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pyjamapantsThis post has been a long time coming. The title speaks for itself. And it is 100% picture free.
Since summer season is upon us and that brings with it travelling, I thought that now would be an excellent time to distribute some helpful information Mr. PJ and I have painstakingly acquired during our epic battle with bed bugs.
I'm not trying to alarm you about them. If you've been following this journal... you've already been alarmed. But, it ends up there's some simple enough precautions that will keep you pretty well protected. Exercise them to spare yourself a six month battle getting rid of them and the subsequent insomnia and unpacking.
As you can imagine, we've had a lifetime's worth of talking about and researching bed bugs, so please understand our reluctance to hear another bit of news coverage or personal anecdote about someone you know who's encountered them.
Some basic facts:
1. Bed bugs are now a widespread issue across the world, particularly due to international travel.
2. Likely places for infestations include hotels, dormitories, hostels, apartment buildings, row houses, and movie theaters. We've also heard anecdotal evidence about infestations at warehouses. It's a good idea to exercise caution with any fabrics entering your home.
3. Even the cleanest of folks can get them, and normal cleaning won't oust them.
4. Do not buy used furniture.
5. The bugs hitchhike, which is how they spread. Adults can live a year without feeding.
6. Adults are about the size of a tick (and look like them too). Larva are about the size of a pin head. Eggs are the size of a grain of sand. I'll leave you to search the internet for pictures. Be forewarned that if you go searching, there's a lot of content provided by extermination companies that will scare the crap out of you.
7. Bed bugs most frequently reside in dark crevices, including mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture. They often leave behind small, black stains on fabric and wood. Aside from finding bugs or getting bitten, this is how you can tell if something is infested.
8. They don't spread disease, but they're a pain in the ass to get rid of. They leave a cluster of itchy bites that may look like a rash.
Some things you can do to prevent the evil buggies from coming home with you:
1. Develop good travel habits by protecting your suitcase. Don't put it on the hotel floor and DO NOT place it on the bed. Don't unpack your clothes into hotel dressers. When we travel now, we pack garbage bags and place our suitcases inside, securing the end with a rubber band. We unpack, as things are needed, in the hotel bathroom.
2. When you return home, place all fabrics in the dryer immediately on high heat for 30 minutes. Our exterminator recommended that if possible, store your suitcase outside in a storage shed. At any rate, do not bring your suitcase indoors until you've sprayed it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or stored it in an airtight bag.
3. Exercise caution during the winter. Be careful about where you put your coat. In particular, exercise caution in movie theaters and when visiting others' homes. Our exterminators recommended against piling coats on beds.
4. In summary, be conscientious about things entering your home. You can examine the mattress and box springs where you stay if you like. You can consult bed bug hotel registries. But the simplest and most effective thing is to police what enters your home.
Since summer season is upon us and that brings with it travelling, I thought that now would be an excellent time to distribute some helpful information Mr. PJ and I have painstakingly acquired during our epic battle with bed bugs.
I'm not trying to alarm you about them. If you've been following this journal... you've already been alarmed. But, it ends up there's some simple enough precautions that will keep you pretty well protected. Exercise them to spare yourself a six month battle getting rid of them and the subsequent insomnia and unpacking.
As you can imagine, we've had a lifetime's worth of talking about and researching bed bugs, so please understand our reluctance to hear another bit of news coverage or personal anecdote about someone you know who's encountered them.
Some basic facts:
1. Bed bugs are now a widespread issue across the world, particularly due to international travel.
2. Likely places for infestations include hotels, dormitories, hostels, apartment buildings, row houses, and movie theaters. We've also heard anecdotal evidence about infestations at warehouses. It's a good idea to exercise caution with any fabrics entering your home.
3. Even the cleanest of folks can get them, and normal cleaning won't oust them.
4. Do not buy used furniture.
5. The bugs hitchhike, which is how they spread. Adults can live a year without feeding.
6. Adults are about the size of a tick (and look like them too). Larva are about the size of a pin head. Eggs are the size of a grain of sand. I'll leave you to search the internet for pictures. Be forewarned that if you go searching, there's a lot of content provided by extermination companies that will scare the crap out of you.
7. Bed bugs most frequently reside in dark crevices, including mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture. They often leave behind small, black stains on fabric and wood. Aside from finding bugs or getting bitten, this is how you can tell if something is infested.
8. They don't spread disease, but they're a pain in the ass to get rid of. They leave a cluster of itchy bites that may look like a rash.
Some things you can do to prevent the evil buggies from coming home with you:
1. Develop good travel habits by protecting your suitcase. Don't put it on the hotel floor and DO NOT place it on the bed. Don't unpack your clothes into hotel dressers. When we travel now, we pack garbage bags and place our suitcases inside, securing the end with a rubber band. We unpack, as things are needed, in the hotel bathroom.
2. When you return home, place all fabrics in the dryer immediately on high heat for 30 minutes. Our exterminator recommended that if possible, store your suitcase outside in a storage shed. At any rate, do not bring your suitcase indoors until you've sprayed it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or stored it in an airtight bag.
3. Exercise caution during the winter. Be careful about where you put your coat. In particular, exercise caution in movie theaters and when visiting others' homes. Our exterminators recommended against piling coats on beds.
4. In summary, be conscientious about things entering your home. You can examine the mattress and box springs where you stay if you like. You can consult bed bug hotel registries. But the simplest and most effective thing is to police what enters your home.
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(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-24 06:11 am (UTC)Portofino Bay Hotel, one of the con hotels, has them. Glad I'm not staying there.
http://bedbugregistry.com/hotel/FL/Orlando/Portofino-Bay-Hotel-at-Universal-Studios
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-24 08:12 am (UTC)Whenever we travel now, we just assume wherever we're staying has them. Especially somewhere as well travelled as Orlando.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-24 01:00 pm (UTC)Glad to hear that 'all is well!'
(((hugs))
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-24 04:35 pm (UTC)*hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-24 02:00 pm (UTC)*sigh*
Those innocent days are gone, I guess.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-24 04:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-24 02:25 pm (UTC)*hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-24 04:36 pm (UTC)*hugs to you and yours*
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-24 07:09 pm (UTC)I remember my dad telling me about preventative measures in a hotel where he stayed at with my mother as a very young man: they put the feet of the bed in tins with vinegar or something. o_O Too bad that's longer a weird anecdote nowadays!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-25 02:46 am (UTC)