Preventing and Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Safely - Cambridge Public ...

Preventing and Getting Ridof Bed Bugs SafelyA Guide for CambridgeProperty Owners,Managers and TenantsA COLLABORATION OF THE CAMBRIDGE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKSCAMBRIDGE INSPECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTAND CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT

ContentsUsing This Guide 1Recognizing a Bed Bug 1How Bed Bugs Grow and Reproduce 2The Health Effects of Bed Bugs 3Preventing Bed Bugs from Infesting 3Your HomeInspecting for Bed Bugs 4Getting Rid of Bed Bugs 6About the Use of Pesticides 7What Can Be Done to Support 8the Work of a ProfessionalTrap and Kill Bed Bugs 9Clean and Disinfect 10Seal Cracks and Crevices 11Get Rid of Infested Items 11What Landlords and Building Managers Can Do 12More InformationInside Back Cover

Using This GuideBed bug infestations are increasingly common inthe United States. There are steps that can be takento prevent bed bugs from infesting your home. Whenbed bugs are present, they can be safely controlled.This guide will help you:1. Learn more about bed bugs and how they thrive.2. Prevent bed bugs from infesting your home.3. Safely rid your home of bed bugs if they do occur.4. Select and work with a pest control professional.Recognizing a Bed BugFrom its appearanceBed bugs are small insects that feedmainly on human blood. A newly hatchedbed bug is semi-transparent, light tan incolor, and the size of a poppy seed. Adultbed bugs are flat, have rusty-red-coloredoval bodies, and are about the size of anapple seed.Bed bug adult(fed & unfed)Carpet beetleBed bugs can be easily confused withother small household insects, includingcarpet beetles, spider beetles and newlyhatched cockroaches (nymphs).From its wasteBlood stains, droppings and egg shells areoften found in the following locations:• Mattress seams and tufts, bed linen,pillow cases, box springs, bed frames,and other upholstered furniture.• Crevices and cracks in walls and floorsand under carpet edges.• Baseboards of walls.Spider beetleCockroach nymph(juvenile)1

From its biteSome people do not react to bed bug bites.But for those who do, bite marks may appearwithin minutes or days, usually where skin isexposed during sleep. They can be smallbumps or large welts and often itch. Thewelts normally go away after a few days.Because the bites may resemble mosquito andother insect bites, a bump or welt alone doesnot prove there are bed bugs.How Bed Bugs Grow and ReproduceBed bugs are most active when we sleep. They crawl onto exposedskin, inject a mild anesthetic and suck up a small amount of blood.Most people never feel the actual bite.Bed bugs need a blood meal to grow and lay eggs. On average,a female lays 5 eggs per day and the eggs take 4 to12 days to hatch.Bed bugs are fully grown in about 6 to12 months. (The above timelimits will vary based on temperature.) The Health TheEggFirstStageNymphSecondStageNymphThirdStageNymphFourthStageNymphFifthStageNymphAdult2

Health Effects of Bed BugsAlthough bed bugs and their bites are a nuisance, they are notknown to spread disease.• Bed bug bites can be very itchy and irritating. Most welts heal ina few days but in unusual cases, the welt may persist for severalweeks. Scratching the bites may cause them to become infected.Usually an anti-itching ointment will help, but if bites becomeinfected, people should see their doctor.• The anxiety about being bitten can lead to sleeplessness, whichcan affect well-being. Properly and effectively responding to bedbugs helps to keep anxiety low.Some people become so desperate that they use inappropriate,illegal or excessive amounts of pesticides that can lead topoisonings. This guide provides advice on how to get rid of bedbugs safely.Preventing Bed Bugs fromInfesting Your HomeBed bugs can enter homes by hiding in usedfurniture, luggage and clothing, and by travelingto other units through structural gaps, openings andalong connecting pipes and wiring.• Never bring home bed frames, mattresses, boxsprings or upholstered furniture found on thestreet.• Only accept used furniture from trusted sources.If you are unsure if the furniture is free of bedbugs, check it carefully before bringing it home.• When traveling, inspect the bed and furniture.Keep suitcases closed and off the floor and bed.Inspect all your possessions before you leave.• If you suspect you have been around bed bugs,immediately wash and dry your clothing on hotsettings or store items in a sealed plastic baguntil they can be washed.• Sealing cracks and crevices with caulk willhelp prevent bed bugs from entering your home. 3

