Are There Bugs in Your Bed??

Okay. I know you are probably saying "Bugs in my bed? There are no bugs in my bed!" Actually, there are. There are two types of bugs that you are likely to find in your bed: Bed Bugs and Dust Mites. Dust Mites are microscopic bugs that eat dead skin cells that are shed from humans and animals. They can be found in lots of places, but are especially prevalent on mattresses, frequently used furniture, and carpeted areas. Humans slough off 1/3 (or 10 grams) of dead skin a week and cats and dogs produce even more. More than 100,000 can be on your mattress and in one square yard of carpeting. Many of us can actually be allergic to dust mites and their feces, which is a large component of dust.

Some of us might also discover Bed Bugs. Exterminating Bedbugs can be a difficult task. If you don't treat them they will move through the walls into another persons apartment or condominium (if you have shared walls). These bugs can come from buying things 2nd hand, letting someone spend the night in your home, using someone else's moving equipment plus many other ways. Bed bugs need a blood host- people or animals. They will usually be within 15 feet of a blood host and it only takes them 5 minutes to travel that far. They can sense our carbon dioxide when we exhale. When the population starts to get big, they become a part of your clothing. If you are trying to get rid of bedbugs, wash clothes and everything you can, weekly. They will be in mattresses and many other things. If you start to get bites or look like you have a rash, you might have bedbugs. They look like a tick but are smaller.

I know you're probably saying "That's enough, tell me how to get rid of the nasty things!"

We can't completely get rid of dust mites, here are some ways to reduce dust and Dust Mites in your home:

• Cover your mattress with a plastic cover or mattress cover made exclusively for reducing dust mites.
• Use Hardwood Flooring instead of carpeting since it is easier to reduce and clean dust from hard surfaces.
• Clean regularly. Wash your sheets and blankets at least once every two weeks and clean areas where they are likely to be every week.
• Reduce fabrics on your furniture by purchasing leather furniture, which is less inviting to Dust Mites.
• Use quality air filters and replace them often in order to reduce dust and allergens in your home.

To treat for Bed Bugs treatments are completely different. We don't use heat, we use pesticides to treat for Bed Bugs. Treatments range from $500-1000.


For all your Broken Arrow pest control needs, contact Mother Natures, 918-362-2000 or www.pestsecret.com.

For more information about hardwood flooring options in the Broken Arrow, OK. area, contact Jim Ecrette of ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings at 918-252-7711 or www.prosourcefloors.com/tulsa. (Don't forget to ask for Darryl Baskin's flooring discount!)

To purchase quality air filters contact Rick Butefish of Filters 4 Me at 918-292-8600 or www.filters4me.com.

Insurance Claims...Prepare Ahead!

When homeowners file an insurance claim, many times, they find that insurance adjusters can't answer questions about their policy. That's because, often, insurance adjusters are sub-contracted by the insurance company and are not familiar with your specific policy. To help alleviate that problem, make sure that you ask plenty of questions about your policy before you purchase it. Find out what is covered and what isn't. Also, keep in mind that many policies stipulate that you have to file a lawsuit within 1 year of the claim or you will waive any right to do so. If there are problems with your claim, you may need to file a lawsuit before the year is up in order to make sure that your time doesn't run out and you are stuck with repairs that you can't pay for. To avoid being put into that position, work ahead, ask questions, and do your research.

For Broken Arrow Area Homeowners Insurance, contact Mike Tedford of Tedford Insurance at 918-299-2345 or www.tedfordinsurance.com.

For legal advice on insurance claims in Oklahoma, contact Paul Boudreaux of Richardson, Richardson, Boudreaux at 918-492-7674 or www.rrblawok.com.


For Broken Arrow Home Maintenance Professionals, visit www.tulsahomecare.com or talk to the professionals listed here:

Roofing Repairs in Broken Arrow, Judy Smith, A-Best Roofing, 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com
Disaster Restoration in Broken Arrow, OK, Roger Fisher, PCC Cleaning & Restoration, 918-641-1111 or www.pcccr.com
Broken Arrow Electrical Repair, Larry Murray, Murray Electric, 918-557-3020 or www.murrayelectric.com
Broken Arrow Plumbing Repair, Markwayne Mullin, Mullin Plumbing, 918-258-6636 or www.mullinplumbing.com.
Heating and A/C Repair in Broken Arrow, Stephen Taylor, Air Assurance, 918-258-HEAT or www.airassurance.com.
Broken Arrow Area Building and Remodeling, Rick Oberlender, US Building Systems, 918-734-1293.