If you think you have bed bugs, these are the essential dos and don’ts.
If you suspect there are bed bugs where you sleep, don’t begin sleeping in another bed, on the sofa. Do not go to stay with someone else. The bugs may follow you to your guest room or sofa, and then it will be much harder to get rid of them. They may hitch a ride to your relative’s home, and you can cause them to become infested. (All of these situations have happened to Bedbuggers we know.) Also, staying outside of your home means the bugs may become dormant. We’re told they may live without feeding for up to 18 months. When you come back, they can begin biting you again. So staying in your home during treatment, and sleeping in your usual bed, is the way to kill bed bugs. Read our FAQs, isolate your bed, and sleep there while you’re getting a Pest Control Operator (PCO) to treat your home. Once you are being treated, you must remain in the bed–you are the bait, attracting bugs to the poison and their deaths. If you isolate the bed, they need not bite you.
Do save any bed bugs you find. Do not part with these– you may need to show them to landlords, pest control professionals, and so on. Entomologists at colleges or science museums in your town may identify these, and a pest control company can too. Pick it up with clear packing tape, and tape it to an index card. Don’t assume you’ll see lots of them, some people don’t.
Do rule out other possible conditions, like folliculitis, scabies, and bites from other insects. The FAQs may help. Be warned, though, that many of us are told by doctors that we do not have bed bugs, and later find they are wrong. Many of them have never seen bed bug bites, or have seen only some patients with them. Bites can range from large welts to small red bumps, to scabby pimple-type bumps. See the photos in the left sidebar links on the blog (even Caryn’s bites look different on different areas of her body).
Don’t start throwing your bed and other furniture out. As per the FAQs, you can cover and isolate the bed. (You may wish to wait until a PCO has started treating before covering the mattress in an encasement.) Most furniture, including mattresses and sofas, can be treated by a PCO, and you can ask the PCO if throwing them out is a good idea. And he or she can help you do it safely, so as not to spread the bugs around your home or building, and so that others do not pick up infested items.
Don’t start buying a load of chemicals and treating yourself. We have FAQs about choosing a good PCO and about why doing your own pest control in lieu of a PCO is not a good idea. Yes, sometimes supplementing a PCO’s work makes sense, but only if you know what they’re doing, and what you should do. Remember, pesticides have different qualities (repellents, contact killers, residual killers, growth regulators, etc.) Bed bugs are probably the most complicated pests you’ve ever encountered at home. If you start spraying pesticides, you may disperse the bugs, and the professionals may have trouble treating them. You may spread them around your home. Get good professional help and follow instructions.
Do not, absolutely do not release a fogger or bug bomb. Do not allow your landlord to do so. Do not allow a so-called exterminator to do so. Bug bombs / foggers do not work for bed bugs, and in fact, will spread them. Your problem will be magnified. Trust me!
Don’t start bagging everything you own. With the exception of washed and dried clothing (according to specific instructions below and in the FAQs), do not seal up everything you own in bags. Some PCOs will want you to inspect, vacuum, and seal all your posessions in bags. Most won’t. Following their advice is crucial, since they know what they’re using on your problem. If you decide to bag things, you may be sealing away bed bugs– and this is only a way of dealing with the problem if you put these items in storage for 18 months, unopened. Instead, most PCOs will vigorously fight your problem, and bed bugs will be attracted out of your posessions and towards poisons which will kill them.
Do start dealing with your clothing and linens. Though you should not simply seal your posessions in bags (as above), it is probably a good idea to start working on clothing and bedding, since the PCO is going to tell you to do this, and it takes time. You should take clothing and other items, wash them in a machine on hot, dry them on hot for 1-2 hours. Remember, driers vary as to their strength and how long they take with what size of load. My personal method is that items should at least be dried on hot for 20 minutes after they appear to be fully dry and very hot. If you want to be cautious, go for two hours on hot. Dry cleaning is okay too. Keep in mind that pillows, comforters, down coats, and other thick items may take longer. Here’s the key: after washing and drying, bag items in sealed, airtight bags, and do not remove them until use. Our FAQs give more explicit suggestions.
Don’t assume bed bugs are only in your bed. While bed frames and mattresses and headboards are the most likely location for bed bugs, they can and do often hide out in sofas and other soft furniture, electrical sockets (behind plates), light fixtures, baseboards, floor crevices, and other crevices in the bedroom and living room. Bed bugs are occasionally found in kitchens and bathrooms. This should not make you panic: most cases, especially smaller ones, are quite concentrated, usually 10-20 feet from where people sleep (or where they sit for extended periods). However, if a PCO tells you bed bugs are not found in living rooms, realize that many Bedbuggers have infested sofas, computer chairs, and so on. Don’t believe that bed bugs only bite at night. They prefer a sleeping, stationary host who is fast asleep. But if they’re hungry, they’ll take what they can get. You can be bitten while in a chair, awake.
