{"id":20873,"date":"2021-03-27T09:44:07","date_gmt":"2021-03-27T14:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/?p=20873"},"modified":"2021-03-30T09:46:51","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T14:46:51","slug":"bed-bugs-in-rental-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/bed-bugs-in-rental-property\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Deal With Bed Bugs on the Mattress in Your Rental Property?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bed bugs are an extremely common and stubborn domestic pest. They are small parasites that prefer to feed on human blood and can rapidly spread. The insect is brown and oval-shaped that can grow up to 4-5mm long and 1.5-3mm wide.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can easily spot them on white sheets, but they tend to hide well. Their flat bodies make it easy to squeeze in somewhere between the frame and the mattress.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What Are The Early Signs of Bed Bugs On A Mattress?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first sign that you will notice will probably be on your skin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1495197359483-d092478c170a?ixid=MXwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHw%3D&amp;ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"woman laying on bed\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, it is not 100% sure that those bite marks are actually from bed bugs. Many people mistake the bed bug bite mark with the one from a flea. Both parasites should be treated, but there is a major difference in the approach, so it is necessary to establish with certainty the pest you are dealing with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other signs:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tiny red bite marks that itch a lot;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marks on your sheets &#8211; those would be bed bug feces, many brown dots grouped together;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shed skin &#8211; when maturing bed bugs leave their old shells behind;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood marks &#8211; blood spots where bed bugs were crushed by you in your sleep;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eggs &#8211; difficult to spot, they are very small and white in color.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Alexander Crawley, an expert at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticpestscontrol.com.au\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fantastic Pest Control (Australia)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, professional bed bug treatments should be applied throughout the entire property. To treat each and all common nesting spots is the way to battle pest infestations as effective as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>How To Tell If You Have Bed Bugs On Your Mattress?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will need to arm yourself with patience, a pair of rubber gloves, a magnifying glass and a flashlight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As already mentioned, these parasites are hard to see for they hide extremely well. Thanks to their flat bodies, bed bugs can easily hide deep between cushions and crevices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The younglings have a pale white color, which makes them even harder to spot.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best time to \u201chunt\u201d bed bugs is in the morning. They were having their meal during the night and are now heading to their hiding places. It is the perfect time for you to catch them, halfway there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another perk is that a well-fed bed bug is easier to see. First of all, it is slightly enlarged and if it is a young one, the pale white color is now backed up with the ruby red of your blood. That makes them super easy to spot.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Places Where To Search<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those parasites are always nearby. They want to be near to their food source, as near as possible, so they nest in furniture on which you relax and let your guard down.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Common hiding places:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the sofa cushions;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between the cushions and the armrests;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside the sofa pillows;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside your sleeping pillows;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the mattress;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside the mattress;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the bed frame (corners);<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><i>* Important note: <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to carefully check those spots and look for the above-mentioned signs of bed bugs. Once you have spotted a clear sign you will know what you are dealing with, but can you remove them on your own?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Can You Deal With Bed Bugs on Your Own?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a couple of steps you can take in order to get control over the situation. In the event where you spot bed bugs or obvious signs of bed bugs on your bed, you will need to do the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thoroughly check the entire bed and any furniture near it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take all the beddings, curl them into a plastic bag and close it tight. &#8211; This will prevent any bed bugs from running away while you get to the washing machine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throw all the beddings in the washing machine and set it to a program with a high temperature, above 60 degrees Celsius. &#8211; This will kill all adults and probably all the eggs as well.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry the beddings right afterward if you have a dryer, and again, use a high-temperature program.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regularly vacuum the house and check for bed bugs signs after performing the tasks above. &#8211; If you see signs again, repeat the procedure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDestroying the mattress would be a better idea\u201d, advised the CEO of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mattressinsider.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mattress Insider<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Jonathan Prichard. \u201cActually back in the day that was why bed frames were made out of metal. People occasionally lit their beds on fire to get rid of bed bugs. The infestations then were hard to beat otherwise, considering the lack of professional grade insecticides\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re 100% certain you want to fight for it, heat is the most effective way to eradicate bed bugs. A professional heat treatment is the best performing one, in cases of serious bed bug infestations but if out of your budget, you could <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bestcarpetcleanerguide.co.uk\/carpet-cleaning-products\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fight bed bugs with the right products<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>* Important note:<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you have a pet, check beddings as well, sometimes bed bugs nest there. They don\u2019t tend to feed on animals, they prefer us as a food source, but sometimes they hide in the beddings of pets.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What if The Mattress is Infested With Bed Bugs?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have the option to pack your mattress in an anti-bedbug-designed encasement. A protector can block the access of bed bugs to food, leaving them starving to death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>* Important note: <\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind that a bed bug can live for around half a year without food. Neglecting this fact could make any \u201ctreatment\u201d ineffective.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is why it\u2019s always best to call for professional exterminators as soon as you spot the earliest signs of infestation. A light infestation could be effectively treated with a major visit, and maybe one or two follow-ups. The price of these varies between different pest control companies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are dealing with a severe infestation, even commercial-grade sprays can prove ineffective. In such a \u00a0 scenario only a professional heat treatment will help, however,\u00a0 not all pest control companies offer. Also, such would require preparations and it could take an entire day to finish&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Who is\u00a0 Responsible For Dealing With Bed Bugs in A Rental Property?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, the big question is whether you or your landlord should be responsible for dealing with this pest problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you were living in that property for a couple of weeks, it won\u2019t be possible for you to prove that you are not responsible for the infestation. Considering that landlords have to be extremely careful in order to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/landlord-renter-scams\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">protect themselves from scammers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would be a great idea to check everything the very first day before you have unpacked your belongings. By doing that you can see the signs of bed bugs and make your landlord pay for the treatment. You will also protect your personal belongings if they are still well packed in the cardboard boxes. If you would like to know a bit more on how to protect yourself from scamming landlords read <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/six-questions-before-signing-lease\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this article<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need more information about your responsibilities and those of your landlord you should<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/landlord-responsibility\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> check our post on the topic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Final Remarks<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most important thing is your initial thorough check. Look into everything that you find in your new home. Every piece of furniture, every pillow, any kitchen appliances. See if everything works properly, and check for signs of bed bugs and other insects. If you find anything call your landlord right away and get things sorted out. If you want, you can book a professional inspection of the place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This initial check will ensure you a piece of mind for the long term. Now you are ready for the next step, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/healthy-apartment-living\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">turning your apartment into a healthy sanctuary<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bed bugs are an extremely common and stubborn domestic pest. They are small parasites that prefer to feed on human blood and can rapidly spread. The insect is brown and oval-shaped that can grow up &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"How to Deal With Bed Bugs on the Mattress in Your Rental Property?\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/bed-bugs-in-rental-property\/#more-20873\" aria-label=\"More on How to Deal With Bed Bugs on the Mattress in Your Rental Property?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":20874,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[149],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20873"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20873"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20875,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20873\/revisions\/20875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}