Unwanted Visitors in the Bedroom

Millions of people around the world have faced the torment of seeing an unfamiliar and unwelcome face in the bedroom.  The resulting mental, emotional, and financial turmoil can be devastating and may include serious nightmares and difficulty finding a normal sleeping pattern again.  Yet, these invaders are not tall, strong, or domineering.  They do, however, have the ability to turn a life upside down.

Bed bugs, which infest hotel rooms and residential homes throughout the country nearly every day, are back with a vengeance since the movement to reduce the use of chemical pesticides, which were working to keep this bug population – as well as many others – under better control.  Now the very quickly multiplying masses are proving to be very resilient and highly difficult to evict.  The Seattle Times recently ran an article regarding this topic.  Entire hotel buildings are closed when bed bugs are discovered – even in a single room.  They can travel on luggage, clothing, or even in hair and hide in the daylight hours, barely detectable without a full scale investigation.

There are several ways that you can ensure that your ultra comfortable, sleep sanctuary is not invaded by the itty bitty squatters.  First and foremost, never buy a used mattress.  Dust mites, bed bugs, and other unwanted specimens could very well have built up in the cushy sleeping surface.  Don’t be fooled – even the cleanest, neatest homes are not invincible to the parasitic creatures.  It is best to invest in a new mattress that will provide a guaranteed bug free surface and better support for you and your loved ones.

Secondly, whenever staying in a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, or other “home away from home,” be sure to check all surfaces for the insects before unpacking.  Pull back sheets, look under the mattress, behind the headboard, as well as in the drawers of nightstands and dressers.  During the daytime hours, bed bugs will hide out in, under, or behind any piece of a typical bedroom set.  If you find that your own home is infested, hire a professional to cure the problem.  This is not an issue that can be handled in DIY style.  This might also be a good time to consider new bedding.