http://bedbugger.com/forum/ Bed bug support forums en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:51:03 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/can-bed-bugs-crawl-along-plastic-eg-cable-cord#post-62773 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:02:30 +0000 buggedout16 62773@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>OK as I am trying to clear my apartment etc, I noticed something I'd never have thought anything of before... My cable TV connection is in the bedroom and I have a connecting cord that sits on the floor and goes from the bedroom all the way to the living room where my TV is. It's plastic coated but I'm thinking now that the bugs could possibly be much more widespread in my apartment than I thought, if they can travel that way. The cord is not really near my bed, but I mean it is in the same room. Unfortunatley I guess the bugs have already spread that way if it's going to, but as an added help, should I unhook it and get rid of the cord, or what??? Thanks... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-does-one-do-should-a-harborage-be-discovered#post-62579 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:54:38 +0000 samson 62579@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A lot of posts go through the procedure of inspecting and then discovering a harborage of bb's. These posts always sort of stop short right then and there usually expressing disgust and plans to get a PCO.<br /> If one or two are found the poster often says they just squish them. I'm wondering what to have handy IF and when I should encounter a harborage of several during an inspection. I can't imagine just<br /> recoiing in horror and then letting them stew for days on end until a PCO can accomodate an appointment. That and the fact that if I have disturbed them during an inspectin they may also scatter. Vacuum them up? Spray them? Any ideas please?! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bedbugs-on-my-acousic-guitar#post-54122 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:38:13 +0000 pulanski1 54122@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hey. so i'm cleaning up and moving out. had a pco come, but one thing i'm worried about is my guitar, banjo and ukelele. they were all hanging on my wall without cases near my bed. i can't heat treat them (i have a packtite). how would you go about treating them? anyone have any advice! thanks. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/sprayway-good-night-product#post-13191 Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:47:11 +0000 jennifer09 13191@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi,<br /> anyone know if Sprayway-Good Night kills these creatures? I used this spray stuff on my bags and shoes and put them in sealed plastic bags. Haven't touched them for a week. It contains: 3-phenoxtbenzyl cyclopropanecarbonxylate AND N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide. Anybody know? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/interesting-it-happened-to-me-alert-read#post-62712 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:47:23 +0000 nervousbreakdown09 62712@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello there.</p> <p>I have not been on here in awhile but I wanted to come back on and share my story because I think it might help many people out there who might be going through what I just went through over the past few months. Here is the breakdown...As you can see from my name, I WAS having a nervous breakdown and now, I am nervous breakdown free. </p> <p>I went on vacation in mid August to Colorado and came back with distinct bites on my ankles and on the back of my knee cap. They were in a line, all in a row. As the week went on, I got 6 more bites and noticed the red comet like blood stains on our white linens. When I went online, it immediately pointed to BED BUGS. I had really never heard of bed bugs in California but this website scared the bejesus out of me and I was immediately convinced this is what I had. I called a PCO in the Los Angeles area who came out the next day. He took a look around my house and told me that although he didn't see anything, he could "tell by the bites on my legs that we had bed bugs" and that because we were on vacation the week before, we must have brought them home with us. He immediately charged us hundreds of dollars, told me to wrap up all of me bedding and my other linens, and he proceeded to douse my home with delta dust and another mixture of dust. ( I know. I know.)</p> <p>He said that my BB problem was so small that that should take care of it. He told me to bag all of my clothing, linens etc, wash and dry, and not come back into the house for the rest of the day. So that is what we did.</p> <p>The next day, we came back in, and we hired a cleaning crew to clean up all of the dust. It was EVERYWHERE. He told me to leave a one inch perimeter around the edges, which we did. A few days later, more "bites." This time, on my stomach. We waited a week, called him back, and he came back in a week later and sprayed with pymtherin instead. Again, we bagged, washed, dried. This time, we kept everything bagged. We sprayed the entire house, all furniture, everything. We came back in, and again, days later, more "bites." I couldn't believe it. I was literally having a breakdown. I would come on this forum and beg for help. I would cry daily. I never ONCE saw an actual bed bug. I started to think that maybe we had mites? I would get "bitten" in the middle of the day, sitting on the couch in the living room. If we had had such a small infestation, how did it become so large where now they were eveywhere? </p> <p>So, I basically moved out of my home with my animals and moved in to my parents house. I called 3 different PCO companies who call came out, including an entomologist. They laid sticky traps, searched the entire house including the mattresses and couches etc. They found nothing. I hired a caulker who caulked all the floors (no carpet in the house) so there were no openings. I bought climb up monitors and they were always empty. I literally had no life for 2 months living out of one plastic bag and wearing the same 3 outfits. It was a nightmare.