58 THE QUEENS COURIER • AT HOME • NOVEMBER 8, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Know your enemy: How to stop bed bugs
Does the thought of a bed bug infestation
send a shiver down your spine? Do
you immediately think of insects hiding
in beds? Did you know that bed bugs
aren’t just found in those places? Th e
experts at Terminix are here to clear up
some common misconceptions and provide
information so that you can be more
prepared than scared if you ever fi nd
yourself dealing with these pests.
What are bed bugs?
If you’ve never seen one, you may not
know what the insect looks like. Bed bugs
are wingless, small and reddish-brown in
color, with an oval-shaped body. Because
they feed on blood, they seek out hosts,
including humans, to survive.
Th ese bugs can be found in close proximity
to their food sources - namely
under mattresses and near headboards.
But don’t be fooled by their name; they
aren’t only found in beds. Th ese insects
can also hide in hotel luggage racks,
behind walls and even in piles of dirty
laundry.
How do they spread?
In addition to residential areas, bed
bugs can be present in a wide variety of
environments including taxis, transit stations,
theaters and hotels. But without
wings, how does a bed bug get to any of
these places? Th e answer lies in their ability
to hitchhike: Th e insects are experts
at travel and can stow away in personal
belongings like clothing, purses and luggage.
Th ey can even hitch rides on furniture
as it’s being moved from place to
place!
What problems do they cause?
Fortunately, bed bugs aren’t known to
carry any pathogens that cause sickness
in humans. Unfortunately, the insects
still look for hosts. In their search for
a meal, they’ll bite almost any area of
exposed skin, which can cause mild to
moderate allergic reactions and itchy
welts.
How can you avoid getting
bed bugs?
It’s next to impossible to stop frequenting
places like buses and hotels
that could house the insects. A better
approach is to take steps that will
minimize the risk of bringing the critters
home with you. When traveling, be
aware of your clothes and any personal
belongings that could act as a free ride
for a bed bug. Inspect hotel rooms and
your own home for signs of bed bugs
such as blood spots and shed skin. And
don’t forget to check any clothing or furniture
you bring into your home, whether
it’s new or used.
How do you get rid of them?
Even the cleanest person can end up
with a bed bug infestation. Th e pests can
be extremely diffi cult to remove, so it’s
best to forgo the do-it-yourself methods
and let the professionals handle the
issue. Terminix’s trained technicians can
help evaluate the infestation and create a
treatment plan that will have you sleeping
tight - without the bed bug bites.
Courtesy BPT
How to make sure your door hardware makes the grade
Short, chilly days mean more time
spent indoors with family and friends.
Th is is the perfect time to focus on home
improvement, starting with fi nding the
right door hardware. While home security
is typically top-of-mind, door hardware
such as locksets and deadbolts
are generally overlooked and purchasing
new locks is not a simple decision. Does
it need to withstand repeated, longterm
use? Or heavy impact, in the case
of an intruder? Does it need to be capable
of withstanding certain weather conditions?
Developed by the Builders Hardware
Manufacturers Association, the BHMA
Certifi ed Secure Home label makes it
easier for homeowners to fi nd the right
lock for their specifi c needs. Only products
with this label have been rigorously
certifi ed to the highest performance
standards when it comes to security,
durability and fi nish. BHMA is
the only organization accredited by the
American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) to develop and maintain these
standards. Products without the Secure
Home label are not assured to have been
tested and certifi ed by a third-party laboratory.
Before shopping, know what type of
lock you need. Consider the following:
• How much security do you need?
• Will the door be used frequently?
• Will the protective aesthetic fi nish be
exposed to the elements?
When you are ready to make your
selection, it is important to check the
ratings. Once a lock or deadbolt is tested
to ANSI/BHMA standards for security,
durability and fi nish, it is given a
rating of Good (C), Better (B) or Best
(A) in each area based on its performance
during testing. Th e rating system
is defi ned by progressive levels of performance
requirements. Be sure to select
the lock or deadbolt that is rated highly
in the area(s) most important to you.
For example, when looking for a new
interior lock, you may not require the
same rating for security or fi nish as you
would for a lock being installed on your
front door.
“As the experts in the industry, we recognize
that it isn’t ‘one-size-fi ts-all’ when
it comes to hardware for the home,” said
Ralph Vasami, the executive director of
BHMA. “Every household has a diff erent
need - the Certifi ed Secure Home label
not only makes it easy for homeowners
to determine which locks or deadbolts
have been certifi ed, but also helps them
assess which products are the best fi t for
their specifi c needs.”
To learn more about BHMA Certifi ed
locksets and deadbolts, or the BHMA
Certifi ed Secure Home label, watch the
short video at http://securehome.org/
learning-the-label/ or visit www.securehome.
org.
Courtesy BPT
/www.secure-home.org
/www.secure-home.org
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/www.secure-home.org
