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Bed Bugs - If I Have Them?
If I have bed bugs, how can I sleep at night?
It is not necessary to get rid of your mattress or box spring if you encase them with bed bug proof mattress encasements. Encasements will prevent bed bugs from hiding in your mattress and box springs, but if you have bed bugs in other places, they can still crawl into your bed.
Pesticides should not be applied to the top of mattresses, sofas or other items where people have close contact. A bed bug proof encasement protects mattresses and box springs without the use of pesticides.
Bed bug free bed
Your bed can be a bed bug free island by washing bedding, disinfecting the bed frame, slats, and head and foot board to eliminate bed bugs and their eggs. See Step 4 Mattresses and box springs for complete cleaning advice. Once they are clean, protect them with bed bug proof mattress and box spring encasements (covers).
Use interceptors (or traps) to prevent bed bugs climbing onto the bed from the floor. Place interceptors (Climbup™ www.insect-interceptor.com) under the legs of the bed to trap bed bugs that crawl between the bed and the floor. Interceptors also help confirm that an infestation has been eliminated when bed bugs are no longer trapped.
Keep the bed away from walls and bedding off the floor and do not put clothes or other items on the bed; these give bed bugs a way to crawl into your bed.