Once you get a PCO treating your place, don’t assume this will be solved overnight. If your PCO treats and you are still being bitten, this is normal. The bites should decrease and eventually disappear. If you see bed bugs or are bitten, do have another treatment within 10-14 days of the first. Do insist the PCO repeat treatment every two weeks until you feel no more bites, and see no live bedbugs or new signs of bed bugs (like bed bug feces stains in the bed). Do not assume you have a bad PCO because it takes three or four treatments to solve your problem. This, unfortunately, is common, even if you follow all the advice. However, do ask questions, from the first treatment on, and take notes: what is the PCO using? What does each substance do? Make a note of where each substance is applied, and how long the process takes. If a few treatments go by and you are suspicious, post a question here with these details– experienced Bedbuggers and reputable PCOs read this site and may be able to offer advice as to whether you’re getting good service or not. Stay on top of what’s happening, but be honest with the PCO about what you’re doing, and ask what you can do to support treatment. If they are good, they will welcome your involvement. Vacuuming every day in some cases is a good idea, in others, it may sabotage the work of certain substances left down to kill bed bugs. The same is true of bagging everything you own, as above. Never assume that you should do what someone online is doing, since they may be working with a different pest control protocol.
The following two suggestions came from Geof Day:
Do consider posting your infestation on The Bedbug Registry.
Do read “Can Information Spread Faster than BedBugs?” Add to it if you would like. (Note: you can add to it by signing up for the Yahoo bedbugger group at that link, and replying to that message.)
Editor’s note: Thanks Geof!
Comments for this page are now closed. Please post a message on our Bedbugger Forums if you have questions or need support. If you have suggestions for improving this FAQ, or other comments, please contact me.
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since my son sleeps with me, how come he doesn’t have any bites on him?
Andrea,
Some people just don’t react to bites because they are not allergic to them. This can change in time.
Having BBs are the worst thing to come by. Im not going to waste your time reading my personal stories of BB, nor am i going to waste my time writing them because believe me! ive been thru hell and still going thru them because ive moved into a poor old building to save money on cheaper rent.
A personal tip to anyone who is dealing with BBs…SILICONE!, this right here will be your best friend.
I silicone’d every crack and hole in my apartment which took 1 week, put fresh clothes in bags(tightly). Put all belongings in the center of all rooms, opened all counter doors, then called the professionals to fumiagate the whole place and spray on my stuff that was centered. By using silicone to cover all the cracks and holes…it made it much harder for these little fuQers to hide and breed. They couldnt run anywhere.
Have the professionals come visit 2 or 3 more times just in case they couldnt kill the eggs.
This is was done in my old apartment. the problem was taken care of. However now in my new apartment(the poor old building) i must do it again. It alot of work because you have to make sure you cover every single crack and hole that maybe connected with a neighbor next door who might be giving you the BBs or vice versa…take ur time doing it because this is what really counts.
Have Fun Biting Back!,
BedBugBeater
Hi everyone – I have no idea what to do. I got a few bites yesterday and spotted a few bed bugs today. I am subletting in a city I barely know, the bed in this appartment is 3 matresses piled on the floor, and I have 4 weeks to go…
What do I do? (Keeping in mind that I am deathly afraid of bugs, have no vacuum cleaner, and will not be moved by any earthly force to check between the matresses. Really.)
Thanks.
Hi Apfiu,
I would recommend re-posting your message on our forums, where you’re likely to get more responses:
http://bedbugger.com/forum
I have had some mystery bites very intermitantly. Mine have been on my inside thigh (high-under clothing). My husband has also had a few bites on occasion. It is not easy to pinpoint when they occur. We live in a park and are surrounded by woods. I do notice spiders and webs all over despite my best vacuuming efforts. Today though I found this tiny (head of a pen) little brown guy. I am trying to get the pest control scheduled alreay, but I wondering how often bedbugs bite. Can it be weeks or longer in between?
OCD girl
Hi Michelle,
Each bed bug bites about once a week.
Ok, so here’s the thing…I’m a bit of a hypochondriac and I have really sensitive skin, buuut:
I have noticed that I am very itchy in my 1950’s garage apartment and have VERY tiny sporadic red dots, comparable to razor burn, on my legs but not my arms-which are also very itchy. I live in Orlando, and my apartment is built atop a garage and doesn’t have AC; consequently, leading me to open a window and turn on the fan, my concern is that maybe it’s a bug from outside? I should also mention that when I get mosquito or ant bites they swell to nothing smaller than a dime.
I worry that I may have a bed bug problem because all of my furniture aside from my bed/mattress is second hand and because the other day my boyfriend flicked off “a tick looking thing”. Right now all I have is a dresser and my bed in my bedroom.
I could just be totally paranoid, but I wanted to see what the bug bites look like for people who react badly to other bites.
Bianca,
This post shows a range of bed bug bite reactions.
Your bites may not look the same, there’s no way to diagnose based on the appearance of bites. Some people get small ones, some people get NO reaction at all.