</p> <p>So my original PCO came back a final 3rd time and told me they were going to spray one more time. Even though I was hesitant, they told me this time, they would get rid of them. They came back 5 weeks after I initially called them and sprayed. 3 days later, I came in the house for an afternoon and that evening in the shower, I had 8 huge "bites" all over my torso that were as large as quarters. HUGE WELTS. I literally started crying. I went to the doctor and they injected them with cortisol. Ouch.</p> <p>In the midst of my tears, I started getting suspicious. How in the WORLD were BB getting me at the daytime on my stomach like that without me noticing? I wasn't even spending the night there. I would go in and sit at the kitchen table and work on the computer for 3 hours and sometimes I would wear pants and a sweatshirt. It was weird. I started to think that it was possible that maybe I had bird mites or some invisible problem but what would be the possibility that I had both? Or did I not EVER have bed bugs?</p> <p>So, I hired a full painting crew and cleaning crew. I paid $4000 and had the entire interior of my 1800 sq foot home painted, ceiling to floor. Everything. Then, I had a cleaning crew come in deep clean my home including all of my furniture, etc. We threw out our rugs, the one couch the PCO had doused and two chairs.</p> <p>We cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. We took the 50 contractor bags that had been cleaned and dried back to the laundrymat and we cleaned and dried them again. I hired an air conditioning duct cleaner to come in and ran the fire places all day.</p> <p>We moved back in. 10 weeks after the initial bites occured. </p> <p>I have now been back in for 4 weeks. NOT ONE SINGLE BITE OR MARK. Sleeping through the night on our white sheets, no stains, no weird itching. Nothing.</p> <p>Yesterday, we opened our guest bedroom closet which is the one place we never go in and the last place that wasn't deep cleaned of 4 or five boxes. We emptied it and deep cleaned it and found remnants of delta dust on the boxes in there. I took a shower after and what do I see on my stomach that night for the first time in weeks? A big red welt on my stomach just like the others. Normally I would freak out and think this was a bug but it is not. It is the chemicals.</p> <p>So... here is my theory. I could be wrong, but...The chemicals that they spray were leaving marks and "bites" that were making me think that I was still getting "bitten" even though I really wasn't. The only bites I ever got that were in a row and itched were back in August and then never again. So for all of Sept and Oct, I was going through a nervous breakdown and it was my own doing.</p> <p>My husband is convinced he had a small problem that was probably taken care of by the 1st round of chemcials.</p> <p>Had a read a post like this when I was going through what I was going though, I would have felt way better. So I wanted to share with you.</p> <p>Also, this PCO is in Los Angeles and should not be handling BB. He didn't even know it was BB for sure and still treated for it which someone told me is not even legal. The other 3 PCO's who came told us that his application of the Delta Dust in our home was illegal and the places and the amount that he applied was illegal and not consistent with the labeling. One PCO refused to enter our home because of how toxic it was. :( There was Delta Dust literally everywhere in our house.</p> <p>I hope this helps someone out there!!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/shared-laundry-facilities-need-advice#post-62399 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:42:29 +0000 bugbuster 62399@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>The people in our building who have bedbugs are using the laundry facilities in our basement.</p> <p>Is there a danger of others picking up bedbugs from using the same machines? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/dr-oz-segment-on-bbs-fri-nov-20#post-62620 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:59:26 +0000 CookEmDanno 62620@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>"How to tell if you've got them." That's one of the issues he'll tackle, hopefully shaking many people out of their dangerous denial. Stay tuned. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bites-but-no-signs-of-bugs-help-andor-thoughts-please#post-62530 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:19:02 +0000 eclaire 62530@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Long story short....</p> <p>We've been in our house for over a year with no signs of any bugs other than the occasional spider.</p> <p>September 27 – 3 bites just down from my armpit<br /> October 3 – 2 bites on my left leg<br /> October 11 – 1 bite on my right hand<br /> October 17 – 3 bites on my right leg<br /> PCO investigated our house – inspected the mattress, drawers, etc. Ran the CDC 3000 for 10 hours and no signs of anything. Put down glue pads all around our bedroom and the only bug we caught were silver fish.<br /> November 11 – 6 bites on my left lower back</p> <p>Still no sign of feces, blood stains, bugs, nymphs, nothing. On November 11 we put clean white sheets/pillowcases on our bed and havent changed them to date with the hopes that something will show up. Its been a week and NO signs anywhere. We inspect the bed every morning and night.