FAQs

What is ActiveGuard™?

ActiveGuard mattress liners are patented and developed to kill bed bugs and dust mites in mattresses.  Active mattress liners were derived from bed nets, used worldwide over the past 50 years to protect against mosquitoes and malaria. Originally designed as a simple and proactive alternative to encasements for control of house dust mites (long associated with asthma in children and adults), active liners have been shown to be effective against bed bugs in lab and field studies. ActiveGuard mattress liners are very easy to install – they go over the mattress just like a fitted sheet, and are held securely in place by the elastic sewn into the corners. The liners are thin, cool, comfortable, odorless and breathable.

Who should use ActiveGuard™ mattress liners?

Anyone who has a known bed bug infestation or is 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 guards 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.

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.

Are bed bugs for real?

Yes, there really are things called bed bugs or cimex lectularius (Cimicidae). Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, with the hatchlings about the same size as a poppy seed. Bed bugs feed on the blood of warm blooded animals and have become a significant problem in the U.S. and around the world. Bed bugs tend to feed at night when you are sleeping and then return to their hideaways, which are usually near the bed. Mattresses and boxsprings are among the bed bug’s favorite places and protecting the mattress and boxspring should be a prime focus. The difficulty in treatment of bed bug infestations is that they also can hide behind bed boards, in walls, behind pictures and even in computers and clock radios. That is why it is important to work with a bed bug professional when confronted with this problem. Protecting the mattress and box spring is just one step in creating a successful strategy for eliminating bed bugs. ActiveGuard kills bed bugs in mattresses and boxsprings     

Who invented ActiveGuard™ mattress liners?

ActiveGuard mattress liners were originally invented by Philadelphian Sandra Shober and 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 50,000 have been sold in Europe, Asia and the United States to kill dust mites for up to two years and to kill bed bugs in mattresses and boxsprings. 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™?

Although there have been no reported medical problems from use of ActiveGuard, permethrin-impregnated clothing used by the military over the past 30 years have noted rare cases of minor skin irritation.  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 some 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 are missed or that that hatch after treatment.  Properly-installed encasements seal the bed bugs inside and prevent them from getting fed, but must be left on for over a year, because adult bed bugs can live for up to 15 months inside of an encasement without a blood meal. There are many reports about encasements ripping or tearing upon installation or wearing holes during use. For that reason, encasements need to be regularly checked for holes, particularly in places where the encasement rubs against hard surfaces. Any hole or puncture may render the encasement useless or, worse, provide a harborage for bed bugs where the bed bugs are not visible but are capable of coming out to feed. Any puncture of the encasement should be sealed in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer or the encasement should be replaced immediately, since bed bugs are totally focused on finding a blood meal and will find any opening that may occur and restart the infestation again.  ActiveGuard doesn’t cover bed bugs, it kills them. ActiveGuard is not dependent on zippers or the integrity of the encasement material.  Puncture holes in the ActiveGuard liner will not affect the effectiveness of the liner, which is designed to kill bed bugs in mattresses and box springs.

Does ActiveGuard™ kill bed bugs?

ActiveGuard actually kills bed bugs in mattresses and boxsprings within 72 hours and most within 24 hours. Not only will it kill bed bugs that are currently living in your bedding, but it is the only approved product that has the potential to kill new bed bug infestations that come into your mattresses and that can outlast the life of an adult bed bug.   Like encasements, ActiveGuard’s white fabric makes bed bugs easy to see. Unlike encasements, ActiveGuard will kill the bed bugs dead, which is the best way to stop a bed bug from biting.  

Who can use ActiveGuard™ mattress liners?

The entire family can enjoy the benefits of ActiveGuard!   As of changes affected by the EPA on December 28, 2011, everyone from infant to toddler to adult can be protected by ActiveGuard and sleep with confidence.

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.  Dust mites and their allergens continue to build up on unwashed encasements over time.  ActiveGuard was invented because less than 5% of asthmatics continue to wash encasements on a regular basis after initial installation. ActiveGuard should not be washed, and kills dust mites and continues to kill them for up to two years.   It does not require regular maintenance, which allows for better compliance. 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.

Where can I purchase ActiveGuard™ mattress liners?

ActiveGuard mattress liners are not available in stores, but can purchased by clicking the Purchase button on this web site or from Pest Management companies.