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Best mattress to prevent bedbugs?
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chi-towncrisis
newbite
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 17offline
Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jun 26 2008 17:06:39
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I am going to buy a new mattress set once this whole ordeal is over, I am wondering if those memory foam ones would be a good idea as far as stopping bedbugs getting inside? I would get one of those fancy aero beds, but I have two cats. With claws.
Do you think the bugs can get inside the foam? -
oldtimer
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 1,170offline
Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jun 26 2008 19:43:06
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Hi,
*************** STOP PRESS ******************
The type of matress you get does not have any effect on the prevention of bed bugs.
Foam matresses are better for dust mites and other allergies yes but when it comes to lifting you matress once a month to check it for signs having a normal lighter one certainly makes it easier to deal with.
Bed Bugs are an exposure pest, if you don't get exposed to them and bring them into your home then you wont get them. Therefore by a process of logical reasoning the prevention of bed bugs in your house is something that only you can have an effect on.
Check when you stay away from home.
Travel safely and avoid transit based infestations.
Educate your friends and neighbours less they be a potential source for you in the future.
In short be Bed Bug aware, live life as normally as possible but becareful and mindful of potential infestations.
*********************** STOP PRESS ******************************
Sorry for the dramatic effect but it will hopefully have got the message out there.
David
Edited to add Bed Bugs do not burrow, they don't live inside matresses at all unless there are holes and they happen to wander in.
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chi-towncrisis
newbite
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 17offline
Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jun 26 2008 19:50:31
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Maybe I worded it wrong, I realize that bedbugs won't be prevented by a certain type of mattress, I guess that's not what I meant.
I have bedbugs right now, and I want to throw out my mattress and boxspring (I was planning on getting new ones anyway).
I know that I should wait to get a new mattress until I'm totally rid of the bugs (will do), but I was thinking that if for some unforeseen reason I get them again, or they were not totally eradicated, would it be better to have a memory foam mattress? Would it prevent the infestation from setting up home in the bed? I understand that it doesn't matter if they're in the bed or not, they'll live somewhere else and commute there at night, but it would stop me having to get a third new mattress if they couldn't get into the foam one.oh, I just read your edit.. my cats unfortunately like to scratch so there are holes in my current mattress. Thanks for the info though, it makes me feel a bit better to know they cant just burrow into any old thing!
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oldtimer
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 1,170offline
Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jun 26 2008 20:00:56
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No, not at all. If you want to do things correctly and in the correct order remove the bed bugs and then replace the mattress if you want to or feel that you need to.
The choice of mattress makes no difference, at a bed bug level, its not that they will be displace elsewhere I find in most domestic settings the matress is one of the last things to get infested. As the sheets get changed (usually on a regular basis) the chances of being dislodged is too great for them to hang out there for long.
With mattresses get what feels best for you to sleep on, the only consideration as I say with Bed Bugs is having to lift and check around the mattress. The memory foam ones are very heavy and not that easy to move around a room when you are working. I would suspect it may put a few PCO's off moving it too much. I don't like lifting them myself and have been know to tell people to move it themselves rather than risk putting my back out.
But seriously the type of mattress matters about as much as the colour of the mattress , the key activity is regular self inspections of the sleeping area for the signs of an infestation. If you catch it quickly then they are a lot easier to deal with.
David
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oldtimer
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 2,652offline
Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jun 26 2008 23:58:22
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I have to disagree with a few things mentioned here.
Mattress type does not stop an infestation.
Bed Bugs harbor in the beds. Yes inside the mattress/and or on the bed 75% of the time. (Documented respectfully)
A MATTRESS ENCASMENT is what you need. This will stop Bed bugs from laying eggs inside the mattress, or harboring inside the mattress. This will allow you to do better/ easier inspections of your bed. This also goes for your box spring as well. That will need to be encased also.(Also very very important to check the frame, legs, headboard, footboard, & support rails of the bed)I found about 100 BB eggs on the wood support rails in a home yesterday. (4 supports) This bed had metal side rails, wood cross supports, wood headboard and foot boards. Most of the eggs were between the wood supports and the metal side rails. Was a bit much in this one room. There must have been literally 600 bed bugs in a 10x10 room.
