Category Archives: Bed Bugs New York

Looking for the answer to the question how often should you wash your sheets? Slipping between fresh sheets is one of lifes pleasures, but how long can they stay on the bed before fresh becomes funky and a change of linen is required?

You might also be wondering if there are different rules if you or someone in your home suffers from asthma and allergies, and when youre sick. Concerns about energy use come into the picture, too, as more laundering means bills are inevitably going to be higher.

Greatlaundry room ideas make sheet washing an easy and efficient task but, to determine the ideal frequency, we posed the question how often should you wash your sheets to experts, and this is what they told us.

You should wash your sheets weekly. Washing bed sheetsis part of the routine ofcleaning a bedroom, but for many people that doesnt equal weekly. A survey by a textile company found that 44 per cent of Americans wash their sheets only once or twice a month, says Becca Fair, certified sleep science coach and editor of MattressNerd (opens in new tab).

Are they getting it wrong? Heres what sleep, hygiene and fabric experts advise.

Like washing pillows, washing sheets is a necessary task, but what does laundering them actually do?

The reasons for laundering bed sheets are based on restoring the appearance, reducing the risk of deterioration of the textiles from the buildup of oils and soils, reduction in the buildup of dust and dust mites, and reducing the buildup of microbes such as bacteria, fungus, and viruses, explains board certified dermatologistand functional textile expert Erum N Ilyas, CEO and founder,AmberNoon (opens in new tab).

How often you should wash your sheets will depend on some individual factors, which well talk about below. But there is a guideline. As a general rule, its medically beneficial to change bedsheets every one or two weeks, says Christine Kingsley, advanced practice registered nurse and the health and wellness director of the Lung Institute (opens in new tab).

Sheet material could influence how often its best to wash your sheets. It is true that oils can be more attached to some fibers such as polyester, says Erum N Ilyas. Some fibers may actually add to warmth while sleeping leading to more sweat produced.

But fabric doesnt make a difference on the whole. Overall, similar laundry practices can likely be maintained, she says. However consideration should be given to individual factors such as a tendency towards hot flashes that may impact the need for more frequent washes.

And while fabric isnt generally a factor in how often you should wash your sheets, color is. Obviouslywhite or light sheets show soil and contamination more thana darker linen, says Wayne Edelman, CEO of high-end dry-cleaning serviceMeurice Garment Care (opens in new tab).

If you, or someone in your home, has asthma or allergies, err on the side of washing more often. Finding yourself constantly suffering from a runny nose and sneezing, or, in severe cases, wheezing or having difficulty breathingcould hint that you have to replace your sheets more frequently, says Christine Kingsley.

How often to wash sheets in this case? At least once a week is a good rule of thumb, says dermatologist Dr Cory Gaskins of Best Botox (opens in new tab). This ensures that your sheets are free of dirt, dust, and other allergens that can cause problems for people with allergies or asthma.

Allow animal companions on your bed or they get on there anyway? More laundering is the rule.

If you have pets, you may need to wash your sheets more often, says Dr Cory Gaskins. Pets can track in dirt and other things from outside, so its important to keep on top of the laundry if you want to avoid any extra work down the line.

What you wear (or dont) also counts. Something so silly as wearing a PJ or no PJ makes a huge difference, says bedding expert Anki Spets of New York City-based Area Home (opens in new tab). Having a layer between you and the sheets means less washing.

Bed sharers also need to take into account their fellow sleeper with more frequent washing on the agenda if someone is a warm sleeper or has an oilier skin type, say Susanne Martinez, VP of product development, and Alicen Soli, senior designer,atluxury bedding company SFERRA (opens in new tab).

Sickness in the home means you should up the frequency of washing. If someone in your household is ill, its important to wash your sheets more often than usual, says Dr Gaskins. Aim to wash them at least twice a week. If possible, wash them immediately after the person feels better.

Youll find plenty of recommendations about washing bedsheets every week, but this isnt necessarily the case. Unless you eat in your bed, have pets that shed, or stay in bed all day, once a week is too much, says Anki Spets. You have to keep in mind that washing and using detergent and dryers breaks down natural fibers.

Dr Cory Gaskins agrees, although there are exceptions. You should wash your sheets every two weeks, he says. If youve been sweating in them, then you should wash them sooner. However, if you dont sweat much, and youre not allergic to anything, every two weeks should be fine.

