Knowing what to look for is the first step in controlling bed bugs. Generally, adult bed bugs are 1/4 to 3/8 inch (4-5mm) long, brown in color, with a flat, oval-shaped body; while young bed bugs (also called nymphs) are smaller and lighter in color.
When not feeding, bed bugs hide in a variety of places. Around the bed, they can be found near the piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring, and in cracks on the bed frame and head board.
If the room is heavily infested, you may find bed bugs in the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains, in drawer joints, in electrical receptacles and appliances, under loose wall paper and wall hangings -- even in the head of a screw. Since bed bugs are only about the width of a credit card, they can squeeze into really small hiding spots. If a crack will hold a credit card, it could hide a bed bug.

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Common Bed Bug Myths

Myth: You can’t see a bed bug.
Reality: You should be able to see adult bed bugs, nymphs and eggs with your naked eye.
Myth: Bed bugs live in dirty places.
Reality: Bed bugs are not attracted to dirt and grime; they are attracted to warmth, blood and carbon dioxide. However, clutter offers more hiding spots.
Myth: Bed bugs transmit diseases.
Reality: There are no cases that indicate bed bugs pass diseases from one host to another. Lab tests have shown that it is unlikely that the insect is capable of infecting its host.
Myth: Bed bugs won’t come out if the room is brightly lit.
Reality: While bed bugs prefer darkness, keeping the light on at night won’t deter these pests from biting you.
Myth: Pesticide applications alone will easily eliminate bed bug infestations.
Reality: Bed bug control can only be maintained through a comprehensive treatment strategy that incorporates a variety of techniques and vigilant monitoring. Proper use of pesticides may be one component of the strategy, but will not eliminate bed bugs alone. In addition, bed bugs populations in different geographic areas of the country have developed resistance to many pesticidal modes of action. If you're dealing with a resistant population, some products and application methods may only serve to make the problem worse. It is a good idea to consult a qualified pest management professional (PMP) if you have bed bugs in your home.
In case of emergency, call local Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222

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Questions and Answers

• Read about frequently asked questions and answers on bed bugs.

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For More Information

• National Bed Bug Summit - April 2009
• What’s Working for Bed Bug Control in Multifamily Housing: Reconciling best practices with research and the realities of implementation (PDF). (43 pp, 603 k, about PDF) 
• Bed bug fact sheets (several topics, various settings, English and Spanish)
• Understanding and Controlling Bed Bugs 
• Bed bugs are back! An IPM Answer (5 pp, 380 k, about PDF) 
• Bed bugs (University of Kentucky) 
• The Bed Bug Hub: One-Stop Shop for Bed Bug Information 
• New York City Bed Bug Resources 

Great resource for allergy bedding information

http://www.antiallergybedding.net/

Allergies can ruin the quality of life in a home so it makes sense to look for an effective allergy remedy.
First, let's look at the sources of home allergens.

Dust and pollen are the major irritants. Dust is mainly composed of shed skin flakes and is the preferred food of dust mites. Mold and fungi can cause itching and sneezing though their spores. Then there are insects which release allergy-forming fecal matter and body parts into the home.
Now let's get ready to deal with them.

The first thing to do is to thoroughly clean your home. It's no good just running a duster over your furniture. This just wafts the dust up into the air and it soon settles again. You should preferably use a HEPA vacuum to make sure all the dust is securely collected. Then dump the collected matter in a safe place.

If you have carpets or rugs, use a steam cleaner. This blasts scalding steam deep into your carpets which exterminates any mites living there. Dust mites are tenacious and real steam cleaners also effectively destroy their eggs and larvae.

Next, if you have any flowering house plants, put them out on a window ledge or in the garden. Lovely as they are to look at, flowers and the pollen they product are an allergy sufferer's worse nightmare.

For a good night's sleep, consider investing in anti allergy bedding. This can consist of an anti allergy mattress, cover and pillows. These work to prevent dust mites from settling down in your bedding and shedding their skins and feces in the air.

Finally using a humidifier can raise the moisture level in your home. Low humidity in your home can cause your throat and nasal passages to dry out. This renders you more susceptible to allergies.
You need to be check your home humidity levels, though. High humidity can lead to the growth of mold and fungus which are themselves allergens.