Inspecting for Bed BugsLook for bed bugs, blood stains, dark droppings, tiny white eggs, andshed skins (a flashlight and a magnifying glass will help). Start bylooking where you sleep or sit. Then search nearby areas and continueup to 25 feet away (the farthest distance a bed bug usually travels.) Keepa written record of every room and location where you find signs of bedbugs. Share this record with a pest control professional.Inspect mattresses, box springs,bed frames and bedding• Check all seams, tufts, pillowtops, handles, and any ripsin the material.• Look inside the box springcavity.• Look at both sides of theheadboards, and all componentsof the bed frame.4Carefully inspect cracks and crevices in bedroom furniture,floor boards and baseboards, windows and door frames• Use a flash light to inspect • If live bugs do come out,cracks and crevices of crush them with tissue orfurniture, windows and paper towels and flush downdoor frames.the toilet or securely dispose• Swipe a putty knife, or outside the building.plastic card into cracks and • Remove drawers fromcrevices to force bed bugs furniture and check allout. A hot blow-dryer on a surfaces, joints, creviceslow setting will also work. and even screw holes.

• Remove furniture cushionsand check their zippers,seams and tufts. Thencheck their frames.Check walls andwall hangings• Using crevice tools,check paintings, posters,pictures and mirrors.• Check cracks in plasterand peeling wallpaper.• Inspect the surfaces aroundelectrical outlet and lightswitch cover plates.CAUTION: Electrical hazard!Do not expose, touch, orinsert anything into theseelectrical components!Unplug then checkappliances (phones,clocks, smoke detectors)and other items.5

Tips for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs6• Don’t feel ashamed _ anyone can get bed bugs.• Notify your landlord and neighbors immediately.• It is the landlord’s responsibility to eliminate bedbugs quickly.• Professional pest management companies are usually required tocontrol bed bugs.• Complaints should be directed to the Cambridge Inspectional ServicesDepartment (617) 349-6100.There are two main treatment methods• Heat treatment is quicker and initially more effective, but is also moreexpensive.• Pesticide treatment is more common, slower, and less expensive.What to expect with pesticide treatments• At least two inspection+treatment visits plus a third inspection-only visit.• Complex infestations often require more treatments / visits.• Tenants must prepare their units for treatment as specified by the company.A good pest management company will...• Be licensed and certified in Massachusetts.• Inform you about the infestation and how to prepare for treatment ofbed bugs.• Use bed bug traps to monitor the effectiveness of their treatments.• Provide product labels and safety data for the pesticides they use, whenasked.• Perform a thorough inspection before any treatment is performed.• Perform pesticide treatments every 2 weeks until the bugs are gone.• Provide you with a written inspection report(s).To find a good professional• Ask friends, neighbors, and business associates.• Search the internet or directories for licensed and certified companies.• Interview several companies and compare methods, training,experience and costs.• Do they follow the recommendations in this guide?• Call the Massachusetts Pesticide Bureau (617) 626-1776 to checklicensing and complaints.

About the Use of PesticidesBed bug infestations usually require the use ofpesticides. Only professionals should apply pesticidesthat are registered by the Environmental ProtectionAgency for use on bed bugs. Pesticide foggers andbug bombs are not effective against bed bugs andcan harm people and pets.Ask the professional to:• Use the least-toxic pesticide labeled for bed bugs thatwill be effective.• Follow all instructions and warnings on product labels.• Tell you when it’s safe to re-enter a treated room.• Never spray the top of mattresses or sofas.To report a pesticide exposure, call theRegional Center for Poison Control and Prevention24 hours a day:(800) 222-1224 or (888) 244-5131 (TTY)www.maripoisoncenter.comIf the victim has collapsed or is not breathing,call 911 for an ambulance.For more information about pesticide products,call the National Pesticide Information Center:(800) 858-7378http://npic.orst.edu/7

What Can Be Done to Supportthe Work of a Professional• Anyone with concerns should learn how to identify bed bugs andinspect for them. Cleaning and disinfecting will help to reduce bedbugs and their spread but may not get rid of them completely.Tools You Can Use• Bright flashlight• Small mirror,ideally one with ahandle, availablefrom hardwarestores• Magnifying glass• Blow-dryer• Paper towels• Vacuum withcrevice tool,brush and plentyof vacuum bags• Putty knife,playing card orsubway card asa crevice tool• Garbage bags• Plastic packingtape, sticky traps,glue boards ormoat-style traps• Bucket ofsoapy waterand sponge8

