BrickUnderground

Good news: New Yorkers have apparently become as Type A over bed bug prevention as they are about preschool admissions.

"New Yorkers are ahead of the curve on their bed bug education because they have been dealing with bed bugs on a large scale longer than most other cities in the U.S.," explained Adam Greenberg, president of USBedBugs.com one of the country's largest online retailers of anti-bed-bug gear. "Therefore, New Yorkers are both more hands-on in the products they buy for monitoring and treatment of bed bugs and also more proactive at purchasing prevention items like mattress encasements and travel protectors."

Moreover, says Greenberg, responding to our request to learn the top 10 items ordered by NYC residents, "almost everyone in NYC knows someone that has experienced bed bugs by now, so they know the value of the prevention items, and that it is important to set up home monitoring even after an exterminator has been brought in to make sure bed bugs don’t return. Also, New Yorkers seem to be a little more inclined to try some DIY measures like steamers and natural sprays. 

Here are the 10 bed-bug-fighting items ordered most frequently by NYC residents, starting with the best selling:

1. BugZip Luggage & Clothing Encasements – People who've experienced bed bugs are more likely than others to take precautions when traveling, says Greenberg, and though they're not 100% bed-bug-proof (which would require a pricier cloth zipper), these BugZip cases provide loads more protection in hotels than spray repellents. They're also popular for zipping up clothing in the bedroom while prepping for treatment from the exterminator. ($9.99 to $19.99)
2. PackTite Heater – Kills bed bugs from all non-washable items like books, CDs, toys, shoes, dry-clean only clothing and more. A bed bug sufferer’s best friend (and the highest on BrickUnderground's personal wish list, though we haven't figured out where to stash it yet when it's off duty). ($309)
3. Protect-A-Bed Box Spring Encasements – Takes away bed bugs' numero uno hiding place. This brand gets a big thumbs up from Bedbugger.com.  ($35 to $47)
4. Ziploc Big Bags (Large, XL, XXL) – These keep bed bugs out of cleaned items and are popular at home and on the road. ($7.99/box)
5. Bedbug Beacon CO2 Monitor – Lures bed bugs out of walls before renting an apartment or after treatment to help make sure they are all gone. An entomologist from BedBugCentral.com tells us these are about 80% effective, and suggests hiring a reputable bed-bug sniffing dog as well.  ($49.95)
6. Green Rest Easy Natural Bed Bug Spray – Said to kill bed bugs on contact without harmful chemicals. Note that contact sprays kill only the bed bugs that you see. (Starts at $9.95)
7. ClimbUp Insect Interceptors – Plastic cups that slide under bed posts and sofa legs. They prevent bed bugs from climbing onto furniture and trap them so you can show your exterminator, landlord, etc. (Start at $21.25)
8. GreenClean Dissolvable Laundry Bags – Used to bag, transport and wash clothing that may have been exposed to bed bugs. (Starts of $16.99)
9. BB Alert Passive Bed Bug Monitor – Small bed bug "hotel" that detects bed bugs in as few as a few days. Use one per bed and only needs replacing if bed bugs are found. ($19.95)
10. Vapamore Dry Vapor Steamer– Popular with DIYers. Used on or around bedding to safely kill bed bugs and eggs and cut down costs of exterminator treatments. (Note: This is not an all-in-one solution to your bed bug problem, as bed bugs have plenty of hiding places out of reach of steamers.)

*Affiliate sales disclosure: In the course of our extensive coverage of NYC's bed bug epidemic, BrickUnderground recently established an affiliate relationship with USBedBugs.com, which pays BrickUnderground a portion of sales generated here, at no additional cost to you.  As always, we only recommend products that we believe are effective against bed bugs. 

Don't miss Brick's BedbuggedNYC Meetup--Thurs., Sept. 15, 2011

Related posts:

How to bed bug proof your NYC apartment

BrickUnderground's bed bug survival kit

NY Magazine names best bed bug exterminator of the year

Bed bugs and lice in the laundry room

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