Erum N Ilyas notes that the once-a-week recommendation is a popular one, but that how you wash sheets is also crucial. From a textile care perspective this makes sense to create a schedule to routinely remove oils, soils, debris, dust, and other sources for buildup on sheets, she says. But she adds, Bear in mind that this does require ideal laundering practices of not overloading the laundry machine and dosing detergent appropriately to ensure that the agitation of the sheets and the temperature chosen for the wash can work ideally.

Unwashed sheets wont bring bed bugs into your home. However, frequent sheet washing will give you the chance to spot an infestation and call in the professionals to rid your home of these pests.

Keep your bedroom as uncluttered as possible and dont put bags and other items down on the bed to help avoid an infestation.

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How often should you wash your sheets? And the health risks of getting it wrong - Homes & Gardens

The New York residential lease agreement (rental agreement) is a written contract for the exchange of the temporary use of a residential property for regular, periodic payments (rent). Once signed by the landlord and tenant, the document becomes legally binding for both parties.

The below disclosures are required for all residential lease agreements in New York.

Applicable to all residential leases.

All rental agreements in New York must include a conspicuous notice (written in bold face font) about whether the property has a functioning operative fire sprinkler system. If there is a system in place, the lease must include the date of maintenance and inspection. [1]

The below is an example of a disclosure to include:

FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM. This rental property or dwelling unit is:[ ] Equipped with a functioning fire sprinkler system[ ] NOT equipped with a functioning fire sprinkler system

For functioning systems, the maintenance history is as follows:___________________________

Applicable to rental units located in New York City (not required in other cities).

While it is recommended that bed bug disclosures are included in residential leases in New York, this disclosure is required in New York City specifically. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) lists bed bugs as a Class B violation and the landlord must eradicate the bed bugs. This disclosure must include a one-year history of bed bug infestation and the building it is located in. Units with bed bugs may not be rented out. [2]

Download: New York Bed Bug Disclosure Form (PDF)

Applicable to any rental agreements where the landlord collects a security deposit.

If a New York landlord asks for a security deposit, they must provide a written disclosure of how those security deposit funds will be kept while the tenant is renting the property.

This disclosure must include the name of the holding institution, the location of the holding, and the sum of the holding. It may also include the account number.

Download: New York Security Deposit Holdings Disclosure Form (PDF)

Applicable to any rental units built prior to 1978.

It is a federal law in the United States that any home built prior to 1978 must disclose the risks posed by lead-based paints. This law requires landlords in New York to:

Download: New York Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form (PDF)

It is important to note that before a tenant signs a residential rental agreement in New York, the landlord shall provide a conspicuous notice (typed in bold face font) of a Certificate of Occupancy or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. A Certificate of Occupancy states that there is legal use of the occupancy. This certificate ensures that all building codes are met, fees owed to the Department have been paid, and all the paperwork has been completed.

New buildings must have a Certificate of Occupancy and existing buildings shall have a current Certificate of Occupancy. Any building that was built before 1938 is not required to have a Certificate of Occupancy, unless it has changed its use.

The below lease agreement disclosures and addendums are not required by New York law. These disclosures can be helpful to include to help reduce future conflicts with tenants or reduce legal liability for landlords.

Disclosures outline the important health, safety, and property information and vary by state. If a landlord does not provide the tenant with the federally or state-mandated disclosures, they could face legal repercussions or monetary penalties.

If a landlord fails to disclose the lead-based paint hazard disclosure, they can face fines of up to $18,364 per violation. (24 CFR 30.65)

Its best to check with your local and state laws on which disclosures you must provide to your tenant.

1. Every residential lease shall provide conspicuous notice in bold face type as to the existence or non-existence of a maintained and operative sprinkler system in the leased premises.3. If there is a maintained and operative sprinkler system in the leased premises, the residential lease agreement shall provide further notice as to the last date of maintenance and inspection

For housing accommodations subject to this code, an owner shall furnish to each tenant signing a vacancy lease, a notice in a form promulgated or approved by the state division of housing and community renewal that sets forth the propertys bedbug infestationhistory for the previous year regarding the premises rented by the tenant and the building in which the premises are located

(a) The holder of a dishonored check given in payment for a consumer transaction or an account may collect from, charge, or add to the outstanding balance of the account of, the person from whom such check was received or to whom such credit was extended, a dishonored check charge of not more than the lesser of the amount agreed upon, if contracted for, or twenty dollars

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New York Lease Agreement (Free) | 2022 Official | PDF & Word

Co-authored by:

MMPC, Pest Control Specialist

This article was co-authored by Kevin Carrillo. Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industrys leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News. This article has been viewed 637,762 times.

