A chilling fact – the likelihood of Americans coming into contact with a bed bug within the next 5 years is statistically 100%. Will you be prepared to keep on going and leave that bed bug behind or will it latch onto your life, invade your privacy, make you miserable and drain your bank account? Be prepared! Avoid bed bugs as it is very simple.
STEP ONE – EDUCATION
Bed bugs live anywhere humans gather. They are small, nocturnal parasitic creatures that are drawn to carbon monoxide (what we exhale). There are two mouth parts – one injects an anesthetic and the other sucks your blood. They can live more than a year between feedings and an infestation can multiply exponentially in a short period of time.
About 70% of the population has a reaction to the bed bug’s anesthesia which are the bed bug ‘bites’ which are similar to mosquito bites. But 30% of the population does NOT react which means you could have bed bugs and not even know it! But they are definitely visible to the human eye – approximately 1/4 inch long and range in color from opaque orange to a dark red the color of a scab depending on how recently they fed.
They are expert hiders and understanding that is the crux of prevention. They can hide in the folds of fabric of mattresses, luggage, clothing, etc.; up underneath or behind furniture, artwork and light fixtures; and have been known to come in with international shipments of tile, clothing, books, etc. They are about half the size of an apple seed.
STEP TWO – BE PARANOID!
When you purchase anything, have a high-beam flashlight available and thoroughly inspect prior to bringing anything home. Peel back fabric, turn things over, etc.
When you travel, inspect the mattress, the linen layers, behind the head board, the artwork above the bed and all around the bed side tables. Look for bed bugs and signs of bed bugs which are faint streaks of blood or dark dots (these are excrement).
When someone comes to visit – inspect their belongings and do not hesitate for fear of hurt feelings! THE BEST PLACE TO GET BED BUGS IS IN THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT OF AN AIRPLANE, SHUTTLE BUS, TRAM, RENTAL CAR, BUS, TAXI OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!!! So even if Aunt Betty is insanely sterile and hadn’t left home for 10 years, she could easily have picked up some bed bugs just itching to jump off in your home!
STEP THREE – BE PREPARED WITH GREENBUG FOR PEOPLE
Greenbug for People is all natural pest control that is university proven to kill 100% of bed bugs within 1 minute plus destroy the eggs of the next generation. That undeniable strength makes it a great repellent! The active ingredient is cedar – just like cedar chests and closets where you never see a bug and that is because cedar is deadly to pests yet harmless to humans, animals and the environment. It kills, repels and it is completely safe. Use Greenbug for People to protect yourself by:
• Spray yourself and belongings prior to travel or going to a populated venue.
• Spray luggage before any travel.
• Use a light spray of Greenbug for People on the linen layers, behind the headboard, behind the artwork, etc. to create a barrier that no bed bug will cross.
• When purchasing new items, get a large garbage bag and spray a few times inside the bag with Greenbug for People. You can then place the items in the bag, seal it tightly for a few days and make sure all bed bugs are killed and eggs destroyed.
• Before Aunt Betty comes in or you come home from a trip, spray luggage down and wait a few minutes to allow bed bugs to die or jump off.
• Use on your kid’s back pack prior to going to school to repel bed bugs (head lice too!).
• Give a bottle to every college student living in a dorm or apartment, every nursing home resident, and any patient in a hospital as these are some of the fastest growing segments of bed bug infestations.
STEP FOUR – TREAT SAFELY IF YOU MUST
Greenbug for People is easily used to treat bed bugs. If an infestation is established, the best method for eradicating bed bugs is via fogging which can be performed by a homeowner for a fraction of the cost of hiring someone to perform the job. DO NOT be fooled into thinking you must hire a professional! And do not use toxic chemicals to treat bed bugs as those chemicals will only hurt you and not control the bed bugs. Heat treatments can be successful but they are very expensive and can destroy belongings as not everything can withstand a sustained 120 degrees. Greenbug for People works, it is safe and it is complete.
The best plan is to prevent bed bugs in the first place which can be accomplished through education, diligence, thorough inspections and the use of Greenbug for People. You do not need to be a victim! As the chances of you coming across a bed bug are basically 100%, use these steps to protect yourself and keep them away!