As you can see the best allergy remedy consists of a set of tasks and measures you can take to make your home free from the sources of those allergens that can cause such misery.

.....visit the blog to get more valuable information.

Allergy Control Allergy Bedding Guide

A good night's sleep is essential for daily performance and overall health, but it can be difficult to attain when you have allergies. Allergy Control allergy bedding may be one of the most important bedding purchases you make. If you have trouble sleeping and you're not sure why or if you have a known dust-mite allergy or pet allergy, Allergy Control Allergy Bedding can make a world of difference in how you sleep at night. Keep reading to find out how bedding from Allergy Control can make a difference in your life and why Allergy Control bed encasings are some of the top allergy bed encasings out there.

Buying Allergy Control Bedding:

1. Allergy Control allergy bedding is scientifically proven to work. Allergy Control allergy bedding has been used in more scientific tests than any other allergy bedding, and for more than 30 years, physicians have been recommending Allergy Control allergy bedding as the top allergy relief bedding available.
   
2. Allergy Control allergy bedding helps reduce dust-mite allergy symptoms. Dust mites are tiny arachnids that feed on dead skin and thrive in humid environments, which makes your mattress and bedding an ideal home for the critters. They don't bite, but they do leave droppings that are responsible for dust-mite allergies. Allergy Control allergy encasings completely covers your mattress and comforter, reducing the number of dust mites in your bedding and shielding you from the dust mites.
   
3. Allergy Control allergy bedding prevents mold. Mold can easily form in your bedding, especially in foam mattresses, mattress toppers and pillows. Allergy Control allergy bedding with an antimicrobial finish will protect your bedding from mold spores, which will in turn protect you from mold allergies.
   
4. Allergy Control allergy bedding blocks pet dander. If you're having trouble treating dog allergies or you want to reduce cat allergies, then Allergy Control allergy bedding can make a big difference. Even if you don't let pets into your bedroom, pet dander can naturally accumulate in bedding and mattresses. Allergy Control allergy bedding both prevents dander from getting into your bedding and shields you from any dander that might already be there.
   
5. Allergy Control allergy bedding features top-quality construction and long-term warranties. Allergy control uses only the finest materials, like high-quality zippers and fabrics, and then uses bound seams, zipper flaps and first-rate quality control to ensure that their products will last. In fact, Allergy Control is so confident in the quality of their products that they offer long-term warranties on their complete line of allergy bedding.
   
6. Allergy Control allergy bedding comes in different sizes and materials to fit your bed and your needs. Allergy Control allergy encasings come in all the standard bedding sizes, from twin to California king. Also, to ensure that you can find allergy bedding that's just right for your home, Allergy Control offers four different product lines; each of which features a unique material:
   

   Allergy Control Product Lines:

   • Cotton Performance bed encasings: This Allergy Control line features the ultimate combination of comfort and allergy protection. Constructed from eco-friendly, renewable-resource 100 percent cotton with a 3.6-micron pore size, the Cotton Performance line gives you the luxury of 100 percent cotton with allergy protection that you usually only find in synthetic materials.
     
   • Pristine Complete bed encasings: Allergy Control's Pristine Complete products offer the ultimate in allergy protection in a comfortable, synthetic microfiber material. If you are interested in maximum allergy protection, then the Pristine Complete line, with its 2.4-micron pore size, Oeko Tex certification and antimicrobial finish, may be perfect for you.
     
   • Cotton Pure bed encasings: Cotton Pure allergy bedding features a great balance between price and performance. The Cotton Pure line is constructed from the same eco-friendly, renewable resource 100 percent cotton as the Cotton Performance line, but features a less-dense weave and lower prices, perfect if you are only allergic to dust mites or want a great deal on allergy bedding for guest bedrooms.
     
   • Micro Protection bed encasings: Allergy Control Micro Protection allergy bedding features traditional allergy bedding materials -- a waterproof vinyl membrane covered by a breathable fabric. While not as comfortable as more breathable bedding covers, Micro Protection encasings offer a great price and are great for children's bed or beds used by incontinent sleepers.
     

Buy Allergy Control Allergy Bedding

This article was written by Chandler Warnick from Overstock.com