Co-authors: 27

Updated: November 6, 2019

Views:637,762

If you can't find any bed bugs but you think you have an infestation, check for bite marks around your feet or ankles. Look for yellow egg shells and clear case skins near your mattress edges, and try to spot blood spots or dark fecal matter on your sheets or headboard. If you cant find these signs, but still think you might have an infestation, read on for more ways to identify bedbugs.

Continued here:
How to Identify a Bed Bug Infestation (with Pictures) - wikiHow Life

Dont let the bedbugs mate.

Thought bedbugs were revolting? Microscopic nipple mites that make whoopie on peoples faces may soon become one with humans, according to a skin-scrawling study published in the journalMolecular Biology and Evolution.

Changes to their DNA have resulted in some unusual body features and behaviors, study co-author Alejandra Perotti,of the UKs University of Reading, said of the discovery.

Perotti was referring to the ubiquitous skin parasite demodex folliculorum, which resides in hair follicles on our face and nipples, and subsists on the oil released from our pores. If that wasnt revolting enough, these 0.3-mm-long skin-terlopers even mate on our faces during the night.

However, it appears these follicular freeloaders lovemaking habits have had terrible consequences. After analyzing their gene sequences, scientists found that the mites isolated existence and resultant inbreeding activities are causing them to shed superfluous genes, potentially transforming from parasites to internal symbionts. In laymens terms, they are merging with humans and may soon reside permanently within us.

We found these mites have a different arrangement of body part genes to other similar species due to them adapting to a sheltered life inside pores, said Perotti of the sex-induced interspecies splicing.

Potentially becoming one with humans isnt the only side effect of this gene reduction. For one, the mites are exclusively nocturnal as they lack UV protection as well as the gene that causes animals to be awakened by daylight. They also cant produce melatonin a compound that regulates sleep in small invertebrates but are able to power their facial hanky-panky sessions by harvesting the substance from their human host at sunset, Science Alert reported.

The mites unique gene arrangement has also bestowed males with a penis that juts upward from the front of their body. This forces them to cling to the females underside during sex as they both hang from the human hair.

Unfortunately, their peculiar procreation habits may paradoxically lead to their demise. Specifically, rampant inbreeding limits the number of genes the critters can pass onto offspring, effectively setting the mites on course for an evolutionary dead end, and potential extinction, the study found.

Fortunately, not all the findings were so morbid. The researchers also dispelled various mite myths, such as the belief that they dont have an anus, and therefore amass a lifetimes worth of waste on the human skin, resulting in rashes. Scientists discovered that these creatures do, in fact, have a rectal opening.

Mites have been blamed for a lot of things, said Dr. Henk Braig, co-lead author from Bangor University in the UK and the National University of San Juan in Argentina. The long association with humans might suggest that they also could have simple but important beneficial roles, for example, in keeping the pores in our face unplugged.

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Love bugs: These nipple mites have sex on your face as you sleep - New York Post

READING, Pa., Jan. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As if 2020 didn't present enough challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 could be a banner year for pests around the country.

To help residents prepare for 2021, entomologists from Rentokil, the global leader in pest control, and its family of pest control providers, used field knowledge and data to provide their predictions for pests in the upcoming year.

"We're seeing more rats in urban, suburban and rural settings because of the shutdowns," said Marc Potzler, Board Certified Entomologist with Ehrlich Pest Control. "Food sources are cut off, and rats are having to travel to scavenge for food. We've seen rats out in public during the day, which is highly unusual.

"Warmer winters have also allowed for mice populations to boom in residential areas as it allows for a longer breeding season and there is a lower population loss due to hard freezes.

"Right now is the perfect time to rodent-proof your home," said Potzler. "Make sure to repair any gaps on the exterior of your home, such as around garage doors, windows or pipes."

"There is an increase of mosquitoes across the country, but notably on the West Coast, and they are adapting each year," said Eric Sebring, Associate Certified Entomologist with Western Exterminator. "We have seen evidence of behavior adaptation, where mosquitoes lay their eggs strategically to hatch throughout the season."

Protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes by removing any standing water on your property. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon of water. Also, wear EPA-approved insect repellent while spending time outside.

