I Can’t Sleep Tight, What If The Bedbugs Bite?
See below for general bedbug information
Larry Connors from KMOV channel 4 TV in St. Louis MO recently put out a special report that might keep a few bug haters awake at night. The report was called “Exterminators: Bedbugs making a comeback” It was an interesting piece but did it get to the heart of the problem?
Here at The Water Works Sleep Center we believe that KMOV may have missed one of the contributing factors to this bedbug problem; the emergence in recent years of 30-day, 60-day and 90-day mattress comfort guarantees. Such comfort promises are designed as an insurance policy for the consumer to protect them against possibly losing money on a mattress that doesn’t work for them.
This is how it works. The mattress company promises that if the mattress you choose isn’t comfortable, they will take it back and let you select another with some minor details involved. Here’s the unknown, what happens to the used mattress? Many times these returned mattresses are rebagged and then sold as new. Other times mattresses are discounted and sold through warehouse clearance sales.
What we do know is that the majority of mattress manufactures will only take a mattress back for warranty defect issues only, not for comfort complaints. So what are these mattress retailers doing with the old beds? I would have liked to of seen channel 4 news really dig into this story.
General information on the bedbug.
What is a bed bug?
A bed bug is a tiny insect that feeds on the blood of warm-blooded hosts like you and I. A bedbug is an insect that is primarily nocturnal usually only appear at night- What does a bed bug look like?
They are oval in shape and have no wings. The adults are reddish-brown in color with a banded appearance caused by microscopic hairs. Many people believe you cannot see them but they are visible to the eye. They grow from 1/8th to 3/16th of an inch in length. Newly hatched bedbugs are translucent with a light color. - Where do they come from?
Early colonists unknowingly brought bedbugs to the United States from Europe. Bedbugs thrive in places like hotels that can have high occupancy. Through the extensive use of DDT years ago they were thought to be eradicated. - What can they do to me?
Bedbugs feed on warm blood for about five minutes, and usually are not felt until some minutes or hours later. After feeding they return to their hiding place. Scratching the bitten area is the early indications of a bite. Bedbugs seem to be capable of disease transmission, however there have been no known cases of passed from one host to another by bed bugs. - What do bedbug bites look like?
Often bites are in sequential alignment in a row. Bites will look like a flat welt with a raised red bump along with by severe itching. Bedbugs look similar to mosquito bites, but tend to last longer sometimes taking up to 9 days to materialize. - How can I find bedbugs?
Bedbugs are elusive, transient, elusive, and nocturnal, making them tricky to find. They like dark places and are often found in folds of mattress fabric, tape edging, and bedding but can live virtually anywhere. - What to do if I have bedbugs?
We recommend that individuals contact a local pest control specialist to see if a bedbug infestation exists. Doing it your self is an option but may not be as affective in controlling the problem.
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