Bed Bugs FAQ

| Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 |

Bed Bug Questions and Answers

19. Will bed bugs crawl through the zipper?

  • Yes, they are quite capable of getting through a zipper unless this mechanism has been specifically chosen and tested to exclude bed bugs from penetrating this area.
  • Zipper design is one of the most important aspects of a bed bug encasement product. The teeth must be small and tight enough to exclude bed bugs from moving through them. The end or closure of the zipper should have a mechanism or be constructed in a manner that prevents the insect from getting into or out of the encasement should it not be in a completely closed position.

20. I’ve seen/heard about other mattress covers. Some others seem flimsy. Will these tear/rip/develop holes as easily as those others?

  • An encasement fabric and its construction should be able to withstand the rigors of continued use, including people jumping on beds, rubbing against the walls or edges of the mattress or box spring. There is nothing worse then taking the preventative or control measure of an encasement only to find it has torn.

21. I had bed bugs on my mattress and box spring. Don’t I have to throw them away?

No. If treated with a pesticide labeled for use on your mattress and box spring:

  • Your PMP should do an inspection around 2 weeks after treatment to make sure any bed bugs or eggs that have survived the treatment are eliminated on this second visit. This may require another chemical application.
  • If you have encased your mattress and box spring you do not need to throw them out. Remember, use a quality, laboratory tested product specifically.

22. I’m moving to another home/apartment. Should I cover my mattress and box spring with these products to protect them while in transit?

Absolutely!

  • It is common for a delivery truck moving your items to be infested with bed bugs. Encasements can be one way of protecting your box spring and mattress.
  • You may not know you have a problem with bed bugs. Moving your items to a new location may only be transferring the problem there.
  • If moving into a multi-unit housing building or a single family structure, you protect your mattress and box spring in case there is an existing problem.

23. I have an air mattress/water bed/non-standard (round) mattress. Do you have sizes and styles for every kind of mattress?

  • It is critical for an encasement to be of proper size. It should not be too big or small.
  • Encasements should closely fit the mattress and box spring, otherwise it may prove ineffective if it tears.
  • Periodically inspect your encasement to insure there are no tears or holes.
  • As an added precaution, especially if you have small children, etc. you can apply felt strips to cover bolts, rough or sharp edges, or other protrusions on the bed frame in contact with your encasement.

24. Can I treat the cover with insecticides?

  • Make sure the pesticide chosen is labeled for use on a mattress, box spring and encasement.

Cited Literature
Mallis, A. 2004. Ectoparasites, Part Three: Bed Bugs & Kissing Bugs, Chapter 8. In: Handbook of Pest Control. 9th addition. Pg: 495-530.
Smith, E.H. and R.C. Whitman. 1992. Blood Feeders, Chapter 3. In: NPCA Field Guide to Structural Pests. Pg: 3.1.1-3.1.2.
Pinto, L.J., R. Cooper, and S.K. Kraft. 2007. Bed Bug Handbook: The Complete Guide to Bed Bugs and Their Control.
Getty, G.M., V.R. Lewis, Ph.D., and R.T. Taylor. 2008. Hot House: Control of Bed Bugs using Heat. PCT Magazine, February 2008.
Ishaaya, I., D. Degheele 1998. Insecticides with novel modes of action: mechanisms and application. 289 pages. Springer Publishing.