Bed bugs are back with a vengeance and they don’t care of you drive a Mercedes or a Corvette. Bring home bed bugs and you get thousands in extermination fees, anxiety and isolation. Not to mention the stigma associated with these tiny critters. Follow these tips to avoid infesting your belongings and your home.
What’s a Bed bug? Bed bugs are small wingless insects that feed on blood. They like human blood but will also feed off of animals. They crawl fast and can easily hide in clothing, furniture and boxes.
Carefully inspect the items you purchase. Pay special attention to clothing, mattresses, upholstered furniture, mirrors and picture frames.
Check corners and crevices on any furniture items for signs of bed bugs.
When in doubt GET OUT and tell the store owner. When you get home wash everything you wore in hot water (+120 degrees) and dry in a HOT dryer.
Bring plastic Ziploc bags on your shopping expeditions– put your treasures in a sealed bag until you get home. If you end up buying furniture be sure to inspect it carefully.
Bring on the heat– don’t take that $5 Prada jacket out of the bag until you are ready to launder it. When you do wash use super hot water and dry on HIGH. Of course, the dry cleaners is always another option.
The most important rule to avoiding bed bugs– NO dumpster diving!! If the item is in a garbage can– leave it there! Even the perfect night stand is not worth the risk of a bed bug infestation.
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