</p> <p>Made a flea trap and caught no fleas. Checked the dog and cat extensively for fleas, and found no fleas anywhere. When we called PCO again after the last round of bites, they said they thought it was fleas. </p> <p>Does ANYONE have ANY advice? I feel like I am going nuts. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/off-topic-sort-of#post-62704 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:31:37 +0000 soscared 62704@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>It suddenly occurred to me to read about carpet beetles, since they are mentioned here pretty often. When I googled-imaged it, I realized that the pretty but menacing looking bug I killed a couple of months ago actually definitely WAS a beetle bug. 100%. I remember it very well bc it was unlike any other bug I have ever seen inside, and we have seen many kind of insects here due to living on the ground floor, having no basement, and having a backyard. The bug was the spotted kind, not the black kind.<br /> So - is it the kind of thing where if I saw one, then there are more? I know we also have/had begbugs since 2 separate dogs identified them, but is it possible we continue to get skin reactions to carpet beetles rather than bedbugs? Do carpet beetles affect everyone? In other words, if that's what it was, my husband would have a reaction too? (He has no skin reactions at all through all this, to bedbugs or anything else). What are carpet beetles skin reactions typically like?</p> <p>Thanks very much to anyone who can help. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/best-contact-cleaners-and-what-kills-eggs#post-62601 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:12:49 +0000 BettyV4 62601@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>One question - without hearing be careful, follow directions, etc. I know this stuff having been battling for 2 years - is there something that kills the eggs? Contact chemicals are not the issue. Although what's the best? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-moving-tips-please#post-30113 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:18:36 +0000 jmastersherm 30113@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I think I might just move. Throw out a lot of stuff and put antiques in cool storage. Just take my couch, clothes and dump old t.v and PC and buy new ones. My questions are:</p> <p>1) Can I buy a couch encasement?</p> <p>2) Will 1 year storage be good enough for furniture. </p> <p>3) Will suits and other clothes difficult to seal be dry cleaned and hung up away from walls and still be safe?</p> <p>4) How long does it take to suffocate these things if they are indeed in my couch and it's sealed.</p> <p>I know there's a lot here but I'd appreciate any feedback I can get.</p> <p>Thanks </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-here-going-nuts#post-62385 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:10:09 +0000 itchy21 62385@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi im new here as my title already tells you,and like everyone else bedbugs have given me paranoia!<br /> .Basically i live with my parents and nephew we have had them for about 4 months.My nephew went on a camping trip and brought them back with him.Now i did not know we had them until weeks later as my parents decided not to inform on this.It was only when i discovered one on my pilliow shook it of and splattered it on my wooded floor and blood came out that i became curious.I ignored this not knowing what a bedbug was at the time .A few days later i went in my nephews room(his room is next to mine dam it) and notcied that all over his bunk bed were loads!of black dots and i mean loads.I asked my mom and them she told me that he had a few bedbugs.i put two and two together with what i had found in my room but didnt freak out because i hadnt been bitten yet.few weeks later i was waking up with bits big sore ones on my arms and elbow some were appearing when i was at work.To cut a long story short my parents are not willing to do anything about because they thing its not that much of a big deal what should i do!!!i didnt find any for ages but over the last few months i have discovered 8 in my room in total.I have a natrual unvarnished door and that is where 5 out of the 8 have been found.two were on the wall and only one on the planks of wood that the mattress lies on.heres a few facts:<br /> i steam my room regularly like crazy and check my door and wood where the mattress all the time.<br /> my mattress is foam and has no box spring,seam,creviceand has a zip at the bottom that is secure<br /> My furniture is all coated and really smoth (not natrual wood)<br /> i have plastered walls and wooden floor<br /> my bedroom is very decluttered and easy to move things if i have to.<br /> Also i vacuum like mad.<br /> All in all my questions are can i get rid of them in my room with my nephews room being infested next door?and is my natrual pine door the bigest problem as this is where i have found most of them.PLS HELP!!!!!!!!!<br /> p.s sorry tried to keep it short. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/precautions-when-moving#post-61944 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:27:31 +0000 sorsha 61944@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Backstory: Back in March, my husband and I realized we had bedbugs in our apartment. Mostly in the boxspring and on an item stored under the bed, although we think they were likely in the sofa as well (a couple times we saw a bug on us while sitting there, though it's possible we carried them from the bedroom). The apartment management arranged two rounds of treatment in April. Mattress, boxspring, sofa, and armchair were sprayed, baseboards and bed frame were dusted, etc. We also took steps on our own like getting sealed covers for the mattress, boxspring, and pillows, getting rid of rugs and other unnecessary fabric items, and keeping our clothing in plastic boxes and bags (after washing it all).