BedBugs 101: Free iPhone App to Recommend

I just discovered an excellent FREE iPhone app called BedBugs 101. It is like an instant information resource when you need it.

It is packed full of facts and pictures.

Yes, it is an advertisement for the Protect-a-Bed system, a set of mattress, box spring, and pillow encasements that I am willing to endorse, but you do not have to buy anything to enjoy the application itself.

Plus, if you ever find any bed bugs you can instantly report it at the Bed Bug Registry, right there in the App. (I also link to this registry check the side bar.)

I absolutely love this App!

Here is the link!

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/bedbugs-101/id411932955?mt=8

Bed Bug Bite Pictures: Getting Cheeky, Are We?

Bed Bug bites are never welcome, but bites on the face are simply not acceptable. Grrr! These guys were not only hungry but way too cheeky! It is a good thing I was not getting my portrait done!

Bites on the face are too often assumed to be blemishes. This is clearly Bed Bug Bites.

And what about this lovely ear stud? Not!

Bed Bug in Action Video

Check out this illuminating video from National Geographic.

Bed bug enters the room via electrical outlet and feeds on the sleeping victim.

Clicking on this link will take you to YouTube. If you have not signed up for the newsletter yet, do so now and then click this link to watch this simply yucky video!

Pictures of Bed bugs on the pillow case hem.

If you have bed bugs you will recognize them by their shape, color and nesting habits. You will note that bed bugs like to nest in places that offer complete or partial covering in locations rarely disturbed. Here is a picture of a new nesting place in some pillows which are not moved very often. A cursory search daily is recommended.

Should I Throw Out the Couch?

Visitors are asking, if they have bed bugs, should they throw out their couch, or their bed?

The answer depends on circumstances.

When you discover you have bed bugs, the temptation is to throw everything out, which is fine, but do not bring in new furniture until the bugs are gone from your home. In most cases it is possible to clean the bed bugs from the furniture while you are treating the home against them.

But if you are insistent at throwing it out, for example the bed or the chair or the sofa or the couch could be the only thing that is infested or it is so badly infested you cannot imagine clearing it of bed bugs, and if so, please do throw it out.

If you decide to toss the items, to ensure that you do not spread the bed bugs around to others, take the following precautions:

• Contact your municipality to let them know you are throwing out a big item and that it is infested with bed bugs so they send the proper collection service. 
• Also paste a big sign on it "Bed Bugs!" warning pickers from taking it home with the bed bugs.
• Try to put it out on a sunny day, because the bugs will dehydrate with the heat and it will be less likely they will survive a hike to the nearest building.
• Also, put the item at least five feet away from the building so they don't have access to returning.

If you decide to treat the couch or bed, there are a number of steps to go through which I will go into in a separate posting, but I will share a really easy one:

Put the furniture out in the baking sun for a day.