Community: Message List - Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:10:56 GMT

I am researching a product that may work on the whole house. Will keep you updated. It works with Ozone. Will keep you posted.

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:34:42 GMT

Hi jacksteven, Well I wish it were that easy! I have found bedbugs in the most immaculate of upscale homes! I wish all we VR owners had to do to keep an infestation out would be to keep our properties clean. But, unfortunately, all that bed bugs need to survive is access to a warm body and a blood meal--regardless of how clean or dirty a place is.

Yes, bed-bug-proof mattress protectors are important. But it's important to go with a brand that has been tested to show that tiny, nymphal bugs can't get through the zippers. I don't see any information like that at the link you posted.

Sorry--but misinformation is not helpful to those of us concerned about this very real threat.

Judith Saum, Registered Environment Health Specialist

Washoe County Health District, Reno, NV

http://www.cape-cod-cottage.com

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:32:46 GMT

The best thing we can do in order to avoid bed bugs is cleaning. Bed bugs are generally found in dirty places, in furniture and clothes so you need to clean and flip your clothes, furniture and mattresses regularly. Also, you can use mattress protectors to protect the mattress from these bed bugs.

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:22:57 GMT

You probably should place this in the Vendor's section so everyone can see it there. Although not endorsing this particular product, we do agree that a luggage rack or stand of some sort is a good idea, both for this issue and also that of wear and tear on the bed linens.

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:43:55 GMT

This version of the article is awaiting approval, and is therefore not visible to others yet. Only authors or approvers can currently access it. Once all approvers have approved the article, it will be published and visible.

Gate House Furniture

Reports of bed bugs in public locations are on the rise in the U.S. These pests are popping up in places such as hotels, rental properties, stores, any means of transportation including subways, planes, and buses, movie theatres and even office buildings and striking fear in travelers. They are in the cleanest of environments and cannot be avoided if you come in contact. Though you can't prevent it 100%, there are ways to ensure that these little creatures dont reak havoc on your vacations or trips.

Bed bugs are infamously known for living in the creases and crevices of mattresses and box springs, closest to their prey, to feed while they sleep at night. They travel from place to place on clothing of an individual and come inside of luggage as an extra unwanted guest. One way to prevent this is to ensure that your luggage stays away from the bed, creating a much further distance for them to travel and harder for them to create a new home in your beautiful rental property.

Gate House Furniture is a leading wholesale manufacturer of premium quality folding luggage racks. We are a third generation, family-owned wholesale manufacturer committed to maintaining a legacy and brand that has always stood for matchless product quality and superior customer service. We are proud to claim many of the finest hotel chains and retailers throughout the world as our partners and long-standing customers. Our wooden luggage racks are sourced from domestic hardwoods and assembled in our New England factory by employees with 20 years of experience. We use rigorous standards to carefully match the finish and grain of every wood component to ensure consistent quality. Our products, designed to be attractive and durable, utilize our signature luggage rack spindle which eliminates the need for visible hardware and provides added stability.

Please visit our website www.gatehousefurniture.com to view all of our options. We may also be contacted at (781) 726-6100. We look forward to be the added amenity to your room to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:48:55 GMT

Just an update to this thread about "what I am doing to be prepared for bed bugs"--

I just met with reps from two, professional, pest control companies who claim to be experienced in bed bug work at my Cape Cod VR and talked to a third over the phone (who didn't want to come out) when I was back there from this month.

My plan was to have a pest control company lined up in case I need someone to respond quickly to a possible bed bug problem. The company had to be one I could trust who works according to my understanding of best practices for bed bug work.

In addition to getting price quotes from both, I asked lots of questions about how and when they make a decision to treat, what specific kind of treatments they use (chemical? non-chemical?), what would be required of my staff to prepare the room for treatment, what kind of pesticide resistance they are seeing, type of follow-up treatment, etc. Each one spent about 1/2 hour looking at my property and answering my questions.

Both companies agreed that they would only do pesticide treatments if they found bed bugs or their sign upon inspection. (Good! That's what they should be doing! And by just getting a qualified professional out to inspect immediately if renters claim getting bitten, I woud be showing responsibility as an owner and covering my potential liability.)

However, one company rep told me that if bugs or their sign are found, they will routinely "fog" the whole room with pesticide. ("Fogging" means spraying a fine, aerosol mist of chemical.) From my own training, I KNOW that fogging is not a recommended and effective treatment for bed bugs which typically hide out deep in cracks in furniture or base boards.

So it was an easy decision for me to go with the second company even though their price quote came in higher. The second clearly had a better grasp about how to treat for bedbugs than the first did.

