Frequently Asked Questions

What is ActiveGuard™?

ActiveGuard mattress liners are a patented product developed to kill bed bugs and dust mites in mattresses. ActiveGuard mattress liners go over the mattress just like a fitted sheet, and are held securely in place by the elastic sewn into the corners. ActiveGuard mattress liners are made of a thin polyester netting that kills dust mites and bed bugs in bedding. The liners are thin, cool, comfortable, odorless and breathable.

Who should use ActiveGuard™ mattress liners?

Anyone who suffers from respiratory allergies, asthma, or skin allergies such as eczema may benefit from the use of ActiveGuard mattress liners. Dust mite allergens are a leading symptom trigger for these conditions. ActiveGuard mattress liners kill dust mites and prevent them from returning for up to 2 years.

Anyone concerned about preventing bed bug bites should consider using ActiveGuard mattress liners. Bed bug bites are painful, itchy, and can even cause allergic reactions. Bed bugs are becoming increasingly prevalent, and can easily spread between homes, apartments and hotel rooms. Bed bugs feed on blood and, most commonly, bite people in their beds while they are sleeping. ActiveGuard mattress liners offer protection because they kill bed bugs in mattresses. Using ActiveGuard protects your mattress from becoming a home for bed bugs and may help save costly mattress replacement if you should suffer a bedbug infestation.  ActiveGuard should be used as part of a comprehensive bed bug management protocol.  If you have an existing bed bug infestation, you should contact a licensed Pest Management Professional.

Who invented ActiveGuard™ mattress liners?

ActiveGuard mattress liners were developed by a team of medical entomologists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The product was introduced in Europe in the late 1990’s and over 40,000 have been sold in Europe and Asia for the control of dust mite allergens. Now ActiveGuard mattress liners have been approved for sale in all 50 States in the U.S.

How do ActiveGuard™ mattress liners work?

ActiveGuard mattress liners are made from special polyester netting. The liners are placed over the mattress like a fitted sheet. Permethrin, the active ingredient in the liner, is released, uniformly, into the mattress over time to kill dust mites and bed bugs.  Permethrin is ideally suited for use in bedding because its low vapor pressure keeps the active ingredient where it needs to be, in the liner and the mattress and not in the air.

Can there be any side effects from using ActiveGuard™?

In less than 0.1% of users, minor skin irritation and minor breathing irritation has been reported.  Symptoms completely disappeared after removing the liner from the bed.  If these symptoms are present, discontinue use of the product and contact us toll free at 866-978-6288 for a full refund.

Will ActiveGuard™ kill bed bugs?

Bed bugs can live in a variety of places like bedding, head boards, side tables, radios, pictures and under carpets and in walls.  ActiveGuard kills bed bugs in mattresses and box springs, two prime areas where bed bugs like to live.  We strongly recommend that, in cases of bed bug infestation, you contact a licensed Pest Management Professional who will treat all areas of your room.  For maximum protection make sure that your infested mattresses and box springs are covered with ActiveGuard to kill any remaining eggs and bed bugs that may hatch after the treatment is done.

My Pest Management Professional wants me to throw out my mattress and box spring because of bed bugs.  Can I use ActiveGuard™ instead?

Bedding is hard to treat and many Pest Management Professionals will suggest that infested bedding be thrown away.  This is because bed bug eggs are hard to kill and may be left alive even after full treatment.  ActiveGuard can be used to save infested bedding or to protect bedding from future infestation because its unique structure will kill hatched bed bugs even after the treatment is done.

My Pest Management Professional suggested I use an encasement instead of ActiveGuard™.  Do encasements kill bed bugs?

Encasements can work effectively to trap bed bugs that hatch after treatment inside the encasement.  Bed bugs can live for up to 15 months inside of an encasement without a blood meal and encasements used should have strong zipper cover and be bite free.  Any puncture of the encasement should be covered immediately as bed bugs are totally focused on finding a blood meal and will find any opening that may occur and restart the infestation again.  ActiveGuard kills the bed bugs in the mattress and box spring and is not dependent on zippers or the integrity of the encasement material.  Puncture holes in the liner will not affect the effectiveness of the liner, which is designed to kill bed bugs in mattresses and box springs.

Who can use ActiveGuard™ mattress liners?

ActiveGuard mattress liners are recommended for adults and children as young as 5 years old.

Do I use ActiveGuard™ mattress liners with my encasement?

You may use ActiveGuard beneath an encasement; however its effectiveness may be reduced.

Don’t encasements kill dust mites?

Encasements work by fully encasing your mattress with plastic or tight woven material.  The house dust mites and their allergens are therefore confined within the encasement, where they continue to live and breed while you are sleeping.  To work effectively, encasements must be washed regularly (at least once every month or so) to remove any dust mites and allergens that have started to reform on the encasement.  Every time you remove the encasement for washing, dust mites and allergens on the mattress are released into the air.  ActiveGuard was invented because less than 5% of asthmatics continue to wash encasements on a regular basis after initial installation.  Dust mites and their allergens continue to build up on unwashed encasements over time.  If you are not physically able to regularly take off, wash and reinstall your encasement, ActiveGuard may be an easier alternative.  ActiveGuard may be also a best choice for those who have little time to monitor and schedule regular washings. Although, two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine question the effectiveness of encasements in reducing symptoms^1,2, most doctors would recommend using either ActiveGuard or an encasement for controlling dust mites and their allergens. 

Where can I purchase ActiveGuard™ mattress liners?

ActiveGuard mattress liners can purchased by clicking the Purchase button on this web site, or from leading allergy supply retailers and Pest Management companies.

1 Woodcock A. et al. Control of Exposure to Mite Allergen and Allergen-Impermeable Bed Covers for Adults with Asthma. N Eng J Med 2003; 349: 225-236

2 Terreehorst, I. et al. Evaluation of Impermeable Covers for Bedding in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis. N Eng J Med 2003; 349: 237-246