</p> <p>Since the second treatment, neither of us has seen a single bug. I have not been bitten once. My husband thinks he may have been bitten a few times while sitting on the sofa late at night, but he's never been able to show me the bites so I'm not sure if it's just psychological. But it's a big building and they've had problems with bugs for the last year and a half, so I doubt the entire building is free of them.</p> <p>Now we're looking at buying our first house and moving there. I would hate to bring bugs with us. We're planning on throwing out our mattress, box spring, sofa, and arm chair when we move and buying new ones for the house. I'm going to encase the new mattress and box spring right from the start. Our other furniture is either metal (bed frame, some shelves, desks, base of computer chairs), which seems safe enough, or wood (dresser, bookshelves). I know the bugs can theoretically live in/on wood but we've never seen any sign that the ones in our apartment were anywhere except in/under the bed and possibly the sofa. I'm also hoping it'll help that we'll be moving in the winter (likely January) and the bugs seem to be inactive during that time even when they are around (e.g., last year I was getting bit in October after we moved in, didn't realize why, then stopped getting bites all the way until March).</p> <p>Question: What precautions would people recommend for moving in this situation? Given that we haven't seen bugs or signs of bugs in eight months, and we're leaving behind any furniture that's been suspected of having the bugs in it, how worried should we be? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/no-signs-of-bb-but-i-have-over-100-mystery-bites-bb-or-something-else#post-58478 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:10:25 +0000 chompedinLA 58478@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello all,</p> <p>I need help! (okay, I know you've heard that before from other forum visitors...)</p> <p>I first noticed bites evening of 8/25. I hadn't seen/felt anything, but when I changed out of my clothes after work, I had about 15-20 red bites, all on my butt. </p> <p>For the next 5-10 days, I'd get a few more bites each night, always still concentrated on my butt and backs of my thighs. I checked my clothes, I washed my sheets, nothing helped.</p> <p>I was out of town for Labor day from 9/4-9/7, and received NO new bites. Returned on 9/7, and attacked my apt with a vengeance, flea spraying and raid, along vacuuming, washing drying sheets on high, spraying and vacuuming my Living room couch as well. I got 1 bite in the midst of all that.</p> <p>for the next week, I slept on the couch in my office room on clean/dried sheets. No new bites. I was hopeful the problem was gone. Went away last weekend, 9/12 &#38;13, and received no bites while away.</p> <p>I got back the evening of 9/13, and had 4-8 bites on me before I even went to sleep that night. I slept in the office again, got a handful more. On monday 9/14, I decided to bite the bullet and sleep in my actual bed. What a mistake. I've had 70-80 new bites appear between Tuesday morning to Wed morning, and now they are biting my stomach as well as butt and legs. Needless to say, i didn't sleep on the bed again, and returned to office couch. I currently have over 80 that are new just from this week, as well as the cluster of old ones from prior 2 weeks.</p> <p>Today, pest control came over. they found NO signs of BB, and could only set bug monitors. I have not seen any actual bugs, casings, etc in the meantime. </p> <p>I do have 3 cats, and they are all on Revolution. No signs of excessive scratching or bites on them.</p> <p>The bites are red, smallish (compared to the welts/lesions I typically get from a flea or spider bite. They are not that itchy at all. they tend to have a darker red dot in the center that is raised up. Some of them are definitely in a line. The odd thing is, if it's a bed bug, why is it choosing the LEAST reachable/convenient parts of my body to bite? My arms, legs, face, neck are all exposed way more than stomach, butt and backs of legs.</p> <p>here are some photos of the bites: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42665487@N02/3932869148/in/photostream/">bites from w/o 9/14</a></p> <p>Do these look like they could be bedbugs? or should I be looking into mites etc?? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/exhausting-all-money-for-treatments-now-what#post-62497 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:47:54 +0000 BettyV4 62497@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Those of us that have been through hell and back and then back again and again have spent (in my case) thousands and now suffer greatly with that loss of money so we're unable to secure new, expensive means of extermination. When people come to this site with new ideas, whether they work or not - whether we try them or not - they deserve a lot of credit for without these people there would be nothing. I don't know if you're like me, but if you've had to use many different companies and bbs still haunt you; there's no money left for professional thermal treatments, etc., we should be saying thank you to all who at least have the courage to try new things. If those PCO's out there with a real desire to help people, companies that offer new treatments that want to help people with no money, well do it!!!! Of course you wouldn't make money, but you'd sure help lives. Particularly people who have been infested for long periods of time and own their own homes or apartments and can't move.