February 2, 2010
By: Michael Simpson

The best way to protect you and your mattress from becoming an ideal nesting site and host for bed bugs is by purchasing an entomologist approved Bed Bug Mattress Encasement, Box Spring Encasement and zippered Pillow Protectors. This ensures your investment is protected from infestation by these blood sucking parasites. If you are pro-active and your home becomes infested, mattress encasements will ensure that bed bugs do not nest in your bedding. If you are reactive and currently have a bed bug problem, encasing your mattresses and box springs will save your mattresses. In both cases, it is important not to remove the encasements at any time and that the mattress and box spring encasement are bed bug entry, escape and most importantly bite proof. Another important feature to consider is the zipper system especially the ending area where, if left open even slightly, bed bugs can get in or out. In addition, contact your local pest control service to find out more options on how the rest of your home can be treated. Most treatments include chemical applications in and outside the walls for total effectiveness. With bed bug mattress encasement products, chemical treatment of the mattress, box spring and pillows is not necessary.

For a fully tested and entomologist approved mattress encasement we recommend Protect-A-Bed®Allerzip Mattress Encasements. Not only are they the best at stopping bed bugs, but they are also waterproof and breathable, which does not change your sleeping environment. Protect-A-Bed® added another innovation which is unique to any other product, the Patented BugLock® (US Patent #7,552,489), which completely seals the end of the zipper using a patented channel that locks out bed bugs. If bed bugs are sealed in your mattress, it can take up to a year for them to die off. Another innovation from Protect-A-Bed®, is the Secure Seal® that locks the zipper closed with a zip-tie and prevents anyone from opening the encasement and reinfesting your home.

While the cost for the Protect-A-Bed encasements seem high, we tested the cheaper offerings and quickly learned why they were cheaper. Most are not water proof or bite proof, very few have any type of locking zipper (one suggested putting duct tape over the end), when pulling on the seams, all of them ripped easily (Protect-A-Bed® uses double-stiched reinforced seeams), and only one other had been entomologist tested to be bite proof.   Bottom line; get it right the first time, this is not a problem you want to be experimenting with. Get tested and proven long term mattress encasements to ensure you win the battle against the bed bug plague!

See the Protect-A-Bed mattress encasement product videos:

Mattress Encasement

Box Spring Encasement