He told us to call him again and tell us when to schedule the exterminator. We haven’t done so yet because people are moving out of the apartment and I’m waiting for everyone to settle so I can throw out the carpet and other unnecessary items the people are leaving behind (the people have been educated by me in the proper way of moving their items — I don’t want to catch them back from them).

Either way since the exterminator’s visit we’ve managed to reduce the bedbugs’ numbers significantly, mainly with my anal cleaning tendencies. I thought I would share some tips on what I did to combat them:
- Scotch Tape. Works wonders. Take out a little and tape to the bottom of your thumb, use your index finger to press on the back of the tape. Instead of squashing them you get them stuck on the tape. The flexibility of the tape lets you catch them without popping them (unless they are really filled with blood). It’s also much easier to catch the young ones this way since their small size makes squashing them on soft material impossible. I have about 3 dispensers laying around my bed for easy access.
- When I caught a bedbug on a piece of tape I would put the tape over my flashlight. The heat from the light would kill the bedbug so I wouldn’t have to worry about it escaping (you can tell when its dead when all its legs stand up).
- Double sided tape. Using strips about 2 feet in length (anything longer makes it harder to apply properly) make a “barrier” on your top mattress. It’s not totally effective since the tape looses its stickiness quickly so you have to change frequently.
- Use of cheap single color bed sheets and pillow cases. The single color makes spotting bedbugs easier.
- I usually devoted a half hour before going to sleep in inspecting my bed and the surrounding area. Including checking under the bed sheets and bed folds.
- I sleep in long pajamas. With the shirt tucked in, and my pants tucked into my socks. Problem with this is that it leaves my hands, neck and face open to attack. So as a result, at one point I was sleeping with rubber bands wrapped around the sleeves on my wrists, from which I started tucking my sleeves into gloves that I wore that since the bites were making my hands very itchy.
- I also spray fairly often the area where my bed meets the floor, around and underneath the mattress and also the area surrounding my bed. I used a water based spray since it doesn’t stain and the brand I use doesn’t smell as bad as something like Raid.
- I vacuumed weekly. Everywhere. Under the bed too. Every two weeks I’d change the bed sheets and pick up my bed and carpet. After vacuuming I’d spray the area and place the bed back.
- When changing sheets, I would throw all the sheets and pillow cases in the bathtub full of hot water. When carrying the sheets I roll it into a ball so they have a lesser chance of dropping off and spreading elsewhere.

As you can see, a lot of this is tedious work. I’ve managed to get a medium infection down to barely noticeable level. I haven’t seen a bedbug in 4 days. All that’s left now is for the roommates to take their stuff out and I can call in the exterminator. By the way, this is NOT MEANT FOR SEVERE INFECTIONS, call an exterminator right away if you see a lot of dark spots. And remember if you think “they wouldn’t hide there”– they probably are.

Probably the worst thing about all of this is the psychological trauma.

- I haven’t slept under a cover in a few months now for fear of them being on the cover.
- I have to check the bed each time before I sleep.
- Every little itch I feel I have to inspect. Sometimes waking up to do so.
- You pay even more attention to small itches like a hair touching your skin, stuff you normally would ignore.
- I had to learn not to tell people I have bedbugs, I like being invited to places. It’s something that you want to mention but then at the same time don’t.

I really don’t know how I’m going to go back to sleeping normally.