It seems that bed bug problems are growing across the country. Our house cleaning service has recently been asked more frequently by customers if we can remove bed bugs from apartments and old furniture or mattresses. A professional property management company in our area reports calls from tenants who have possible infestations. There are many resources available to help with this.
flickr credit: Paul Lowry
The best combination appears to be one of good housekeeping and insecticides. Good housekeeping follows the “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” adage. This means not to bring mattresses into homes where you’re unsure of their origin. It also means to reduce clutter that can serve as a living area for bed bugs. I didn’t realize that an adult bed bug can live up to a year without eating!
flickr credit: madmolecule
Insecticides can be helpful, but be aware that bed bugs are developing resistance to different insecticides. One factoid I read mentioned that New York bed bugs are more resistant to some insecticides than Florida bed bugs.
What can a house cleaning service do?
- They can be a first line of defense by cleaning in corners and hard to reach areas that can go untouched for a long period of time.
- Ask them if they will vacuum your mattress – this is a frequent habitation for bed bugs. The vacuum should be powerful enough to pull those clingy insects from the mattress.
flickr credit: cuttlefish
- Lastly, the house cleaning service can be another set of eyes to see the initial onset of an infestation. While a homeowner might find out about bed bugs after an itchy night of sleep, dead bed bugs found earlier may prevent discomfort.
With a little precaution and good hygiene, most people will be able to “sleep tight without letting the bed bugs bite.”
