The internet is full of information on bed bugs. Some of it is good and some of it is bad. In many places a lot of bad information is given. A few people pick up that information, tell somebody else and pretty soon it has spread far and wide. It is a case of the blind leading the blind. And this bad information costs people time and money. It can have a significant negative impact on people during a time of great stress and need. So let’s debug some of the more common myths.
1. Bed bugs are due to bad hygiene.
Bad hygiene is not the cause of infestations. It is true that poor housekeeping can make it hard to identify infestations. And it can also lead to clutter which gives bugs more places to hide. This can make control, prevention and eradication especially difficult. But it won’t cause an infestation. Even under the best conditions (4 star hotels and mansions come to mind) a place can still be infested.
2. Bed bugs can jump onto your bed.
They don’t jump — they get around by crawling. This is one of the reasons why isolating your bed from the floor, walls, furniture and other items like luggage can help reduce the occurrence of bites. These methods all take away access to the bed. They could possibly drop into your bed from the wall or the ceiling though.
3. Bed bugs feed on dead skin.
They don’t feed on dead skin, they feed on the blood they suck out of your body. Sometimes I think that people get bed bugs confused with dust mites, which are microscopic bugs that feed primarily on dead skin.
4. If you get bed bugs, you should start sleeping on the couch.
That’s a big no-no. Bed bugs are able to travel in your bedding and clothing. On top of that they are attracted to the carbon dioxide you exhale and the heat your body generates. When you move you risk spreading the bugs to the couch yourself by carrying them on your person, clothes and bedding. And you will most likely cause them to migrate on their own since their tasty meal has decided to crash on the couch.
5. If you get bed bugs, you should throw away your mattress and box spring.
This all depends. If your plan is to simply toss your bed and start over with a new one you’ve got a big problem. These bugs hide all over the place, not just in the bed. Let’s say you replace your entire bed. Did that get rid of the bugs hiding in the walls or your furniture? What about the ones hiding in the clothes in your closet?
Myths like these can cost you time and money and stress your family to no end. Make sure you do your research before you start making decisions. The internet is a vast place. There is a lot of information out there. Just be careful of where you get it from.
Do your homework and it will save you a lot of time, money and frustration. Learn more about Bed Bug Control to keep your family safe. If you already have an infestation on your hands, learn how to pick a good Bed Bugs Exterminator
Author: RC Symonds
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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