This page shows bed bug photos and photos of signs of bed bugs. The signs may look more subtle, but you and your boyfriend should study them.
Hi all–
I am new to this site, and have read all of your suggestions but still have questions –
I am living in an apartment right now that we have finally figured out has bed bugs (have been being bitten for months but never seen a bug or seen any signs of bed bugs). My landlord had an exterminator come, who searched my mattresses and the rest of the apartment, but couldn’t find any signs of the bugs. They had recently come to the apartment to spray for carpet beetles; it was only after that spraying that I saw my first two bed bugs, one on the wall and one in my bed, early in the am. Since they could not find signs of infestation in my bed, is it possible the bugs are coming from other places in the apartment? An apartment downstairs from us had bed bugs — I am wondering if they have traveled through the house and made it up to my apartment, and are maybe living cracks in the walls, etc., but not in the bed?
Anyway, I am concerned because I am moving August 1st, and I obviously don’t want to bring any bed bugs with me. The exterminator didn’t seem to think that it was a major infestation, he said that he had seen apartments with major signs of bed bugs and horrible conditions, and didn’t see any of that with my apartment. HOWEVER, he did admit that he didn’t know that much about them, which concerns me. I am not exactly sure how best to go about my move so as to not bring the bugs with me,and I’m not sure that he will be much help.
I also have stopped sleeping at my place since I found the actual bed bug (up until that point I had never seen a bug)… but now after reading your comments I see maybe I should just stay put? I am so worried about bringing these pests to my new apartment that I am contemplating throwing a lot out… any advice would be greatly appreciated : (
meegs,
Please repost on the forums where you will get a much better level of response:
http://bedbugger.com/forum
Some have had success when moving by having their posessions professionally fumigated with vikane gas (expensive, but effective if done properly).
Thanks for the Info.I suffered a lot because of bedbugs. I am thinking of moving to new Apartment. My fight with bedbugs will be updated here at http://www.sentl.com so that you can save money avoiding my tried and failed methods.
Thanks
Cocob
My husband and I just found out we had bedbugs not even 30 minutes ago we both have bites on our arms. We just threw away our bed and washed are linens. Then got on the internet to learn that we should not have threw away our bed should we bring back in the bed from the curb? We still have the metal frame what should we do with the frame as well.
Going buggy,
The advice were giving is that it is often not necessary (usually not, from what I understand) for people to throw beds away. Mattresses and box springs may be treated by a PCO and can be carefully encased with a good encasement, and metal frames can be carefully de-bugged and used.
If you do throw things away, it is important to destroy them, if possible. Mattresses and box springs should be carefully wrapped, sealed in plastic, so that bed bugs are not dropped off of them into other parts of your home and communal areas of a building (if applicable).
Moreover, even if you label items as infested with bed bugs, many have reported people will take them anyway. They will then become infested.
If they’re neighbors in your building or an attached house, they may give bed bugs back to you after you get rid of yours.
I don’t know that I would go back out to get items left on the curb, but I might make an effort to destroy them. Read the FAQS carefully. Don’t rush to toss things or clean — it may mean your pest control operator (and landlord, if applicable) will have no SIGNS by which to diagnose your bed bug problem.
The FAQS cover this concern.
Often people panic in the first moments of realizing they (may or do) have this problem. We all do things we wish we hadn’t. The crucial thing is to try to calm down. You can beat this. Get a good PCO who knows bed bugs to carefully inspect and treat your entire home (make sure they know of and treat where you dragged the infested bed through).
Good luck and if you have more questions after reading the FAQS, please come to the forums to discuss them:
http://bedbugger.com/forum
I suspect my older daughter may have bed bug bites which she may have picked up when she was staying at hotels in NYC and Boston. she could have gotten it anywhere, but hotel locations seem the most likely. We live in California, so the bed bug thing is sort of new for us here, although it is quickly spreading. We worry more about fleas here, but her bites don’t look like flea bites. they are very itchy, and have a pin-hold size depression in the middle of the raised bump.
I’m reading all of these accounts of bed bugs, but no one ever mentions how they re-emerged on the scene as a pest and a menace. My father who grew up in poverty in NYC in the 30’s and 40’s often talks about killing bed bugs, and different ways he and other people had of doing that. I think in that era it wasn’t an issue only the poor had to deal with, it was pretty common, hence the old saying. So how were they eliminated from the general population so effectively in this country, and can’t that happen again? Why do we have to take these elaborate steps like isolating mattresses, getting costly pest control, bagging and ziplocking everything. Did our grandparents have to do all of this? I don’t think so!
I HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT SUCESSFUL STORY.I FIRST
HAD A PROBLEM MARCH 2006.THIS IS WHAT I DID YES IT IS ALOT OF WORK AND $ SO GET READY!!FIRST I BOUGHT A 50COUNT OF THE INDUSTRIAL BLACK GARBAGE BAGS YOU MUST WASH EVERYTHING USING 3 BAG METHOD AND HOT HOT WATER.BRING DIRTY CLOTHES IN ONE THEN THROW IT OUT SECOND ONE PUT OVER LAUNDRY BASKET BEFORE YOU TAKE IT OUT OF WASHING MACHINE.THROW THAT BAG AWAY.PUT IN DRYER HOT TEMP.30 MIN.OR MORE.DRIED CLOTHES GO IN THIRD BAG TIE A KNOT.I BOUGHT BINS CLEAN CLOTHES CAME HOME AND RIGHT INTO BIN.YOU HAVE TO EITHER WASH,STEAM,DUST WITH DIATACT DUST,OR FREEZE(TWO DAYS IN DEEP FREEZER KILLS THEM)
EVERTHING YOU OWN FIRST AND PUT IT IN BLACK GARBAGE BAGS TIED.THEN COMES THE BED AND DRESSERSAND FLOORS AND CLOSESTS HAVE TO BE VACCUMED .THE BED PUT DIATECT DUST(WEAR MASK)DUST MATTRESS AND BOX SPRING BUY MATTRESS COVERS WITH ZIPPERS.TWO FOR EACH PUT SILVER TAPE OVER THE ZIPPERS.ON THE SOFA DUST ALL THE WOOD ALL OVER OR BUY STERIFAB OR PERMAKILL SPRAY DREACH THE FLOORS ESPECIALLY IF THERE WOOD. SPRAY OR DUST IN FRONT OF YOUR APT. DOOR AND DOOR FRAME TOO.MY LANDLORD GAVE ME A VERY HARD TIME I PRINTED OUT A CLIP FROM THE INTERNET ABOUT THE OUTCOME IF NOT TREATED AN HE PAID FOR AN EXTERMINATOR.BUT I HAD ALREADY STARTED BEFORE HE SENT THE EXTERMINATOR.IF YOU DON’T FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE YOU TREAT IT WILL NEVER WORK.LEAVE EVERYTHING IN BLACK GARBAGE BAGS TIED NO EXCUSES I WAS LIVING OUT OF BAGS FOR MONTHS THIS IS WHAT NEEDS!! TO BE DONE.
Hi everyone. I have gotten a lot of info from this site and I appreciate it. I have been dealing with the bed bug situation for a 11 months now. My boyfriend and I moved into an infested apartment complex. We couldn’t get out of the lease, but we were able to switch apartments within the complex. What started out as a crazy severe infestation (three apartments later) has become a very slight infestation. Unfortunately, we have doubts in the pest control people our building has a contract with and no other pest control company will set foot in the building since the building has a contract. Our lease is up now and we get to leave, but the process is crazy. We haven’t seen any actual live bed bugs since December, but are still terrified of taking them with us. The last time we had bites was a few months ago… and even then we don’t have proof that they were bed bugs… but they felt like it. We are throwing out every piece of furniture we have with the exception of our kitchen table (a family piece) and my hope chest. We are inspecting everything, packing it in newly purchased boxes and then putting the box in a sealed plastic bag until we move… at that time we will remove the bag and transport the boxes. We have thrown out a ton of things, but we are worried that we will be taking them with us in things such as our books. Not knowing if we’d be able to spot the eggs and knowing full well that we wouldn’t be able to inspect and/or treat every page of the books, we are worried. Any suggestions? Thanks!
How long does it actually take to get rid of bed bugs? I have been spraying and steaming and vacuuming my house for 3 weeks but every now and then I will see one crawling?! But most of the ones that I do find are dead! I didn’t have a huge infestation as far as I know. I knew my job had them and then we started checking our house and found a little bit of staining on my WOOD headboard and a couple on my linen. When we tore the house apart looking for them I didn’t find any more but they seem smarter than us so who knows?!? But because of lack of knowledge I threw out my bed dimantled my head board and dressers and my husband and I began sleeping on the couches in the living room and then that’s when we started seeing a few in there?! I now know I made a mistake by throwing put my bed and dismatling everything but I can’t change it now so what should I do? My landlord will not allow us to get an exterminator and I know the response to the is to go to court but because of who she is to me I WILL NOT do that. So I guess I’m wondering is it possible to get rid of these nasty things with insectisides and vacuuming and steaming or is all my work in vain? We steam and spray everything! And is it possible they are in rooms that are not used that often? We haven’t seen any stainging or bugs in 3 out of 4 of my bedrooms and the only place we have seen them is in our bedroom and then the living room once we started sleeping out there?! Can someone please give me some advice cause I feel like these bugs are ruining my life. I can’t have anyone over cause I don’t want them to take them home and I can’t go to anyone’s house for the fear of taking them over there?!? I feel so trapped!
CallingAlameda and JB,
Please go to our forums and re-post your messages there. There are many people who will see and answer questions there–I promise you will be in good hands:
http://bedbugger.com/forum/
Thanks!