<strong> <u>I also, however, stress checking on this site or with a PCO what you are using and exactly how to use it. It's not worth it if it will be used incorrectly or make you sick</u>.</strong> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/cold-and-flu-stops-the-bites#post-60036 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:29:58 +0000 stevebeast 60036@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I got 2 weeks bite free! I got the swine flu and the bites tapered off as i got sick, i was thinking my rusults was getting some results, the whole time i was sick i didnt get bit, I didnt itch, my skin was starting to heal and I thought life was going to be good again but as soon as i got better they hit me hard too many bites to count, the swine flu is bad but i might be down to get it again </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/do-fleas-walk#post-62475 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:43:02 +0000 bitebedbugsback 62475@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>If not, I found a bb on my kitchen faucet! When I went to trap it, it quickly scurried into a crack where the faucet lever turns. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/vaccuuming#post-59761 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:38:06 +0000 soscared 59761@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Can I use a vaccuum that a dog had alerted to for vaccuuming mattress seams, carpets, etc? If not, how do I debug it? </p> <p>Also, will a flea collar or no-pest strips work if put into an airtight bag with the vaccuum?</p> <p>Thanks a lot! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-on-dr-oz-this-friday#post-62524 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:16:21 +0000 Nobugsonme 62524@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/11/18/bed-bugs-on-dr-oz-this-friday/">More here.</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/looking-for-opinions-do-you-think-we-ever-had-them#post-62501 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:12:12 +0000 bleh bug 62501@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>In early September, around Labor Day, my daughter had a few nights of getting bad bites - she would wake up in agony around 3AM and the bites lasted about a week. They looked just like mosquito bites (she reacts badly to them), but I was suspicious because she had a cluster of them around her knees (though she also had bites on other parts of her body). I searched her room but found nothing.</p> <p>I called in a (certified) K9 to inspect, and unfortunately went with a company (M&#38;M in NYC) that does not follow up "hits" with manual inspection. In my bedroom, the dog hit on a basket of blankets (I immediately sealed up on site and disposed of it) and on our mattress (we immediately encased both mattress and boxspring in protect-a-bed, sprayed the frame and floor with Sterifab, and caulked every hole and crack in the bed). In our daughter's bedroom, the dog hit on a spot on some shelves, the baseboard near her closet, and the baseboard by her door. We Sterifab-ed the heck out of everything, caulked, encased her mattress and then dusted both bedrooms with DE. Still, in all the searching and cleaning process, we never saw a bug, egg, casing, nada.</p> <p>Several weeks passed with no bites, then she got a bunch of bites one night, but there was a mosquito in her bed. She hasn't had any bites since (that was over 7 weeks ago). Then a few nights ago, I woke up with about 6 bites, but I had killed a mosquito in the apartment just the day before.</p> <p>Do you think that the dog was wrong and we never had them, or do you think it's possible that we only had a few bugs and managed to kill them? Or do you think it's possible that we still have them, but they're either only biting my husband, and he's not reacting, or they're just not biting, at least not on a regular basis? No one else in our co-op has them.</p> <p>Thanks for your opinions. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/humor-video-clip#post-62472 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:28:07 +0000 bitebedbugsback 62472@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>This clip has to do with fleas, but it probably better fits bed bugs!</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7IsnS7csSQ" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7IsnS7csSQ</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/nycdoe-to-hire-pmp-for-bed-bug-treatment#post-62441 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:48:37 +0000 Nobugsonme 62441@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/11/17/nyc-department-of-education-advertises-for-bed-bug-killer/">More here.</a></p> <p>Please comment on the blog post if you have input on this one. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/how-long-did-you-wait-before-deciding-you-were-clear-buy-a-new-bed#post-62464 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:55:40 +0000 jm2010 62464@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>To any people on here that were successful in getting rid of BBs and for whatever reason still visit this site.</p> <p>How long did you wait before deciding on your own that there were no more bed bugs? My PCO cleared me two weeks ago saying I was BB free. He said I could move my clean things back in and buy a new bed. I have been bite free for 25 days. </p> <p>Even though the PCO cleared me, for my own peace of mind has enough time passed? I'm planning on buying a new bed next week and am afraid of that they still may be lurking around in my room. I'm afraid to have people over, specifically in my room, as well. Is this nightmare over?</p> <p>Just so you know, apparently my case was very mild, isolated just to my room in the apartment. Had them for 2-4 weeks (from mid Sept to early/mid Oct) until the PCO cleared the apartment as BB free. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/diazinon-effective-against-bed-bugs-toxic#post-62431 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:36:41 +0000 Sammy 62431@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi all, I posted another thread about dealing with bed bugs in the developing world....have just found out what my PCO uses, its called DIAZINON (I'm pretty sure, they told me over the phone and this is the closest pesticide I can find online that sounds likely!) Its been banned for residential use in the states for some time: I'm just wondering </p> <p>- is it effective for bed bugs? Tomorrow they will spray our house with it for the second time.</p> <p>- is it particularly toxic? Should I not be sleeping there? We were told to leave the house for an hour after then it would be fine but the smell was so bad last time we stayed with friends and will do so again tomorrow. Are there any other precautions we should be taking? If our bedding, hand bags, etc are exposed to it, is that a health risk? We weren't advised to package anything up, just told they'd come, spray, and it would be over. </p> <p>Any advise would be great! </p> <p>Thanks </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-in-developing-country-no-vacuum-cleaner-no-dryer-please-help#post-61575 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:39:35 +0000 Sammy 61575@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi, I'm in a bit of a different situation than most people on this site but any advice would be very gratefully received.....</p> <p>Basically, the first part of my story is typical: stayed in dodgy hotel at the start of October, got some bites, assumed it was a mosquito though they were much more painful and swollen than mossie bites usually are. Came home, unpacked, and about a week later noticed huge swollen bites all over my legs. I have quite an extreme reaction and didn't immediately identify them as bedbugs, though I did wonder, but I live in a developing country (I'm based in Africa) and there are lots of different insects I thought could have been responsible. I washed all my bedlinen, left mattress and duvet out in the sun, and then moved into my housemates room while she was away (I now realise this was dumb) For a week I'd no new bites, and had a friend to stay in the spare room, however just before she left she discovered she was covered with bites (much more text-book bedbug bites than mine) and then a day or two later (yesterday) I started to get some even though I was still in the other room. Once I was sure they were bedbugs (there's lots of evidence that's the case now I've been reading so many websites, though I still haven't seen an actual bug) I contacted a pest control place and sent my duvet, sheets, pjs, etc to the dry cleaner. </p> <p>I've arranged for an exterminator who is spraying the house as we speak, the problem I have is that lots of suggestions on this site won't work for me because of where I am. My clothes are either washed by hand or in a washing machine which I'm pretty sure washes cold, I don't have a dryer, I don't have a vacuum cleaner. My house is covered with little gaps and cracks in the walls and i can't think how to cover them. I can't buy any expensive equipment - most companies don't even ship here - and I've just spent a fortune on drycleaning my bedlinen and can't afford to do the same with the rest of my clothes. I can't even find ziplock bags, sourcing big black plastic garbage bags to take all my bed stuff to the dry cleaners took trips to three supermarkets. </p> <p>The exterminator doesn't really speak english: I got a colleague to explain on the phone and I'm pretty sure theyr'e treating the mattress and spraying the house but I'm not sure what with (and to be honest, not sure I'll ever find out) I'm staying with a friend tonight which I know is not ideal but have no idea how toxic what they're using is, and won't have any bedclothes back till tomorrow. I'm terrified they won't be gone: I'm seriously allergic to these bites, some of them are over an inch and a half and red and swollen, unbelievably itchy and I haven't slept properly in weeks now. I also feel so limited in what I can do: reading what people have done successfully - things which were I at home would be basic and achievable: vacuuming, putting clothes in the dryer: I'm really worried. </p> <p>I have a friend in Nairobi which has much better shopping possibilities who is going to try to track down mattress encasements and ship them but by the time I have them internationally shipped it will take a couple of weeks ...... </p> <p>Please, please if anyone has any advice as to what I can do, let me know. And if there are powders etc you can recommend, could you use generic rather than brand names if possible as while some chemicals may be available here its not so likely the specific products will be. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/would-you-quit-a-job-if-you-knew-they-were-there#post-62336 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:55:48 +0000 DeathToAllBBs 62336@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I'm on the threshold of deciding if I should quit a second job I have because they have BBs and though they have tried various times to get rid of them and people say the exterminator hasn't found any, others have found them and there really isn't any kind of plan to get rid of them. I think the best ways are out of the question due to financial constraints of the company. </p> <p>This is a second part time job for me. I can use the money. Who can't these days, right? But I'm just using it to pay off some debt which I should be out of by Jan/Feb if I don't quit until then.