Bed Bugs Found In Department Store At A North Carolina Mall
It seems almost nothing strikes icky feelings among people like hearing the two words ‘bed bugs.’ Apparently, the pesky little critters were found at a Belk Department Store in the Wilmington, North Carolina mall. According to the News & Observer, the bugs appeared at Independence Mall. But, officials say the bed bugs at Belk are no more.
They told the News & Observer, “Upon learning of bed bugs in our Wilmington store, we partnered with a professional pest company to eliminate the issue. There is now no current pest activity.” There’s really no word on how the bed bugs at Belk made it into the store in this North Carolina mall.
However, having a few semesters under my belt as a college parent there are some probable guesses. The university my son attends is very stern about restricting upholstered items in campus housing. And, I never knew that before he started his college journey. Luckily, we never experienced bed bugs personally. But, the school says they often come into dorms when students bring in upholstered items.
Many kids like attaching upholstered headboards to their beds. But, once resident advisors spot them it’s a no go. The same goes for ottomans or upholstered chairs and couches. So, with department stores sometimes housing upholstered furniture and other items, that could be possible.
WebMd.com says bedbugs are hard to spot. And, they sometimes hide in seams of furniture or mattresses. Plus, they feast on blood rather than discarded food or unclean spaces. So, they are not considered a sign of dirtiness or a messy home. While considered fairly harmless, they cause itchy irritation and rash.
Therefore, you want to rid them by washing items in hot water and scrub mattress seams with a stiff brush. The site recommends putting stuffed animals and items that can’t be washed into a dryer on high for 30 minutes. And, for more tips see the full article.
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