The bed bug may have been eradicated from New York, but that doesn’t mean the bed bugs have left New York.
And that’s what makes the mattress that washes up in bed bugs a real win.
Read moreNews 4 New York-area bed bug sightingsThe most common bed bug infestation in the US comes from fleas and ticks that feed on the flesh of dead insects.
In New York City, more than 100 bed bugs are thought to have been found in bed linens.
The majority of the bugs are found in New York state.
“If you’re coming in and out of bed, you’re at a higher risk,” said Dr. Michael Giesbrecht, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California.
“I can tell you, if you have a bed bug problem, your risk of being bitten by one of these bugs is much higher than it is if you haven’t had a bedbug problem.”
A bed bug attackThe most effective way to control bed bugs is to wash your hands and bedding daily.
“Bed bugs are most active in warm temperatures,” Giesbricht said.
“They don’t usually thrive in colder temperatures.”
So to make sure your mattress is completely dry, use a dryer or a vacuum cleaner and blow into a vacuum.
“If you are not using a vacuum, you should use a sheet to get the dust out of your mattress,” he said.
If you are using a sheet, Giesbechts recommend you use a regular pillow and place a towel or blanket underneath it.
“I’m a huge fan of towels, and if you use the sheets to wipe up the bedding, you can make sure the bugs don’t get out of the towel,” Giedbricht added.
“You want to use a towel, not a towel and pillow, to get as much dust as possible out of it,” he added.
To keep your mattress dry, clean your carpet or floor with a damp cloth and dry your mattress using a damp rag.
If your mattress has a hard surface, such as metal or wood, make sure it is dry with a wet towel.
“Do not put on your sheets and pillows when you’re sleeping because you will be exposed to the bed bug,” Gedbricht advised.
To dry out a bed, use an air-dryer or dryer on a hot setting.
“It’s not necessarily a better idea to put on a sheet and pillow,” Giebs said.
But if you do want to put sheets and pillow under a mattress, you may want to leave the mattress in a dry environment.
“This is the best option for people who have a little bit of a bed-bug problem,” Gidesbrecht said.
“Most of the time it will dry up overnight, and you will have a nice mattress in the morning,” GIESBERT said.
So while it may take a few nights for the bugs to leave your mattress, there are steps you can take to keep them from getting into your bed.