Make Sure Your Move Is Bedbug-Free With Moishe’s!

As you may have heard, bed bug infestation has reached epidemic levels in New York City. A recent study by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration found that in 2004, the city received 537 complaints from residents about bed bugs in their homes. In 2009, the number of complaints skyrocketed to approximately 11,000. In fact, the situation in NYC is so severe that the Bloomberg administration has pledged $500,000 to combat the spread of bed bugs this year.

In response to this serious and disturbing city-wide epidemic, Moishe’s has devised a very thorough policy to prevent bed bugs:

• We cover sofas with plastic wrappings—not blankets.
• We fumigate our moving trucks once per month—more often than any other moving company.
• In addition, we use the Bed Bug Hunters dog-sniffing service periodically to prevent the chance of bed bugs in our moving trucks.

Want to know how you can prevent bed bugs during your move? Here are some tips:

1. Know how to identify bed bugs. Bed bugs are reddish-brown with flat, oval bodies that measure approximately ¼ of an inch (6.35 mm) long, or about the size of a grain of rice. You might have bed bugs if any member of your household complains of being bitten during the night. Look for dark brown or reddish spots on the mattress, bedding and even walls near the bed.
2. Know how bed bugs enter your home. The most common way for bed bugs to get into your house is by latching onto your luggage, clothing, computer or other belongings that have traveled where bed bugs are present, including public transportation. 
3. Know where bed bugs hide. Bed bugs are more likely to be found in buildings where many occupants sleep or where there is frequent turnover, such as hotels and college dormitories. They like warmth, and are known to enter laptops and other portable objects.
4. Check for bed bugs before you pack for your move. Pull back the sheets from the mattress and look for bugs along the seams or tiny blood spots on the mattress. Examine your headboard and any wood or upholstered furniture, especially along crevices and seams.
5. If you are packing clothing, separate it into plastic bags. This way, the clothes can be placed directly in the washer when you arrive at your new location. Wash and dry the clothes on the highest setting that the fabric can withstand or take items to the dry cleaners.
6. Vacuum mattresses, furniture and other items that cannot be washed. Remember, bugs and eggs may be hiding in the seams and folds of furniture.
7. Cover your mattresses and box springs in plastic.
8. Be wary of used furniture. Don’t buy used furniture, especially bedding items or upholstered items, or at least give them a thorough inspection before bringing used items into your home.
9. Wash and dry all soft furnishings, such as curtains, at high temperatures before using in your new home.
10. Hire a pest control service. If you think you have bed bugs in the home you are moving out of or into, it’s best to hire an exterminator. Cleaning alone will not eliminate an established bed bug population. Check for references and find out how their treatment process affects your move. If you are renting, contact your landlord immediately to determine a solution.