New Yorkers haven’t seen the last of bed bugs. Entomologists gathered recently for a National Bed Bug Prevention Expo in Manhattan, and one predicted that this could be the worst summer yet for bed bugs.
A few bed bug experts presented educational tools and products at a showcase at the Open House Gallery in NoLita. One new product was BugZip, a line of luggage and clothing encasements to use while traveling, though not during transit. The idea is that encasing clothing, bags and other belongings will greatly reduce the chance of bringing bed bugs home. The packaging is flat and can fit inside the side or inside pockets of luggage.
The encasements are made of heavy-duty clear vinyl, with a three-sided bug-resistant zipper for easy access to contents. The line includes four encasements: Large Suitcase (32W x 25L x 18H), which is recommended for 26” and 28” suitcases and most large duffel bags ($24.99); Medium Suitcase (30 x 20 x 15), recommended for 22” and 24” suitcases, most carry-ons, purses, briefcases, backpacks and computer bags ($19.99); Garment Bag (45 x 25 x 9), $22.99; and Drawer Liner (20 x 13 x 6), $14.99.
Before you bring your luggage and personal belongings inside a hotel room, Vantzen Products, which manufactures BugZip, recommends inspecting the room for bed bugs. Then, keeping luggage and other items away from the bed—on a luggage stand, for example—place the suitcase inside the encasement, zip it up, and take out items when needed. The drawer liner and garment bag encasements can be used for items you'd prefer to place inside drawers or for clothing you want to hang up.
More information on the line and how to use the products can be found at BugZip.com. Another recommendation is that the encasements be used only in one location. You should not take them with you when you leave, since bed bugs can be on the outside of the Bug Zip encasement and might be hard to see. If this were the case, it would seem that bed bugs could transfer to clothing taken out of the garment bag or drawer liner, and would wind up inside the luggage. Of course the next item might be a solution for this.
EcoSmart has three new bed bug products. One is a travel size Bed Bug Killer & Repellent (3 oz, $4.00 MSRP) that can be used to spray around beds, the base and legs, headboard, footboard, nightstand, and on luggage stands or wherever luggage will be placed. Staining is possible, so you might want to test the product on inconspicuous areas to make sure not to ruin furniture or fabric. The product has organic ingredients, including peppermint and rosemary oils, and is safe to use around children and pets. (To demonstrate, the representative sprayed the product on a cracker and ate it.)
Other products include Bed Bug Killer For Cracks & Crevices (9 oz, $8.00 MSRP) and Bed Bug Killer For Mattresses & Carpets (14 oz, $8.00 MSRP). The EcoSmart bed bug products can be found at Duane Reade, Pathmark, and Home Depot. For more information, visit EcoSmart.com.
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