This Scotch tape product (2 inch by 6 inch pre-cut stips of heavy duty clear tape) is what I would keep around if I were trying to catch a bug
http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p4_Specialty-Tape_13619_Business_Supplies_0_10051_SC1:CG16:CL140632
This is the item Blue_Ox recommends above for snagging a wandering bed bug:
I think my nephew’s friend had bed bugs and slept at our house. He had what looked like allergy welts. My nephew said that they looked more purplish last week. Therefore, we did a little research and thought that maybe he has Bed bugs. I do not want to “Freak out” but now we are all thinking we are itching. We are washing and drying all our sheets and I’m even thinking about throwing out the “old” mattress that he slept on.
What do we do next?
Rev. Mike,
Have you inspected the mattress? Look at the Bed Bug Photos page (in top menu) to see what signs of bed bugs will look like.
Then carefully inspect the mattress and bed frame (box springs are especially problematic). Do not move it around. If it is infested, get a good encasement (again, link in top menu for more on encasements) and seal the mattress in it.
If you must throw the mattress out, seal (airtight) in a plastic mattress bag. Do not drag that thing through your home uncovered.
Finally, if you find signs of bed bugs, you must get treatment. It is true your son’s friend can have bed bugs, but your guest bed might have had them too. (They’re especially susceptible.)
If you need more help, click the blue “forums” button at top right and come to the forums.
My son just returned from University of Tampa. While there he complained about this red rash on his arms. I was thinking he was having a reaction to laundry soap. Not even realizing I joked about bed bugs. Now that he his home WE have bed bugs. I made the mistake of moving him three times. I had no Idea about this website until I found it this morning. God help me I think I have done everything wrong. There seems like there is so much to know. Did I read my dog could be carrying them from room to room? My son has been everywhere in the house. I have been steaming and cleaning my sofa every night for the past week made it up stairs to his room for the last two days steaming and cleaning. He has had 4 nights bite free. But wait, I wake up with two on my hand and one on my arm. And I swear while I was sitting here reading this website one got my bum.
I have had a PCO to my home but this is the first time they are dealing with this. Should I have a company that does commercial properties out instead? Oh my gosh!!! I cannot believe this is happening to any of us. Can we win this war on Satan’s little pests?
OH one more question. Do they like leather? I read somewhere else that they do not. however it seems like it is the leather chairs they are in????
so-upset,
One PCO told us they don’t like leather, but they have also infested leather furniture.
I have many questions. If anyone has a moment to offer any amount of advice, I would GREATLY appreciate it.
1) I found about 8-10 bites on my skin a few weeks ago, then didn’t have any bites again until about a week and a half later when I found three more. They’re painful, pimple-like, and do not itch. I’ve scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist just to be sure I don’t wage war in the wrong direction. I understand that many doctors misdiagnose bedbugs. What questions can I ask?
2) I’ve inspected my mattress several times and don’t see anything. Since my problem may be small right now, should I begin by buying airtight mattress and box spring covers, and cleaning thoroughly? Or, should I just go straight for the jugular and find a good PCO?
3) I have a memory foam mattress topper AND a down mattress topper (yes, I slept very well before recently when bugs began invading my mind). Are there any suggestions on cleaning these two items rather than just throwing them away?
4) I have read conflicting information on whether or not they travel on a person’s body. Does anyone know for sure? I spent some time at a friend’s house before I realized what I might be dealing with. Should I inform him?
5) I made the mistake of sleeping on the couch last night (before I read not to do that). I slept there for about 4-5 hours. Other than that, I don’t spend much time on my couch. Would a good vacuum job today do the trick, or have I involuntarily sabotaged myself already?
6) After all my reading on this website, I’m still uncertain about the difference between “protection” and “isolation.” Can someone clarify? One is using a mattress cover, and one is not?
7) I live in an apartment complex, and I’m nervous about informing my landlord, but I will anyway, if that’s what this turns out to be. (I know, you’re thinking, “poor thing, she’s still in denial.”) How can I narrow down an answer to whether or not I’m the cause, as opposed to my neighbor? (I understand they can travel through pluming and cracks in walls.)
Thanks everyone. Your information is valuable.
Oops. I’m finding other sections of the FAQs to deal more specifically with each question of mine. I’ll reassign my questions to those places.
