1. New York
2. Philadelphia
3. Detroit
4. Cincinnati
5. Chicago
6. Denver
7. Columbus, Ohio
8. Dayton, Ohio
9. Washington, D.C.
10. Los Angeles
11. Boston
12. Indianapolis
13. Louisville, Ky.
14. Cleveland
15. Minneapolis, Minn.
Experts put the blame on international travel. Bed bugs had been eradicated for 50 years in the US due to DDT in most insecticides. The environmentalists thought DDT was too harmful to the environment (eye roll) and the US, England, and Paris have been fighting the parasites like they do in developing countries. People have also blamed the laxed hotel cleaning of sheets from night-to-night in order to save the planet. We all know the card 'put this card on your bed if you want to help this hotel save energy and the environment and not wash the sheets'. Those cards popped up about 5 years ago...and so did the outbreak. Go figure.
If you are traveling this summer to ANYWHERE, you need to arm yourself so that you don't bring back anything you didn't take with you-except a rested mind of course. Even if you aren't traveling, its only a matter of time before the critters come to your house, if you are not cautious. If somone has them on your clothes and they hug you, sit next to you, hang out in your bed, have any cloth-to-cloth contact and you put that shirt on your bed, its a wrap. Bed bug treatment can cost up to $1K when you factor in having to clean all your clothes, clean all your carpets much more frequently, getting a new bed, and calling the professionals. Bed bugs are not racist or classist. In fact, it was wealthy neighborhoods in NYC (travelers) who first started calling in for treatment. A body is a body (my, what we can learn from the animal kingdom but I digress). The problem is exacerbated given the taboo nature of admitting you even have the problem. Unless someone in your family or very close friend has told you they have it, you do not know who has it. In fact, if your friends/family has had them and you all hang out together, YOU ARE VULNERABLE.
Preventative measures are best. Get in the habit before you even leave. There have been many reports of people sleeping in seemingly sterile hotel rooms only to wake up covered in itchy bites. Do not sleep on these critters.
The Herb Gardner has compiled natural and cheap recipes for keeping the bed bugs at bay if you haven't gotten them. The main ingredients are rosemary essential oil, lavender essential oil, and eucalyptus essential oils. Yes, the hymnist was right when he said 'all I have needed Thy {God} hand has provided'. These oils are very strong but they do smell good if you like minty smells. Nonetheless, bedbugs don't like them very much.
Disclaimer: If you have respiratory problems check with your doctor first. You are taking these suggestions at your own risk.
My friend had them and then started spraying rosemary oil on the bed and carpets before reclining...worked like a charm. Nonetheless, bed bugs has made many people much more cleaner. A simple hug can bring them back in your house.
The Herb Gardner has other recipes where you can put small bagees of eucalyptus leaves, lavendar and rosemary seeds (with thyme and cloves) into your luggage and handbag to ward off the critters. Yes, you must be vigilant. All of these can be found at your local natural foods/herbal store.
Do not put anything on your bed except clothes that you know have been washed already. I used to play on the computer on my bed and even have my cell phone charging at an outlet next to my bed and the phone would be on my bed...not anymore. I used to change my clothes after work putting them on my bed before I put them away when I put on my lounge wear...not anymore. These critters are tiny. They can hide in the tiniest of crevices and once you've had them or watched someone have to combat them, you will take very little chances. Like I said before, a simple hug get bring them back in your house. A packed train ride during rush hour can bring them into your house. It doesn't matter what you wear out of the house, its what you bring inside the house. Everytime your sexy self comes sauntering into your bedroom is an opportunity for an invasion. Your bed is the ultimate destination because thats where their prey (you) is calm when they are looking to feed (12:30-4:30am). Plus you mattress is so damn comfortable. Even with clothes you know have been washed, still spray the oil recipe.
Ask the hotel staff/manager what they are doing with regards to bedbugs. Of course, they will give a half-assed attempt to keep you as customer but still ask. Ask them has there been an outbreak in the hotel/city. Ask them how often does the area of the hotel that are assigned get treated. Show them you are not the one EARLY. Let them know that if you get bitten, you want a full refund and that you will send them the bill for your anti-itch creams and YOU WILL TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED. I firmly believe travel is what caused this outbreak to spike. Thus, we must put pressure on the TRAVEL INDUSTRY to protect their guests. This goes for cruise ships as well. Anwhere people sleep en masse is ground zero for these pests. Hello, the largest city with bed bugs is the most populated and traveled (NYC). And because Philadelphia and NYC have so much travel between them, Hello.
Also, be wary of used furniture. Nobody likes a good bargain like I do. Well, theres a reason why they call them 'flea' markets. Bedbugs like couches and padded chairs as well. Be wary of those craigslist 'curb alerts'.
Arm yourself. Knowledge is power.
Bed bugs are one of the most irritating creatures on the planet. They are little insects that suck human blood for their survival. Though the commonly accepted is that they are too tiny to be seen, it's not entirely true. These insects often come to life in our homes at night, therefore making it all the more difficult for us to spot a bed bug infestation.bed bugs los angeles
ReplyDelete