If you were to get reinvested, you will not have to worry about the inside of a mattress, or box spring harboring anything. Eggs, bugs, etc.
Contact kills on the encasements is better than wondering if bugs are a few pieces of fabric from you.
Protecta Bed makes great encasements. Don't buy anything cheap. It will rip while installing it. -
oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 6,828offline
Posted 4 years ago
Fri Jun 27 2008 8:37:06
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Maybe you would care to enlighten us as to why there would be a difference between a foam mattress with a protector on it or a traditional stuffed mattress with a cover on it?
As a point worth mentioning I actually recommend people get beds with wooden slats because they are easier to check and detect activity on. Again this is because the type of bed may affect the type of treatment you go for but it has no bearing on the risk of being exposed again.
The real key message comes back to regular inspections and what is easier to inspect but hey I have only inspected and treated about 7,000 properties in the last 5 years.
David
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chi-towncrisis
newbite
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 17offline
Posted 4 years ago
Fri Jun 27 2008 10:42:48
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Well, I didn't really want a foam mattress anyway, I just thought it might be better. Now I think I'll just get a regular one (once the bugs are gone) and encase it right at the start so nothing has a chance to get inside.
Thanks for the advice David and KillerQueen.
On another note how do you see the eggs KillerQueen? I can't see a darn thing! Are they easily visible? I haven't seen a bedbug, or a nymph, or an egg since I encased my current mattress and boxspring, but I still get bitten. -
last canadian
newbite
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 3offline
Posted 4 years ago
Fri Jun 27 2008 12:26:54
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Just started here today.
I have the same issue - I haven't seen any bugs yet - just some blood trail, brown dried bug shell and one beige molt (I think that's what it was) - but I'm getting 4-5 bites a day. Two days ago we sealed our mattress in plastic mattress covers from a mattress store and taped them all up - yesterday I received about 3 bites - but so far none today. I've washed the sheets, mattress cover etc every day for the last month and I'm still getting bit. I've booked PCO for next week - still trying to get all the details about guarantee, what's being sprayed, what to pack etc.
We have a spare mattress/box spring in a bedroom on the second floor of our house that no one has used. I'm hoping that it's bug free. When we get the house sprayed I'll move it down to our bedroom and encase it in a proper mattress cover and hope that will prevent more bites. Just trying to get to the point where you're ready to have the PCO treatment in unbeleivable. I've already thrown out all my extra pillows, empty all magazines and papers from the bedroom except for my bookcase against one wall. I'm trying to decide if my books will be salvageable. -
oldtimer
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 2,652offline
Posted 4 years ago
Mon Jun 30 2008 1:00:46
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bed-bugscouk .... I think you were mistaken with what I was saying. The mattress type does not matter. The cover does was my point. Plus I was not trying to offend, sorry if it came across that way
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bugsy bunny
newbite
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 15offline
Posted 4 years ago
Mon Jun 30 2008 14:46:12
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yes but which encasement should he get? i am stuck in a similiar sitatuion. i cant afford a new mattress and box spring and i am stumpd on which encasement i should buy. i dont want to encase just to them have it rip or move and have it not work and have bugs infest my mattress anyway. Please help, killerqueen what encasement worked for you?
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oldtimer
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 2,652offline
Posted 4 years ago
Tue Jul 1 2008 1:54:36
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I use protecta bed. I never had BB's in my home. I'M a PMP and a business owner. Good luck
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 14,081offline
Posted 4 years ago
Tue Jul 1 2008 4:05:28
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You can read more about encasements here:
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bugsy bunny
newbite
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 15offline
Posted 4 years ago
Tue Jul 1 2008 14:41:16
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thanks. help was much appreciated
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