creepy,
You will find answers to many of those in the FAQs. If you have additional questions, please post them in the forums instead, where you will have many more responses:
http://bedbugger.com/forum/
We took in an elderly parent a that requires full time 24/7 CNA type care. One weekend we had to go out of town and asked a trusted caretaker to stay over to be on call, watch the house etc. We did not know her economic history but she had been living in a weekly hotel and had, unbeknownst to us, a pretty bad BB problem with that hotel. To make a long story short, we were cross-contaminated and we found out 2 months ago we had severe BB problem that is one year old. My husband and I occupy the two guest rooms since parent took over the master part of the house.Guest BR 1 was ground zero. Our caretaker stayed here with her children. Lesser infestation in GB 2.When my husband snores I go to other room. We removed mattress and sprayed room, tossed a wicker headboard that was infested. Bought a new mattress and encapsulated both mattress and box springs in both GBrs. My husband and I are former part time certified PCOs, but we did mostly termite inspections for pre real estate. No BB experience. After spraying with OTC stuff, we saw more BB about 10 days later and picked up some Suspend. Sprayed rugs, baseboard etc. Things calmed down significantly. Then about 10 days later saw one or two. Off go the sheets, pillows in the dryer, etc. Then we saw a few in our LR furniture which has a woven wicker base. Lots of nooks and crannies. Soaked that. We also have 2 Siamese Cats. We are 90% there. We saw one or two this weekend. We stripped things again. Put pillows out in the hallway and run 2 or 3 at time in the dryer for about 20 min but do not wash them.(we have lots, shams, the whole deal). We have to work so we can’t get all of it done in one day or two. Some pillows looked clean but I stacked them in the hall to get dried but still there. Tonight a saw a lone BB in the bathroom. So the ones that are left are spreading. Should be be switching from Suspend? How often do we treat. When you talk clothing, do you mean all the clothes on the hangers? In the drawers? We are going to breakdown our washer and dryer! Can a fogger be used? I work at an extension office but do not want coworkers to know. I have some formal entomolgy background and know life cycles etc. How fast do these buggers move? Does a long run in a hot dryer do the trick? Pillows are hard to wash. No evidence in second GBr. but I do show some bite marks but these could be mosquitoes. Will they feed on cats and could cats be transports?
One other thing. My mother in law is now hospice care, opposite side of house…not a big house but separated by a kitchen. We have 6 different people in our home at any given time. There is no evidence of any infestation in the bed that is in her room (mom is in a hospital bed). we delicately tried to inspect the mattress the caretaker sleeps in and we see nothing. We can’t do anything there re treatment or removal of furniture. The caretaker we suspect infested us still works for us on the night shift. If word of this gets out, these folks might quit. What I am reading in this blog is scaring me to death…to face packing things up and going through each and every physical item we can is mindboggling, especially given the personal stress we are under with a dying parent – and she may last 3-6 months. Are we wasting our time doing a whole house clean if we can’t do her portion of the house? Should we do the attic too? Or do we just try and manage locally with pesticides until such time as all help is gone and we can go in and do that part with the whole rest of the house.
Lucinda,
We don’t recommend self-treating and are not qualified to advise on how to do it. Given you’re a cerified PCO, then you can either get someone in who is experienced with bed bugs (which are notoriously difficult to treat) or research this.
The advantage to a PCO being involved (who knows bed bugs) is that they can advise on the degree to which they’ve spread. This can help you decide how extensively to treat. We can’t tell you if they’ve spread around the entire home or not, but in the absence of inspection of the entire home, and all contents, I would not assume they hadn’t spread.
Thermal or vikane gas treatments may allow you to treat the entire home by moving little besides your parent. But since there’s no residual, you’d want to make sure re-infestation via the same source would not occur. For traditional treatments, or assessment, bed bug k9s may be an option for seeing how thoroughly the home is infested. (I’d try to get recommendations for bed bug k9s or PCOs first; they are not all the same.)
There are resources in the links section (mostly under “Comprehensive Guides to Bed Bugs”) which should be of enormous help.
If you want provider recommendations in your area from others, or have additional questions, please post in our forums, where you will have more readers, including some PCOs experienced with bed bugs: http://bedbugger.com/forum
Hi all,
Thanks for all this info; fantastic but scary…
I live in Toronto Ontario Canada.
Approx. 2 months ago, I visited a friend 3X who ended up having an apt. infested with bed bugs. Next day after I found out, I discovered I had been bitten (100% positive).
Approx. one week later, my husband was bitten, 10-15 days later I was bitten. My husband and I often fall asleep on the couch on the main floor of our 3 story (old with un-finished basement) house. We have only woken up to a bite after sleeping on the couch.
Our newly purchased matress is on the third floor… where we usually sleep. My children (never been bitten) sleep in a bunk on the second floor.
Is it possible that I brought home ONE BED BUG?
I read that they feed every 10-15 daysapprox. (this is in sync with our timing of bites).
If it is one bed bug (hopfully not pregnant), that hitched a ride home with me- will it just die after a certain amount of time since there are no others (crossing fingers) to multiply with?. I know this is wishful thinking!
If we stop falling asleep on the couch…will it make its way up one story to the next available host (my children’s bed) or even travel 2 floors up to us?
I have used an hardware bought pesticide on the couch (and surrounding areas) and in my room but it only kills on contact (found in small print..ughh). We are also battling fleas as we are being eaten by them as well (have one cat).
We are verging on bankruptsy so we don’t have $500.00 to spend on a professional. There is always my Visa card (really trying not to bring the interest up more).
This is stressing me out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any suggestions or answers would be greatly appreciated
Buggeroff
Lastly,
What is the name of the stuff you can buy to spray on fabric that has been mentioned several times and where do you buy it?