"As people begin to travel again, we will start to hear about bed bug infestations," said Sebring. "Bed bugs can be dormant for several months at a time, so they can emerge when a food source, humans, become available."

Bed bugs are considered hitchhikers, traveling from place to place on people, luggage, clothing and other personal belongings. Homeowners and businesses such as hotels, colleges, hospitals, senior living facilities, retail stores, and libraries have experienced problems with bed bugs.

If traveling, inspect the bed by pulling back the sheets to examine the mattress. Check your luggage before packing and unpacking, and look for signs of living or dead bugs the size of an apple seed or black fecal smears.

In 2021, we will see the outdoor pest pressures continue:

Ticks:Ticks are responsible for transmitting several diseases, including Lyme disease, to humans and animals. These small insects are found in grassy areas and in the woods, so it is important to inspect yourself and your pets after spending time outdoors. Cover as much skin as possible while outdoors, wear long pants, long sleeves, closed-toed shoes, and tuck pant legs into socks. Light-colored clothing will also help any ticks you pick up stand out.

Ants:"As soon as the weather starts to warm up, we will see an increase in ant populations," said Tom Dobrinska, Board Certified Entomologist for Presto-X. "Most of the ants we are dealing with are odorous house ants. When spending time outside, make sure to clean up any food, water or sugary substances and ensure that your home is free of any holes or cracks for them to enter."

Stinging Insects: Stinging insects, such as wasps and yellow jackets, emerge at the first sign of warm weather, and as warm weather seasons are getting longer, stinging insects have more time to create issues. Make sure you check for nests early in the spring as they are smaller and get early nest treatment. Make sure to keep windows and doors shut, and secure outside bins so stinging insects are not attracted to the contents.

"We received more calls for termites this past year than we have in many years," said Potzler. "It's important to raise awareness for homeowners now to have proactive protection to keep from costly repairs in the future."

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is an invasive pest that has been making its way across the country since it was first introduced from Asia in 2001. Besides its pungent odor, this stink bug has become a nuisance for homeowners as it gathers in large numbers on the sides of houses and buildings and enters through small cracks in the home. "The brown marmorated stink bug is here to stay," said Dobrinska. "We will continue to see this species emerge in late spring in large numbers."

The Spotted Lanternfly will continue to wreak havoc across the Northeast and beyond. The invasive pest, first found in Pennsylvania in 2014, is spreading across the Northeast, with New York reporting its first sighting this year. The pest can significantly damage trees and plants.

"The Spotted Lanternfly is becoming a big problem in the Northeast, and it will continue to spread," said Potzler. "It can be devastating for agriculture and is a nuisance for homeowners."

The egg masses look like a smear of mud on trees and outside of homes. It's important to scrape the egg mass off, put it in a bag with rubbing alcohol and throw it away, and then call the state department of agriculture.

The infamous "Murder Hornet," also known as the Asian giant hornet, grabbed many headlines, causing homeowners to panic trying to decipher the difference between stinging insects in their yards and this aggressive species. The Asian giant hornet is the largest hornet species in the world, growing up to 3 inches in length. Currently, the Asian giant hornet has only been found in the Pacific Northwest.

"We know that there was one colony found and eliminated in Washington State," said Sebring. "Unfortunately, if there is one, there will be more."

While your chances of being stung by an Asian giant hornet are fairly low, the sting can be dangerous as the venom volume is higher, causing more pain. The hives are primarily built underground or in hollows in trees. If you suspect it is an Asian giant hornet or any stinging pests, call your pest management provider to assess the situation as soon as you spot activity.

ABOUT RENTOKIL For nearly a century, customers have trusted Rentokil to protect their families, homes and businesses from pests and the health threats and damages they can cause.

Rentokiland its companies, including Ehrlich Pest Control,Western Exterminatorand Presto-XPest Control, provide commercial and residential pest control to customers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. The comprehensive pest management solutions include general pest control, mosquito, termite and bed bug inspections and service, vegetation management, and bird management.

In addition, Rentokil North America operates business services companies including Ambius, specializing in hand, air and surface hygiene solutions with Hygiene360 as well as interior landscaping and scenting; Steritech, offering food safety and operational assessments; SOLitude Lake Management, providing lake and pond solutions; and Vector Disease Control International, which serves governments and municipalities with mosquito control services.

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Afraid Of Rodents And Bugs? 2021 May Not Be Your Year - PRNewswire