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Bed bug cases are increasing at rates of over 500% each year, say American scientists. These blood sucking parasites, which feed on warm blooded animals, emerge at night to feed on the blood of an animal or human. A bed bug infestation is a frightening experience, but there is hope, as well as a method of preventing infestation if you are not already living this nightmare! Regardless of whether or not you are currently experiencing an infestation, a bed bug protector for your mattress, one for each of your pillows, and one for your box spring are highly recommended. Bed bug protectors eliminate the need to repeatedly treat mattresses and box springs with pesticides, and as you would expect, can completely prevent bed bugs from infesting your mattress and box spring if you are not currently infested.
Many folks make the error of believing that the inexpensive mattress covers available at mass retailers like Wal-Mart will protect them from a bed bug infestation. This is not true! While these covers may prevent spilled liquids (if they are the waterproof kind) from ruining your mattress, they are not purpose-built to protect your bed from bed bugs. Some only cover the top and sides of your mattress, leaving the bottom open to infestation. Others, though they may enclose the whole mattress, will have holes where the stitching goes through, or have a gap at one (or both) end(s) of the zipper which are prime points of entry for bed bugs. Believe me, it is far better to invest in a true bed bug protector than to have to replace your entire mattress and box spring!
There are other, secondary benefits to using a high-quality mattress protector as well; if you suffer from allergies to dust, dust mites, or other irritants, these protectors can prevent your mattress from collecting these allergens, and spare you many nights of misery.
So what should you look for in a bed bug protector for your home? It is most important to make sure that the product specifies “bed bug proof” or “bed bug bite proof.” These protectors will have a vinyl, plastic, or polymer barrier layer on the side which faces the mattress, and a breathable (usually cotton) layer on the outside where you will be laying. This allows them to both protect you from bed bugs and their bites, as well as remain comfortable to sleep on.
AllerZip makes a complete line of mattress, box spring and pillow protectors, and generally have very high review ratings on sites such as Amazon. This is probably due to the ease of use for their protectors, which feature a zipper that goes around three sides, making it much simpler to put over a mattress, especially if you’re working solo! Eco Living Friendly (also known as ELF or ELFBrands) has a line called Sleep Safe, which is another trustworthy name for bed bug protection. Like AllerZip, they have a complete line, including bed bug crib protectors, so baby won’t ever have to experience the horror of bed bug bites! Luna is another popular brand, and their Premium line also receives excellent customer reviews. Sleep Tite probably has the largest selection of sizes in their bed bug protectors – including Super Single, Twin XL, Full XL, California Queen, Olympic Queen and California King! They also offer a 15-year warranty on their products, and have a 4.5 star rating from over 200 reviewers. One other good name is CleanRest. Though they do not put “bed bug” in the title of their item names, just check the item descriptions to see which ones are suitable for bed bug protection.
The other major consideration when purchasing a bed bug protector is size. While it may seem obvious (we’ve all grown up with the standard sizes – twin, full, queen, king) how to get the correct size, what you really need to be watching for is height or depth. See how this one specifies 9″? Mattresses these days come in a dizzying number of heights, and if you purchase the wrong size, you’ll have the hassle of returning, as well as a possible restocking fee to deal with. So make sure to measure the height of your mattress, then check the specifications of the protector you’re buying to be sure your entire mattress will fit. Remember – if it won’t zip shut, it’s not very protective!
Also remember – bed bugs can survive for up to 18 months without feeding on a host! This means that if you are treating an infestation in your mattress, you will want to note the date you put the bed bug protector over your bed, and, to be on the safe side, ensure that it stays on for two full years. While this may seem extreme, it is a small price to pay for a home that remains free of bed bugs. The bonus of this method is that it makes a breeze of spotting and killing any bed bugs that might be looking for safe harbor in your mattress. Their dark red-brown color will stand out easily on the stark white background of the protector.
