Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008 - (Page 11)

Bloodsucking bed bugs are back with a vengeance and they’re giving hotel guests and property owner-managers sleepless nights as they struggle to deal with a global epidemic that’s triggering costly remediation, litigation, and damaged reputations, even in upscale establishments. Amid evidence that the vampire-like insects are becoming immune to the insecticides used to kill them, a new heat treatment is proving effective at discreetly eliminating both the bugs and their eggs in one application without the use of chemicals or odor. b Eliminating Bed Bugs by Del Williams 500 tiny eggs in their lifetime, easily hiding 50 to 100 eggs along a seam Bed bugs, termites, cockroaches, and other or under a button, pests don’t stand a chance against this where it’s hard to revolutionary heat process. Completely safe reach with chemiand non-toxic, this process opens a new era cal applications. in pest control and eradication. In the age of Internet blogs, the mere accusation drapes, mattress, box springs, of a bed bug problem can make you bed frame, and headboard in the a social pariah or drive away busi- infested room, while replacing the ness. And research indicates bed clothes and luggage of the hotel bugs are becoming immune to the guests affected. insecticides used to kill them. Tenting a structure to fumigate When researchers in a recent draws more unwanted attention University of Kentucky study and may be impractical if the exposed bed bug colonies to pyre- whole structure must be vacated throid insecticides, commonly used for several days. This is a parto kill the critters, they found that ticular concern of the hospitality one colony never exposed to the industry, which depends on high insecticide died at typical doses. room use for profit, along with conHowever, several colonies exposed venience and reputation to bring to the insecticide over decades repeat business. proved immune to sprays up to 300 The stigma involved with bed times the dose recommended by bugs, along with the follow-up visthe manufacturing companies. its typically required of traditional Though once controlled with chemical treatments, makes these broad-spectrum pesticides, like the solutions less suitable for many now banned DDT, the insects are clients. Even fumigation with Vidifficult to eliminate with today’s kane won’t kill insect eggs unless targeted pesticides, and often re- the dosage is increased to three to quire several follow-up visits by ten times normal rates, depending exterminators, with no guarantee on the insect. of success. Furthermore, spraying toxic chemicals into every crack A Fast, Discreet, Non-Chemical and crevice can raise concerns Bed Bug Eradicator Fortunately, a revolutionary of exposure and odor, especially pest eradication treatment is among children and the elderly. Traditional treatments can proving to be a fast, discreet, nonalso be costly, intrusive, time con- chemical, non-toxic cure to bed bug suming, and embarrassing. For infestations without residue, odor, instance, the standard operating or the need for replacing costly furprocedure for treating bed bugs at nishings. The process uses specifia major Las Vegas hotel is to close cally designed infrared heaters to all the rooms around the infested heat surfaces and eliminate insect room, including those above and infestations as well as disinfect, below, for five to seven days. They decontaminate, and dry out build(continued on page 26) rip out and replace the carpeting, June 2008/Executive Housekeeping Today A Growing Mutant Menace From housing projects to fivestar hotels, bed bugs have become so rampant in New York City that they’ve warranted a bed bug hotline, as well as almost 7,000 infestation complaints and over 2,000 building owner summonses through last June. Cincinnati health officials have formed a bed bug task force due to rising complaints, and the National Pest Management Association has noted a 50-fold increase in bed bug calls recently. A surge in bed bug complaints across Canada, Great Britain, and elsewhere indicates the global scope of the problem. The blood-sucking insects are proving tougher than ever to eradicate with traditional means. Hiding in mattresses, bed frames, headboards, sheets, clothes, luggage, carpet, cracks, crevices, furniture, and even picture frames, bed bugs emerge at night and can quickly infest homes, hotels, and other properties. Unfortunately, trying to eliminate both the bed bugs and their eggs can be a nightmare. Females can lay up to

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008 Contents Executive Corner The Fundamentals of Safety Man vs. Machine: Equipment Safety in Professional Cleaning Operations Frugal Housekeeper Planning for Disaster Eliminating Bed Bugs 2008 Candidate Information Executive Profile IHW Product Information The Green Scene Spring Board Briefing 2008 Call to Convention 2008 Convention Information USGBC Green Tip Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members CEH/REH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside I.E.H.A. What I.E.H.A. Has Done for Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008

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