Many local and nationwide mattress retailers offer take-away mattress service when they deliver new mattresses to consumers. Old mattresses are placed alongside new mattresses in the delivery trucks without any thought given to protecting the new mattresses from bed bugs or other contaminates.
New Jersey bed bug infestations, and those in other households around the US, can be avoided by doing a little research and requesting that a few extra precautionary steps be taken with your new mattress purchase.
If you are buying your mattress locally, it’s best to pick the mattress or box spring up directly to avoid cross contamination with bed bugs. If you have ordered your mattress or have decided to have it delivered to your home, it’s important that you request that the mattress arrive completely wrapped and sealed in plastic, preferably in a box as well. You should inspect the box and plastic wrapping outside your door and off the delivery truck prior to it entering your home. If the plastic seal is not complete, you should not accept delivery of the mattress as you have a greater chance of cross contamination of bed bugs.
Please check back on Wednesday for the conclusion.