Even though I may never need to call them, it now gives me peace of mind to know that I have a company I trust onboard if I ever do get that dreaded call from renters that they are getting bitten or if my housekeeper (who I have trained to look for bed bug sign) finds anything that causes her concern when she changes bed linens.

It am also relieved to know that company I chose will be able to go in within hours if needed or during the 4 hour Saturday changeover between renters to complete their work.

Because ##I manage my VR from almost 3,000 miles away, I have to be proactive about anticipating problems and establishing relationships with qualified service providers that I trust to complete work in my absence.

Judith

http://www.turtlecovecottage-capecod.com

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:48:47 GMT

Hi sfvacation hut, The prevention steps you are taking are really important. Making sure the water is hot--about 120 F. is important when washing the bedding, even though your bedding probably won't last as long as a result. Replacing bedding is still much cheaper than having to hire a pest control professional to treat for bed bugs!

Even though I have done bed bug work for Reno Health Dept. in the past, I still find I have to fight my own personal denial about bed bugs. On a recent road trip through Idaho, we stayed in a motel where I was bitten (even though I checked the beds before we slept, and the motel had the Protect-a-Bed covers. I could find no sign of them!) I couldn't believe it would happen to me!

I notice that most people are in denial when it comes to bed bugs. They tend to think that bed bugs are a big problem elsewhere--in some other part of the country--but not in my back yard. There are plenty of reports of bed bugs in California as this study done last year by the CA State Dept. of Health indicates. http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Documents/BedBugSurveyReport10-11.pdf What I'm hearing is that California, just like Nevada, has plenty of the little blood-suckers!

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:20:02 GMT

So glad to find this thread, we haven't had to deal with bed bugs yet, thank goodness ! I hope they don't make it out here to California. But now I have some idea of signs, etc, just in case. We do have the special encasements for the mattress, and we do wash all the sheets and duvet cover between every set of guests. So far that seems to be working. But next up I will watch the video that Laura suggested. I think it's best to take every precaution to prevent something like this.

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:24:38 GMT

Hi cmarch, Thanks for the update. Indeed. I have an appoiontment with my insurance agent when I get back to Cape Cod in a couple of weeks to find out about coverage. But I believe your are right. There is exculsionary language that propably applies to bed bugs in my extra liability coverage. We have an additional liability rider under our primary residence home-owners poliucy and will have to check that, too.

Because of your shared experience, I have appointments with several pest control companies when I get back to my VR next week. I want to interview them ahead of time to find out if I feel they have adequate experience and make sure they can respond quickly and thoroughly should I need them. I want to have a good relationship with a pest control company before I face a crisis.

Yes, you are probably right about people not bringing bugs from home. Most would know that they have them. But anyone staying some place else before they arrive could unknowingly transport them if they aren't careful.

As far as traveling goes, it's tough. I always check mattresses/box springs for sign before I get into a motel bed. Yet we stayed in a motel in Idaho last fall and in spite of my bed check, I broke out with 9 bites after we got home. Typical bed bug bites with 2 or 3 lined up in a row on hand and arm. We could vaguely see the my husband had gotten bitten, too, although he didn't have the same allergic, itchy bumps that I had. So I had to relearn the lesson--it is impossible to see the sign on the mattress when the infestation is light in the early stages.

Since that incident, I only leave my clothes in my suitcase or hang them up so bugs can't access them. I either use the luggage rack (hot the bed) when getting in and out of the suitcase and leave it overnight in the bath tub. Also, I take as little as possible into the room wiht me. Much safer eto leave things in the car.

Re: Bedbugs - what are you doing?...

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:22:55 GMT

Hi Judith,

From what I understand most (all?) insurance policies do not cover bed bugs. It would not surprise me though if companies started to see a lucrative market for "add-on" policies as this is becoming such a problem. When the bedding & towels were taken from our unti to be professionally cleaned, the cleaning company said that they were getting at least two batches a week & it was increasing (Orlando area)!

My point about guests staying in public lodging before coming to stay in our home, was because our home is in a popular area for 2-center stays. So a guest could unknowingly stay in an infested hotel. The bugs could find their way into their clothing or luggage and be transferred with the guests to our home. The guest would probably be completely unaware that it had happened. I suspect that this is the most common way that the pests are transmitted, not from guests bringing the bugs from home

Anyway - the pest company have finished & cannot find any bugs now, so we will hope that this time they are gone.

I know that I am now paranoid about any hotel I stay in - I will check the beds & cupboards and store my clothes in sealed plastic bags! There's no way I will risk infecting my own home with these critters