Bed Bug Treatment FAQ's
What is the best way to prevent bed bugs?
The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for the signs of an infestation.
Besides bed bug bite marks which can take as long as 14 days to develop, signs of an infestation include:
- Bed bugs’ exoskeletons after molting
- Bed bugs in the fold of mattresses and sheets
- Rusty–colored blood spots due to the blood-filled fecal material that bed bugs excrete on the mattress or nearby furniture
- A sweet musty odor
Special bed-bug-proof mattress, box spring, and pillow covers not only prevent bed bugs from biting you through the cover, but they make it much easier for you to see the telltale signs of exoskeletons and blood spots from bed bug fecal material.
Bed bug interceptors can be used for early detection and monitoring for bed bug infestations.
Do all mattress covers protect against bed bugs?
No. Many mattress covers are not designed to protect against bed bugs, allergens and bacteria.
To protect against bed bugs, look for mattress covers with commercial-grade materials, three-sided zippers and self-locking closures.
If I encase the mattress should I also encase the box spring?
Both the mattress and box spring should be encased. One must remember that the box spring is hollow, providing a large empty space for bed bugs to hide and multiply.
What is the difference between the mattress and box spring encasement?
Both the mattress and box spring encasements offer the same level of protection from bed bugs. The only difference is box spring covers are not waterproof.
Are Bugstop encasements good for allergies?
Our encasements are hypoallergenic and prevent dust mites and allergens from passing through the breathable membrane material, making them an excellent choice for those suffering from allergy and asthma triggers.
Are Bugstop bedding encasements waterproof?
Our mattress covers are waterproof on five sides. The box spring covers are not waterproof.
Can I wash Bugstop encasements?
Yes, Bugstop encasements are washable. We recommend washing without using any bleach or chemicals.
Are Bugstop encasements noisy and hot to sleep on?
Our encasements are lined with a breathable polyurethane membrane. Bugstop mattress and box spring covers will not change the feel of your mattress or pillows and are completely noiseless.
Will a Bugstop encasements change the feel of my mattress?
We use a thin layer of high-quality polyester knit fabric coated with a hypoallergenic membrane layer. Once our encasements are on, they will not change the feel of your mattress.
How do bed bug interceptors work?
In order to better understand how bed bug interceptors work and can provide protection, you must understand the physical capabilities of bed bugs, the most important being that bed bugs cannot fly or jump.
With interceptors under the legs of your bed and furniture, and with the bed away from any wall, bed bugs have no choice but to climb up into the interceptors where they fall into the inner well and are trapped so they cannot reach their source of food – your blood.
What is the best and most environmentally friendly way to eliminate bed bugs?
Heat is a very effective method, and the most environmentally friendly one, of killing all life stages of bed bugs, from egg to adult.
Professional pest control companies use a variety of forced-air systems that heat areas of your business or home to 120° F plus to kill bed bugs.
Heat chambers are used for targeted heat treatments to eliminate bed bugs in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture, framed pictures, books and other items.
Infrared heat chambers use about 50% less energy than comparable forced air heat chambers.