Trap and Kill Bed Bugs• Force bed bugs out of cracks and crevices with a putty knife or anold subway or playing card, or with hot air from a blow-dryer onlow airflow setting. Catch them with sticky packing tape or crushthem in paper towels. The heat from a blow-dryer will kill bedbugs after 30 seconds of continuous contact.9

Clean and Disinfect• Get rid of clutter to reduce the places bedbugs can hide. Consider putting nonessentialbelongings into storage (orsealing them in plastic bags or bins) untilthe bed bugs are gone from your home.Check all items for bed bugs before andafter storage.• Wipe off dead bugs, blood stains, eggsand droppings with hot soapy water.• Wash all clothing and fabrics with bed bugstains in hot water (140 o F) and dry on thehighest setting for at least 30 minutes to killbed bugs. Clean fabrics suspected ofhaving bed bugs should also be placed in ahot dryer for at least 30 minutes. Afterdrying, store items in sealed plastic bagsuntil you are sure you have gotten rid ofbed bugs.• Vacuum carpets, floors, bed frames,furniture, cracks and crevices daily, usingthe brush and crevice tools. After each use,empty the vacuum or seal and dispose of itsbag outside of your home.• Enclose infested mattresses and box springsin “dust mite proof” or “bed bug proof”covers for at least a full year (choose lowodor, well-fitting, durable and comfortablecovers). Periodically check covers for ripsor openings and tape these up.10

Seal Cracks and Crevices• Repair wall cracks, repairor remove any loosewallpaper, and put foamgaskets under loose-fittingoutlet and light switchcovers.• Apply caulk to sealcrevices and joints inbaseboards and gapson shelving or cabinets.Getting Rid of Infested Items• It is not usually necessaryto get rid of infestedfurniture or bedding at thefirst signs of bed bugs.Cleaning and enclosing isoften adequate. When indoubt, ask the pest controlprofessional.• Box springs should onlybe discarded if theycannot be covered andare heavily infested.• Items to be thrown awayshould be encased inplastic (e.g. mattresses, box springs) or put in plastic bags andlabeled with a sign that reads “infested with bed bugs.”11

What Landlords and Building Managers Can Do• Provide tenants with informationabout bed bugs. Share this guide.• Encourage everyone to reportas soon as they know of,or suspect, a bed bug problem.• Notify tenants of a verifiedbed bug problem.• Have all units, near (on same floor), aboveand below apartments found to havebed bugs, professionally inspected.• Hire a pest management professionalto treat for bed bugs. Be wary ofcompanies that make unrealisticclaims that bed bugs can becontrolled with one visit(exception: heat treatment).• Help tenants if they cannotmove furniture themselves orneed help to get rid of clutter.NOTICEBed bugs werefound in a nearbyapartment.Please schedulean inspection ofyour apartment.• Give at least a 2-day advance noticeof the planned use of pesticides.• Inspect upon vacancy, and ifnecessary, treat units to ensurethey have no bed bugs or otherpests before renting.12

More Information?Report an InfestationCambridge Inspectional Services Department(617) 349-6100To report a bed bug infestation to a city housinginspector.Health and Pest Control QuestionsCambridge Public Health Department(617) 665-3848For questions about whether there are bed bugsin your home and information on the best waysfor getting rid of an infestation.Furniture RemovalCambridge Department of Public Works(617) 349-4800To arrange for removal of furniture thoughtto be infested with bed bugs.Pesticide ExposureRegional Center for Poison Control and PreventionBoston Children’s Hospital(800) 222-1222To report or ask about pesticide exposures.Ordering CopiesTo order hard copies of this guide,call the Cambridge Public Health Department at(617) 665-38 48.General InformationCenters for Disease Control (CDC)www.cdc.gov/bedbugs

Key Messagesabout Bed Bugs• Anyone can get bed bugs. Bed bugs are not attractedto dirty living conditions, but may be harder to eliminatein cluttered spaces.• Seek help immediately if you find or suspect the presenceof bed bugs.• Sealing cracks and small holes will help to reduce hidingplaces and prevent bed bugs from crawling betweenapartments.• Cooperate with your neighbors, landlord and pestmanagement provider. It takes a group effort to get ridof bed bugs effectively.• Do not use pesticide bombs or foggers to control pests.They can make conditions worse.• It can be difficult to get rid of bed bugs, but the advice inthis guide should help.Adapted with permission from the New York City Department of Mental Health and HygieneGuide to Preventing and Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Safely.Illustrations by David Cain.GR12-262 – 02-2013