Remember the “Friends” episode where Phoebe moves out and leaves a message for the “little buggies”? Don’t be Phoebe. Be more John Wick—calm, focused, and ready to burn the house down if needed (metaphorically). Other cultures have their own wisdom: in Japan, they use steam cleaners. In France, they hire dératiseurs (exterminators) who look like they just stepped out of a noir film. Be world-traveler chic: use a handheld steamer on your mattress seams. Steam kills bugs on contact and feels like a guilty pleasure.
Fun fact: bed bugs can live over a year without a meal. That’s longer than some relationships. But they cannot handle prolonged heat—which is why clothes dryers are your secret weapon. Also, they’re attracted to carbon dioxide—your breath. So if you sit still long enough, they’ll crawl right to you. Creepy? Yes. But also useful: a CO2 trap (easy DIY online) can lure them into sticky paper.
Bed Bug Mattress Disposal | The Junk Pirates