BTW…our couch is BLACK leather so its very hard to see any BB feces (blood?).
Made sure to put WHITE sheets on the bed.
I have heard about keeping a bed safe by pulling away from wall or any surface close by, then putting each bed leg in a bowl of mineral water.
Anyone hear about this?
Thanks in advance.
Buggeroff,
You can isolate the bed following the instructions in this FAQ. It’s a bit more complicated than you describe and must be done perfectly or bed bugs can be living in the bed and keep biting.
It is possible to bring one bed bug home, and if it is not a pregnant female, that may be the end of the problem. HOWEVER, I would not assume this to be so. You need to understand that others in the family can be bitten and have no reaction to the bites. Many people don’t. Entomologist Jerome Goddard estimates the number at 70%. Even if it isn’t that high, it is quite common in families for just one person to react to bites even when there’s evidence of bed bugs in other beds or rooms.
That said, one bite after 7 days and another after 10 more COULD be all that happened, from one bug. It would be wise to aggressively clean the bed (with steam if possible) and all bedlinens in the hope that this is so. It is potentially possible to have one bed bug and kill it. Before aggressively cleaning/steaming, I would carefully inspect. See our bed bug photos page (link at top) and the links for photos and resources which will help you learn to inspect. If you see anything suspicious, stop searching/cleaning and get professional help ASAP.
There’s a FAQS button at top of page that should help and I also suggest you come to the forums (blue button at top right) if you have additional questions after reading the FAQS.
nobugsonme
Thank you for your response.
Yes- to have brought one male home is wishful thinking I agree.
The problem is not the bed but the couch which is BLACK…(leather with fabric on under side of cushions and frame) = hard to see anything. We have inspected so many times AND sprayed (not that that was any use). The other problem is this is an old house= so many cracks and crevices for a bug(s) to hide.
We have never been bitten (to our knowledge), when sleeping in our bed (2 floors above couch), nor have my children (to our knowledge).
I know my husband and I have sensetive skin and are allergic to many environmental allergens… my bites are still SO itchy and this is the day after.
Trying not to itch!
Buggeroff, I suggest posting in the forums– others may have advice about your sofa. They’re not easy to treat.
Hi everyone, I found out that I had bed bugs and they have been eating me up, but the thing is is that they do not mess with my husband. i am really worried about this problem because i have a 7m old child and i dont want her to get any infections. i need to learn a fast and safe way to protect me and my child from these bugs please help……..
If you are sue they are BB bites, call a proffessional under ‘pest conrtol’ in the yellow pages.
I wouldn’t chance it with a 7m old. You are in direct contact with your baby 24/7 (almost!) … If the BBs are eating you- they are going to bite him/her.
Have you actually seen the bugs?
All the best.
Hi fellow sufferers.
I first realized I had bedbugs at the end of September. I had been bitten starting a month before but only a couple of times in a couple of places, so I thought they were really mean mosquitoes. It was summer in NYC. In mid-September, I realized the patterns of the bites – 3 at a time in rows – were not normal. Plus, they swelled up horribly and itched worse than any mosquito bite ever. I immediately left the bedroom for the couch and had an exterminator come after 2 days. Contrary to what I’ve read here, my exterminator told me to stay out of there for about 5 days. I stayed out for almost 2 weeks. Now I’m worried that I may hate attracted them to the living room. But if they followed me here, they would have had to go through the poison to get to me, I hope. I did find a bite on my arm after a week and a half on the sofa, which scared me back to my bedroom.
My question is this: Was it okay that I mopped the floor after 2 weeks? I have cats and I was uncomfortable about leaving chemicals on the floor. They were down for 2 weeks, so seemed like plenty of time before I mopped. Plus, I keep finding dead spiders, so something is still working, I guess.
My other question is: Would it have been possible to be successful after only one treatment? Most people have exterminated 3 or 4 times, from what I read. Am I deluding myself to think I could be so lucky? Should I go ahead and order another round of spraying? I’ve been back in my bed for 2 nights now with no bites (praying it stays this way). I sleep with light on!
I am in mental craze over this thing. All my clothes remain in bags. I hot washed and dried all that could be. I have about $500 worth of drycleaning, still bagged waiting for the money to burn on it. I have ordered a 10 pound bag of DE online (food grade). Has anyone had success with this? I have plants that need to be protected, so I am planning to use it on them. Plus, I hear that I can sprinkle along the walls and into cracks. I own my apartment, so the cost of this thing is all mine. Has anyone had success with just one professional treatment?
I am delirious from 2 weeks of terrible sleep and from reading horror stories. I think I picked this up from one of 2 places: visiting my boyfriend in Italy where he stays in a fairly transient apartment. OR meeting with an eyewear company representative at the Grand Hyatt here in NY for a job interview. Either way, the how I got it is not as important as the how the heck and how quickly I can get rid of them for good.
Help, please. Thanks.
