The emergency of bed bugs which, after having caused chaos in Paris and London, have also crossed the Italian borders and of which reports (as well as citizens’ concern) are increasing. If it is true that getting rid of these little parasites is very difficult, it is also true that in these cases panic is the worst advisor. In fact, there are numerous important rules of conduct to follow to manage the home environment in order to keep it clean and healthy, making it less hospitable for these small insects and thus preventing an infestation. Below are some tips from Dennis Mathews, Chief Microbiology Scientist at Dysonto keep the bedroom clean.
Here’s how to fight bed bugs
Getting rid of a bed bug infestation is probably necessary something more than a thorough cleaning with the vacuum cleaner and washing the sheets. Seek advice from pest control experts in your area. There are ways to manage your home environment to keep it clean and healthy, make it less hospitable to bed bugs, and minimize other pests such as pollen, dust, and mites.
Tips from Dyson’s microbiologist for a clean bedroom and eliminating bed bugs
Here are di’s tips Dennis Mathews, Chief Microbiology Scientist at Dyson.
Remove and wash bedding
Washing sheets and blankets at 60° or 90° will help eliminate and reduce allergens and kill living parasites, such as bed bugs or dust mites. Although you only vacuum your mattress a few times a year, we recommend washing and changing your bedding once a week to remove microscopic skin flakes and keep dust and allergens at bay.
Vacuum the mattress
Many above-ground bed bugs can be removed by vacuuming alone, but deeper treatment is required to ensure complete eradication. In any case, it is important to vacuum your mattress regularly throughout the year.
Other parasites can live in our mattresses, such as dust mites, which are microscopic in size but tenacious. Using a vacuum cleaner with high power or Boost mode will provide the suction needed to remove as many mites, skin flakes and allergens as possible.
Use a motorized mini turbo brush in handheld mode. The brush does not damage the surface of the mattress, being equipped with stiff nylon bristles that can agitate the mattress fibers and remove dust and debris. Make sure the vacuum cleaner you are using has a fully sealed filtration system to prevent allergens or debris from being expelled onto your face as you clean.
Focus on hard-to-reach areas
After thoroughly cleaning the surface of the mattress, pay attention to cracks or creases where dust and allergens can hide. To clean the edges of the mattress, where there may be seams, use a crevice tool in handheld mode to remove hidden dust.
Don’t forget to clean under the bed, too, because dust mites thrive in dark, warm, humid areas with plenty of skin flakes that often go undisturbed. Bed bugs love dark, pristine places where they can hide. Regular vacuuming can make these places less hospitable.
Flip, repeat, redo
Flip the mattress over and vacuum the other side to keep invisible allergen concentrations low. You may consider using a mattress protector, which absorbs excess sweat and dust flakes and can be washed more easily.