MONTREAL, June 14, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The moving period is the time of year when bedbugs can spread more easily, which is why Montréal would like to give you helpful tips taken from the website avoidbedbugs.info, to prevent infestation with these insect pests.
Each step of a move may carry its share of risk of bringing you in contact with bedbugs. So practice good prevention habits, and follow these helpful tips.
General advice
- If you discover bedbugs in your apartment, notify your building owner or manager immediately who will call an exterminator. Acting rapidly is key.
- Never try to get rid of bedbugs by yourself. The use of insecticides or pesticides can be harmful to your health. These products can also make bedbugs more resistant.
- Avoid picking up mattresses, upholstered furniture, sofas, sofa-beds, armchairs, futons or used clothing from the curb, even if they appear to be in good condition. They could be infested with bedbugs.
When leaving an infested apartment
- If you discover bedbugs in your apartment, notify your building owner or manager immediately, so that he may have the apartment exterminated before you move. If you do not get rid of the bedbugs before you move, you may take them with you.
- Place clothing, bedding and curtains into the dryer and run for 30 minutes at the hottest setting to kill the bedbugs and their eggs.
- Most bedbug infested mattresses and upholstered furniture can be treated. If they cannot be treated, make them unusable by slashing the fabric with a knife or utility knife, to make sure that no one will be tempted to pick them up and spread the infestation.
- You can also place an infested mattress that you have made unusable in a large plastic bag available at most Accès Montréal offices, to avoid infestation in the building when moving.
- Montrealers can call 311 to learn more about garbage or bulky item pickup schedules.
Moving your belongings
- Before choosing a moving company, ask how it plans to prevent the spread of bedbugs.
- Inspect the moving truck before moving your furniture. Sweep with a broom or use a vacuum cleaner.
- Place your clothing, bedding and curtains in hermitically sealed plastic bags.
When you move into your new apartment
- Vacuum everywhere, especially the bedrooms. Throw away the dust bag outdoors in a hermetically sealed plastic bag.
- Bedbugs hide during the day and come out at night. So, inspecting cracks, crevices and mouldings in bedrooms with a flashlight is very important.
- If you discover bedbugs in your apartment, notify the building owner or manager immediately, so that he may call a qualified exterminator. Never try to get rid of bedbugs by yourself.
About bedbugs
Bedbugs are flat, oval-shaped, brownish and wingless harmful insects 4 to 7 mm long. Before feeding, an adult bedbug is approximately the size of an apple seed. Bedbugs do not fly or hop. They move around by walking, are not attracted by light and feed on human blood at night. During the day they hide along the seams of mattresses and box springs, or anywhere they can hide easily.
For more information on bedbugs and how to avoid infestations, please visit avoidbedbugs.info.
Sources:
Direction de l'habitation
Ville de Montréal
Information:
François Goneau
Division des affaires publiques
514 868-5859
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