Re: getting rid of stuff… What are your thoughts? I haven’t seen any bugs, but finally hired a bedbug dog after a month and a half. He smelled them only on my bedframe, and I hired an exterminator. He sprayed my bedframe extra well when he treated my house, but I am not attached to it and am torn over whether or not to discard it. I don’t want to deal with a second visit, and I would love to have all this over with. He said it probably wasn’t necessary to discard my bedframe, but when I asked him if it would be better if I did, he admitted, “of course, it’s better”…
What are your thoughts on discarding things? I wish I knew how accurate the dogs really are, or if the “90%” statistic is true. I’m grateful it’s such a small infestation if so. And I don’t want to wait for a new bed, but I do want to be free of this whole ordeal… very badly. It’s a big (twin) captain’s bedframe with three drawers . I can bag up the drawers and discard them in a week on trash day, and tip the frame up at night and work on wrappign it in plastic. It’s worth it if that’ll help this be over.
If they were only sniffed out on your bedframe, would you discard it? It’ll be a real pain to haul down the stairs–I’ll need to find at least one person to help me. My landlord might help (my roommate is injured and doesn’t believe the bedbugs are real); even though he refused to pay for treatment.
Any thoughts?
sheismadenew,
Please repost this on our forums:
http://bedbugger.com/forum
(You will have many more respondents there, and I will be one. But here, I am likely to be the only one.)
5 months of dealing with this. First couple months assumed my girlfriend was just having an allergic reaction because in this entire time we have not seen a single bug, and I haven’t been bitten once. Third time exterminator sprayed the old apartment we were in he told us our bed and both couches were infested.
We threw away my bed and couches, bought a new couch and moved to a new apartment (new couch was never moved into old apartment). Bagged all clothing and belongings, spent all day at laundromat washing and drying on hot every piece of clothing. A week and a half into staying at our new apartment happily she woke up with 2 bites. Threw the couch out on the balcony hoping the denver winter might lend a hand, rebagged all clothes and are just living out of them now where clothes come out of the bag go into the washer\dryer then go back into bags before we put them on. Take them off and put them into another bag. They sprayed when she noticed, and had no bites for about a week except those first 2 and then last night just got 3 new bites.
Do you think we might be close to having them nipped since she’s getting so few, if we just have the exterminator come and spray aggressively we might be able to get this taken care of?
I wish I had time to read all the comments, and I will try to go back and respond to some, but we at Hearts Pest Management (www.heartspm.com) are just focused on getting our name out quickly, not because we want the business (which we do), but because we fully believe we have the best expert in southern California.
I agree with all the posts taken, with one or two modifications. We have been able to solve many many bed bug infestions, without call-backs. Why? Because of our in-depth inspections and multi-layed treatment protocol.
Additionally, with regard to elliminating the possibility that it is something else, you should be aware that there is always the possibility that two or more pests are involved. One could have bed bugs from having traveled around the country at the same time as having bird mites from a nest that was recently removed. That’s just one example.
So, a lot of my clothes can’t be washed in hot water without ruining them… most of my clothes in fact. It is possible to just put them in the dryer for an hour or two without the washing? Will the heat from the dryer kill them? The Orkin guy seemed to think this would work but I was wondering what you all thought.
Thank you.
wait sorry i’m a jerk.. just found the other page about this and apparently the dryer is sufficient. thank you. as you all can probably sympathize, I am sort of a mess right now and just want this to be over.
Hi,
I do not know if i have bed bugs but are there any tips that anyone can give me in order for me to tell? I went to my doctor but she said no and that they are mosquito bits. Its winter now and I really don’t think its mosquitos. Please does anyone have any ideas on how to check if you do and the best way to get ride of them?
Lee,
See the FAQs for advice on selecting a pest control firm / getting rid of bed bugs.
We have a FAQ on detecting bed bugs but it is not likely to work with a smaller/newer infestation.
I suggest you repost this on our forums:
http://bedbugger.com/forum
(You will have many more respondents there.)
Any thoughts on freezing the whole darn house? I’m in northern Wisconsin. We recently found we have Them. And it’s November! Hmm. After following a meticulously clean exit from the house, I’m thinking of draining the pipes, and putting the house in deep freeze starting with the basement first, then moving upward (bedrooms are on the top floor). Assuming we can get the core temperature of the house to below 32F, wouldn’t three days of that — theoretically — do the trick?
Bug up Nort
Bug up Nort,
3 days of 32F? Nope.
Read this FAQ:
http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/04/faq-leaving-stuff-out-to-freeze-walk-in-freezers-etc-how-cold-and-how-long/
Ambient temps, even of a house left-to-get-cold, are unlikely to do it. We have anecdotal reports of people in Manitoba leaving their stuff out in bags all winter. Somehow the core temps in those bags stayed warm enough to keep the bed bugs alive.
I am not saying heat and cold don’t work. But there’s no easy way. Pros can bake your house at 140F for a while and do it. This can be quite effective. Sulfuryl fluoride gas fumigation, done properly, is another one-shot deal.
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