Mattress Bugs
Mattress Covers to Prevent Bed Bugs and Their Nasty Bites
Author: William Tribble
Now that they've become a problem again, you might be wondering if you can use mattress covers to prevent bed bugs. These insects are nasty little things, tiny quarter inch brown bugs that live by suckling on the blood of mammals, in other words, you.
Bed bugs are tough little insects. They're difficult to kill with pesticides, they can go a very long time without feasting on your blood and they tend to stay the nooks and crannies where they are least likely to be seen. Given all that, it's no wonder people look towards just avoiding them rather than fighting them.
So can mattress covers prevent bed bugs? Yes and no. It depends on what you mean by prevent. Mattress covers, the right mattress covers, are certainly good for preventing some things about these bugs.
If you go to a hotel and you're looking to sleep and not become a midnight snack, then a mattress cover is definitely going to be a useful tool. If you bring a fresh mattress cover with you and put it on the bed, and it's the right kind of mattress cover, then you can prevent the bites.
What you're basically doing is sealing all the bed bugs underneath a cover that they can't bite through. As a layer of defense against bedbugs, this is pretty effective. But keep in mind that choosing the right kind of mattress cover is absolutely essential to them doing what you want them to do.
Their jaws are designed to bite through and hold onto flesh, so for their size, they are enormously strong. This means that if you get a mattress cover made of silk or another very light fabric, they will simply bite though it to get to you. So to get the protection you want, you're going to want to pick a heavy, tightly woven fabric. This will stop them from getting anywhere near your skin, so you don't wake up itching like a fiend.
On the other hand, if you're looking at mattress covers as a way to prevent bed bugs from setting up house in your home, then you're going to have a lot less luck. These disgusting insects don't care what's on the bed. If you have a mattress cover over the bed all the time, they're simply going to crawl on top of it to get to you.
Bed bugs, despite the name, don't just live in the bed. Most of them will stay where the large warm buffet meal is, but some will be else where. Now in a hotel situation, where you are only there for a night, the mattress cover will contain them. Unfortunately, at home, this just won't work.
If these bugs do get into your home, you're going to need more than a mattress to contain them. These covers are only a temporary measure, and you should only use them for that. But assuming correct use, then yes, you can use mattress covers to prevent bed bugs.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/mattress-covers-to-prevent-bed-bugs-and-their-nasty-bites-868437.html
About the Author
Learn how to get rid of bed bugs quickly and easily by visiting http://www.howtopreventbedbugs.com a popular website that provides tips, advice and resources on getting rid of bed bugs so you can avoid having house infested with bedbugs.
February 7, 2012
6:00 am
Throw it out. The only type of chemical that controls them is pyrethrin, but it may not penetrate the fouton deeply enough to kill the bedbugs. Meanwhile, the bugs may get into your sofa or chairs. A few years ago my next door neighbor bought an infested mattress and the little critters got into my apartment. I had an exterminator come several times to spray my apartment and my mattress, but these bugs are very tough and the pyrethrin did not kill them. I had to throw out the mattress. I also didn’t want to sleep on a mattress that was covered with insecticide. My neighbor threw out her mattress too. She was bitten so badly that she had to go to the doctor several times. The whole incident was so disgusting that I can barely write about it without feeling sick! Throw it out.
February 7, 2012
6:00 am
I got Bed bugs and had to move.I left all in apt and washed every thing.
February 7, 2012
6:00 am
You’ve got a bigger problem than just returning the mattress. You have a bed bug infestation and need an exterminator. Bed bugs will come by getting into a suitcase while traveling or if in a dorm setting another resident brings them along in their possesions. You need to bomb your room and get Terminix in there.
February 7, 2012
6:00 am
Not sure if they are bed bugs because i looked it up and it said they are good at hiding but this is what i found:
Once an infestation has occurred, patience and persistence is the key to ridding the area of bed bugs. It isn’t enough to clean the mattresses and launder the sheets. Furniture should be overturned and cleaned. Carpeting, wood molding, door jambs, picture frames, and closets should be inspected as well. Bed bugs can hide behind loose wallpaper, in the crevices between carpets and walls, behind outlet covers, and inside light fixtures, smoke detectors, and even clocks. Removable, washable items can be laundered in very hot water. For those areas or items which can not be laundered, smaller items can be wrapped in plastic and set in a hot place or in direct sunlight. The key is to raise the temperature to at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours to kill the eggs and the bugs. Vacuuming and steam cleaning may also be done, but any bags or canisters should be thrown away or emptied outside of the area immediately to prevent another infestation. The best method of removing bed bugs, however, is through a professionally handled treatment.
September 25, 2006
10:51 am
Mattress have bugs and tick in less than 1year?
I bought my mattress “Royal” a year ago till last week i found out it have lot of bugs and tick in it.
Note: I dont have any pet in my house.
where should i complaint ? i dont even keep the receipt b-coz i did not think it could be happen with a Brand New mattress.
please! help! if there any way i can get it replace?
thanks………….
April 3, 2008
8:33 am
How do I get rid of bed bugs out of a futon mattress?
My fiance’s old roommate gave him a futon and the mattress has bed bugs. How can we get rid of them without just having to throw the mattress away?
April 16, 2008
5:35 pm
How do I get rid of bed bugs off my mattress?
I found these bed bugs on my mattress and I wanna know how to get rid of them
September 4, 2009
1:19 pm
I just recently realized that I have bed bugs – How do I dispose of the mattress and box spring safely?
Disposable mattress bed bug bags (covers) can cost anywhere from $30 to $60 each here in Canada (just for a Twin bed). Any alternatives? I’m in an apartment building.
August 27, 2010
4:39 pm
Does a dust mite mattress protector also protect from bed bugs?
I am looking to buy a bed bug mattress protector for a twin XL bed. All I seem to find is dust mite protectors. Is this compatible? And do you know of a cheap bed bug mattress protector that i can buy (please share link if possible)?