The ClimbUps should not deter bed bugs (we have heard reports that they work well and do catch samples), and I would rather get a bed bug sample, rather than send a bed bug scurrying elsewhere, and never know it was trying to climb up onto, or down off the bed.

We have heard that bed bugs may be deterred from climbing onto a glue board. The advantage of the ClimbUp monitors is that bed bugs will apparently not be deterred by them but will climb right in.

If you use ClimbUps and do not yet see a bed bug sample, but have bed bugs, it may mean they have not had reason to climb onto or off of the bed, since they may be feeding on you on the bed, or they may be feeding on you elsewhere.

On the other hand, if you use glue boards under the bed and do not yet have a sample, it may mean the bed bugs are staying in the bed so far, or that they are biting you elsewhere (both possibilities with the ClimbUp) OR that they are dispersing elsewhere rather than climb onto the glue strips.

I would recommend instead our FAQ on isolating and/or protecting the bed, which explains that there may be better options in many cases than cups of mineral oil under your bed posts.

In addition, we warn everyone not to spray any products outside of their labeling instructions. In other words, please do not apply pesticides to bed or pillow unless labeled for this purpose, and even then, use caution.

Most people get rid of bed bugs more quickly and easily with the help of an experienced pest control pro, who knows bed bugs. If you must self-treat, please read extensively before you spray anything. The resources in our LINKS (in the top navigation menu) provide some places to start.

If you are going to call a PCO, your best bet is NOT to start treating yourself. Your PCO needs to work with a clean slate — as well as to see any evidence before you clear it away. It is also possible to make the situation worse.

A regular clothing steamer would probably put out regular (not dry vapor) steam. Dry vapor steam is recommended because you want to avoid causing a mold problem. Mold might not seem like a big deal to you now, but it can cause very real health problems and be very hard to remove from your home.

The steam FAQ (see below) will probably help as it gives details on what to look for in a steamer, and links to resources on what temperatures are required and how to do this.

Note: since this post was written, Bedbugger has a new FAQ on Killing Bed Bugs With Steam. There are steamer recommendations and further tips on technique and safety in the Steaming FAQ, compiled by bedbugger Mangycur and nobugs.

I see you have found the forums, and I direct others to respond to your post there.

Please also note (and have updated this post above to reflect the fact that) there are also steamer recommendations and further tips in the extensive Steaming FAQ, compiled by bedbugger Mangycur.

Anyone considering steam treatments will probably find it most helpful!

Interesting for me as I look back at what tipped me off. I wasn’t sure if I had some sort of rash going on, was being bitten by pet fleas, etc. I’d gone to our doctor and though I couldn’t get in to see my general practitioner, the person I did see (a PA) gave me an antibiotic prescription thinking I had some sort of internal bug. WOW, little did I know what type of thing I was up against until one day I received an email from this general health list I subscribe to (Healthtips Weekly) that was titled “Bedbug Outbreak” in the subject line. That piqued my curiosity & interest to do a few searches and the more I read, the more depressing it got. I haven’t told my wife yet as she freaks out over having a few ants around so I haven’t sat her down for this one yet. I’m reminded of Jack Nicholson’s response to Tom Cruise in “a few good men” when Tom Cruise says he wants the truth and Jack Nicholson replies, “you can’t handle the truth” – likely to be the case with many people as this problem continues to emerge… And to be honest, I can relate because from the past week this whole thought has been fairly stressful as I look at the road ahead and as Colette wrote, I think it changes how you view some things forever.

Up until now, I imagined this as a childhood rhyme or verse and not much more. From hearing of them growing up, I imagined they only lived in places far away and I’d never have to meet up with something like this head on – wow, what an eye opener.

My particular immediate area seems to be centered around our TV room and more specifically, the couch in that room. It hasn’t shown anyplace else in the house yet and I have frequently gotten bitten while sleeping in that area. For now, I’m inclined to want to continuing sleeping there to keep them there versus have them moving elsewhere and hitting on the rest of the family (until I get the attack plan together). I suspect that saving my hide-a-bed couch is probably too much to ask, just since I’ve read about the levels of detail in steaming, etc and am also concerned about dislodging these bugs while jockeying it out of the room and out of the house and having them flee into areas more difficult to get them out. I also have some electronic gear in that room that is a concern but have to think for now that they’re centered within the folds of the couch and won’t take flight to some of those other areas, until I start moving that couch around to get it out so I’m thinking of moving the electronic stuff out first, prior to disturbing the couch. I read one reader’s comments about not using a steamer around electrical outlets. Having an electrical background myself, I wouldn’t be worried about that so long as the power to that receptacle was off.

So I have a few questions and they may seem like stupid questions but again, not having seen these things yet… Here goes.
1 – Just how fast are they? I’ve gotten up in the middle of the night with that sense of itching and turned the light on and nothing was there.
2 – They don’t like sun light and are ‘nocturnal’, does that mean that sleeping with the light on keeps them somewhat at bay and in hiding?
3 – They can apparently be transported on clothing. Is that because they somehow got trapped? Otherwise you might think they’d scurry off when a person was getting ready to move about i.e. getting up from bed, etc; unless they’re so stubborn that once they’re locked on for a meal, they won’t let go until they’re finished..
4 – Is there any single good means of trapping one for a specimen? It would be great to actually prove a theory prior to going after something you’ve never actually seen.

Finally – Colette, if you’re reading this – can you provide more info on that steamer you purchased? Brand and model number would be excellent and it would be helpful too to know just what led you to purchase that particular one versus the lesser expensive models. So far, the steamers or vacuums I’ve seen don’t really seem to lend themselves well to an attack on a pest like this. It’s as if the steamers were too limited in temperature or speed of use and vacuums (such as our Eureka upright) only have short hoses for really getting where you need to get (versus longer hoses with plenty of suction like one might see at the car wash). As much as I hate dropping big bucks into steamers or vacuums, from reading more about this problem, until some chemical company comes up with a miracle, it may be put to good use on more than one occasion.

I could relate too with your comment about your daughter letting the cat out of the bag. It’s easy to imagine that kind of thing spreading like wildfire with your kids or your family being ostracized once information like this gets out – especially if people know just how serious of a pest this is.

John