No one wants to think it is a possibility that they have bed bugs, yet the statistics tell us otherwise and knowing what to do next to get rid of those bed bugs is critical. One out of five Americans has had a bed bug infestation in their home or knows someone else who has. They are found in all 50 states, but Florida is one of their favorite spots.
Bed bugs are especially prominent in Florida for several reasons. One is the climate. Those warm winters make bed bugs just as happy as they make us! As well, Florida is a vacation destination for tourists and the location of millions of snowbirds' second homes. All of this traveling back and forth makes bed bugs easy to come by.
An all-too-common misconception is that bed bugs are the result of poor hygiene, dirt, or filth. Bed bugs are not only found in dirty homes or associated with lower-income families. They are an equal-opportunity pest! Bed bugs are easily transported in luggage or on clothing, where they quickly invade hotel rooms and mattresses. Before you say, “This won’t happen to me!” consider the following:
- Bed bugs can survive for several months without eating.
- Bed bugs can withstand a wide range of temperatures, from nearly freezing to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Bed bug hatchlings are so small they can pass through a stitch-hole in a mattress.
A female bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime, and all it takes is for one or two of those eggs to hatch and find their way onto your clothes or luggage, and you have a full-blown infestation in your mattress. Is there any way to avoid this? Actually, yes! You don’t have to just accept that your Florida home will at one point be besieged by these disgusting pests. Instead, do the following:
Tip #1: Only buy a brand new mattress
While a garage sale or thrift store may be a fantastic place to buy a designer handbag or Tupperware set for less than you’d have to pay brand new, it is absolutely not the place to buy a mattress. Bringing someone else’s mattress into your home is a huge risk, as you have no idea what creepy crawlers you’re bringing in along with the bed. Don’t risk it; shop City Mattress for brand new and top-quality mattresses instead. If you’re worried about the price tag and that’s why you’re considering buying a used mattress, know that we have mattresses in all price ranges. A limited budget doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice quality and hygiene!
Tip #2: Immediately put on a mattress protector
As soon as you bring home your new mattress, put a mattress protector on it. These will prevent bed bugs from getting onto the mattress itself. These encasements “lock” the bugs right out! It is important to point out that bed bugs also hide inside a box spring, so if you’re looking to buy a mattress protector for this reason, you should put one on your box spring too. We even sell pillow protectors if you’re worried about them making their new house in your pillow.
Tip #3: Wash your linens
You should regularly wash your sheets and pillowcases using high heat. In fact, wash your pillows too! Any bed bugs or eggs that are in your bedding will be killed in the wash. This can stop the infestation from beginning if you wash them while you only have one or two. The goal is to kill them in the washing machine before they move into your mattress. Remember, if you have a mattress protector- they won’t ever be able to!
Don’t open up your Florida home to bed bugs. Vigilance is the key to bed bug prevention! No one wants to think about being bit by bugs while they sleep. If you return home from a trip where you spent time in a hotel or at the airport, thoroughly check your clothing and luggage for any hitchhikers. Then, follow the rest of the advice on this list.