</p> <p>I take just about every precaution recommended here but I know there is still a risk of bringing them home though I've limited it with my precautions. I'm curious though if anyone would quit a job or plan on quitting it soon if they were in my situation? I hate to lose the extra money but with the BB issue along with some other ongoing hassles of this job, I'm just wondering if it's worth keeping. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-bed-bugs-northwest#post-62424 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:52:22 +0000 Nobugsonme 62424@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A site for people fighting bed bugs in the Northwest:<br /> <a href="http://bedbugsnorthwest.com/" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugsnorthwest.com/</a></p> <p>Put up by a former reader of this site. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/the-myth-of-mattress-encasements#post-61202 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:35:25 +0000 parakeets 61202@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have heard several people in various recent conversations this month say something like "I don't have to worry about bedbugs--I have mattress encasement." Where do all these people get the idea that you can't get bedbugs if you use a mattress encasement? It seems to be a prevalent myth, that all you have to do is put your mattress in a case and you're protected. It's practically an urban rumor by now. We have to stop it. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/killing-bugs-with-heat#post-62308 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:49:40 +0000 spideyjg 62308@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Dude! Thermal isn't a DIY treatment. based on your site you should know that.</p> <p>Jim </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-discussed-on-jjb-forum#post-62316 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:14:05 +0000 dottie 62316@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I can't see if the site showed up or not. : </p> <p><a href="http://jjb.yuku.com/topic/574944/t/Anyone-got-Bedbugs-How-did-you-get-rid-of-them.html" rel="nofollow">http://jjb.yuku.com/topic/574944/t/Anyone-got-Bedbugs-How-did-you-get-rid-of-them.html</a></p> <p>I'm always interested on how other people deal with them. I notice there is a bed bug thread on jjb.com. Bedbugger.com is mentioned in comment # 5. Just F.Y.I. </p> <p><a href="http://jjb.yuku.com/topic/574944/t/Anyone-got-Bedbugs-How-did-you-get-rid-of-them.html" rel="nofollow">http://jjb.yuku.com/topic/574944/t/Anyone-got-Bedbugs-How-did-you-get-rid-of-them.html</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/ankle-bite-how#post-62247 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:48:01 +0000 BettyV4 62247@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>My PCO was here Thursday - did a really good job as far as I can see. Drilled holes into adjoining walls where at this particular house is untreated (lack of money and brains) with mix of DE, and of course forgot the other two substances sprayed Parameterof the whole house - checked my encasements and said they were good - cleaned my interceptors and lightly applied dusted powder (I had added a load of powder thinking that would work better). Last night first night I slept in bed. No blankets hit the floor, nothing. Had taken a 2 hour nap earlier, around 5-7 and had a great sleep. Last night, however, received ankle bite. (Although hard to define exactly since it was the ankle and think there was one bite) Thought unusual since I had relatively heavy sox on and purposedly exposed my hands, arms and neck. Not bitten on exposed skin. Any suggestions???? Of course David if you're there, what do you think? How? Unless there is a tiny split in seam that was missed? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/are-bed-bugs-going-to-take-over-the-world#post-62223 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:05:07 +0000 islandgal 62223@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>It would be interesting to have the experts weigh on this. </p> <p>It's really unsettling, with all of the news reports, etc. and especially that one out of Toronto. It makes me feel as though doing ordinary, everyday things such riding a bus, taking a taxi or eating at a restaurant will put everyone at risk for taking bugs home! Is that going to be a way of life from now on? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/does-riddex-plus-digital-pest-repeller-work#post-21907 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:38:28 +0000 BrianNYC 21907@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi guys, I live in the NYC area and had bedbugs close to four months now.</p> <p>Has anyone tried first-hand using Riddex Digital Pest Repeller for bed bugs? If so, did it work? </p> <p>I'm desperate about my situation and will try anything :(</p> <p>Any help would be appreciated, thanks very much! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-about-those-electronic-devices#post-30999 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:34:35 +0000 tisIsaidthefly 30999@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>like the ones they advertise on tv - riddex or whatever? I mean I don't know if those things even really work but if they do, why not one to drive the bed bugs away too?<br /> Could you imagine? How easy to get rid of them then. I wish. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/nyc-managing-agent#post-61971 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:31:11 +0000 bugbuster 61971@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Can anyone on the forums in NYC recommend a good managing agent - particularly one who has been known to communicate effectively regarding bedbugs?