Chicago vs. Bed Bugs

So, Chicagoans, have you noticed these nifty new ads on the CTA?  Seems to me that they began to appear a few weeks ago, and now, it seems to me that they’ve virtually taken over the Red and Brown Lines.

Believe me, folks, it’s no coincidence that Protect-A-Bed is suddenly advertising– with a vengeance– in the City of Chicago.  They’re doing it for a very good reason:  They know what’s coming, and so should you.

This leads me to photo number two, taken a couple of weeks ago, again on the North Side.

What’s the deal with pitching futon cushions?  I suppose this might just be coincidence, and people are tossing perfectly good furniture because they can afford to do so.  But somehow, I have a hard time believing that’s the case, especially considering the current economic situation.

Listen,  if you take nothing else from this post, please take this:

Do not throw your furniture away if you think or know it is infested with bed bugs unless you do so at the suggestion and under the direct supervision of an experienced, trained, qualified pest management professional.  It’s usually not necessary to throw your belongings away and if you do, you could spread bed bugs throughout your building and throughout your city.

Mattresses and box springs can typically be safely sealed with zippered encasements– I happen to really like Protect-A-Bed’s AllerZip Encasement, to be honest– and used during and after treatment for bed bugs, as long as your pest management professional says it’s okay.  So save your stuff, Chicagoans, if at all possible.  You might just save your neighbors, too.