Treating a Memory Foam Mattress Infested with Bed Bugs Non-Pesticide Approaches: Use heat or cold treatments. Memory foam can withstand temperature variations, but be cautious about manufacturer guidelines. Pesticides: If you must, use products labeled for bed bugs.
Myth 1: You're Safe From Bed Bugs if You Have a Foam Mattress. Truth: While bed bugs can't live in foam, they can stash themselves in any crevice that's close to your body while you're inert, such as in the small cracks of your bed frame.
Bed bugs are averse to slick surfaces like glass, plastic, and polished metals and stone.
Memory foam pillow resist dust mites because they're made of material that is simply too dense for the mites to penetrate. However, because the mattress is non-washable, dust mites can still accumulate on the surface. This is where a good dust mite cover comes in handy.
Common signs there are bed bugs around
Some of the common clues of their presence include: A sweet, sickly scent, not unlike cinnamon but far less pleasant. Tiny dark spots on the mattress and surrounding area - a sign of their excreta.
Also, avoid using harsh products such as ammonia and bleach. The best way to sanitize a memory foam mattress is by mixing 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle and lightly misting it onto the mattress. Take special care not to soak the surface. Allow the vinegar mixture to sit for 30 minutes.
However, consider a latex mattress for your next purchase. Natural latex has many benefits, along with being resistant to pests like bed bugs. It is extremely durable, which means you can use it for decades, unlike memory foam mattresses, which last about 10 years at most.
Bed bugs are not known to spread pathogens through their bites. Bed bug bites can be itchy and stressful. Do not squish a bed bug as it will release the blood and any pathogens it may be carrying.
Some individuals attempt to use dryer sheets as a DIY bed bug treatment, believing that the scent might discourage bed bugs. However, little scientific evidence supports their effectiveness in repelling or eliminating bed bugs. Relying solely on this method is unlikely to fully address an active bed bug problem.
Most times, clothing, bedding and furniture from a home with a bed bug problem can be treated and do not need to be thrown away. If you decide to dispose of items, they should be carefully sealed in a plastic bag or container first so the bed bugs don't spread.
Generally, when the itchy bites stop and you don't see further signs of bed bugs, you can be comfortable that your treatments worked, but if you're still experiencing bites or seeing bed bugs, you're probably still battling an infestation.
Bedbug infestations rarely go away on their own; they need special care and treatment for them to be appropriately eradicated. Left unchecked, bedbugs live a long life within their favourable environment, having a high survival rate by reproducing and quickly moving on to neighbouring homes or apartments.
Although it sounds like a grim choice, it is best to continue sleeping in the infested area using the population reduction methods described above, until the bed bugs are eliminated.
Permethrin is an effective tool for helping control bed bugs. By implementing this approach, permethrin discourages bed bugs from infesting the bed and reducing the likelihood of an infestation. The scent of peppermint and chrysanthemums also repels bed bugs.
The first clue suggesting that you may have a bed bug infestation is often the presence of itching bites. However, bites reactions are quite variable and may not be due to bed bugs at all. Be aware of the other signs that bed bugs leave behind: fecal spots, molted skins, and aggregations.
Bed bugs are sensitive to strong smells and certain scents can help keep them away. Essential oils like lavender, tea tree and peppermint are popular choices. These oils not only smell good but also act as natural repellents.
Rubbing Alcohol
Bed bugs are hard to deal with, but you can repel them by using rubbing alcohol. They hate the smell of alcohol and using it is an effective solution to your problem. The rubbing alcohol can dry out bed bugs bodies, which can eventually lead to their death.
You can successfully get bed bugs out of your bed by carefully vacuuming, steaming, or freezing (Cryonite treatment) bed bugs rather than applying a pesticide. After any treatment to your mattress, you should immediately encase it in a bed bug proof mattress encasement.
So, what is the main cause of bed bugs? Travel is widely recognized as the most common source of bed bug infestations. Often unbeknownst to the traveler, bed bugs will hitchhike on people, clothing, luggage, or other personal belongings and be accidentally transported to other properties.
DEET treated fabric is repellent to bed bugs (Wang et al. 2013). Commercial insect repellents containing DEET for repelling ticks and biting insects are also helpful for preventing bed bugs when applied to outer surface of clothing (Figure 8).
Smooth, non-porous surfaces like metal make it harder for bed bugs to establish a home. MOLDED PLASTIC. Thermoplastic injection molded furniture is a single piece construction. Molded plastic offers a smooth surface that resists bed bugs.
Hold the can upright 6-8 inches from the surface and spray from 3-4 seconds until covered. Let surface remain wet for 3 minutes to disinfect. Apply to items that can bring germs into your home such as shoes, backpacks, coats and packages. Also use on soft surfaces such as couches, pillows and mattresses.
Disinfectant spray will kill any germs and bacteria, but make sure it doesn't include any bleach, which will damage your memory foam mattress. Baking soda and vinegar: Use a spray bottle to spray vinegar over the surface of the entire mattress, taking care not to soak the mattress.