</p> <p>Ours is revealing herself to be part of the problem, so our condo is looking for a new one. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bug-newbie-here#post-62256 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:55:40 +0000 CrazyIsMe 62256@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello I'm new here and yes I have bed bugs I cought a few about a week ago and identified them to pics that I've seen on the internet. The bed bugs that I have are in my son's room, he recently moved out so we've cleaned his room, threw out the mattress, box spring and bed frame. The ones that I cought I found on the walls of his room and I found one in my bathroom. My problem is my husband and I are low income earners we make just enough to live on. My exterminator wants to charge us $1500.00 to do a bed bug treatment and wow with Christmas around the corner that's not going to be possible to pay unless my family and I are willing to eat Spam and Crappy Dinner for Christmas not to mention the no present thing. The bed bugs seem for now to be only located in that one room, we're not finding any in any other rooms in my house. I have gone and boughten some Ortho Home Defense Max and have been spraying a parimiter around my son's room for 4 days straight now and knock on wood I haven't seen not one single one any where including in my son's room. My husband and I including my other son have not had any bed bug bites ever I do hope that's a good sign. My question is do ya think that I should let my guard down a little? I'm thinking that my husband and I may have this under control. I'm so scard of seeing another one cause I had a nervous break down over all of this and got put in the hospital for a few hours. I have been looking for nests but can't find any, no eggs, no babies, no adults nothing. I don't know what to do. Help let me know what ya think. Thanks tons. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/ny-times-report#post-62149 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:06:05 +0000 upagain 62149@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>FYI</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/12ohio.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/us/12ohio.html</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-bites-shelters-atlanta-georgia#post-62221 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:23:18 +0000 dottie 62221@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I don't know if this was covered here. Any more my computer won't let me see more than a few words here at a time. Anyway, with the possibility of being a day late and a dollar short as usual, here is a story from a couple weeks ago about BB's in homeless shelters. Fulton County's response was that the shelters are kept clean. Whatever the word shelter conjurs up in your mind we know that the cleanest hotels get them, too. I'm sorry this man's 7 years old son is suffering. Horrible enough to be homeless.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/bed-bugs-bite-shelters-176700.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.ajc.com/news/bed-bugs-bite-shelters-176700.html</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/how-easy-is-it-to-infest-ones-car#post-55387 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:56:37 +0000 BuggedInSomerville 55387@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hey all,</p> <p>I discovered on Friday (8/7) that my apartment has bedbugs. I have no idea of the size of the infestation; all I know is that my box spring had two "nests" or "colonies" visible from the exterior, and by that I mean there were two areas on the box that had clusters of waste marks, shedded shells, and eggs. SO FAR (and this is a big knock-on-wood statement), there have been no bugs in any other rooms in my apartment - none in my roommate's room just behind my wall (again, big knock on wood), none in my living room or kitchen...</p> <p>Anyway, it looks as though I had the critters for a while before discovering them, perhaps a few weeks. I'm not sure whether they got into my clothes, but in any event, how easy is it to transfer them (even just one) to the car? I drive my car about every other day. Since Friday, I've been wearing fresh clothes when entering and changing out of them when leaving my car, and I've done a few quick inspections (under seats, etc.) and haven't found any waste marks, eggs, shells, or live bugs. I'm planning to get it Vikaned for peace-of-mind, but basically, does anyone have any info on how car infestations work, or how hard/easy it is to start a car infestation? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/finally-a-way-to-distinguish-bites#post-62164 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:05:00 +0000 bugbuster 62164@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Am I correct that one difference between mosquito bites and bedbug bites is that mosquito bites scratch out to a honey-colored center while bedbug bites scab up red? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-advice-needed-on-chemicals-pco-will-be-using-nyc#post-62147 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:29:36 +0000 EatenAlive11 62147@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Well, my wife started getting the dreaded itches a few weeks ago (1 to 2 bites a night). We weren't sure it was bed bugs until I got out a magnifying glass and caught a small one on the bed. Now our landlord is telling us we are "moderately" infested. We put the Protect a Bed encasements on and that has eased things somewhat, but I am still finding casings everywhere. We are going through the whole ordeal tossing out furniture, etc. PCO will be at the apartment next week to spray and they have told us the following products/chemicals will be used:</p> <p>--Bedlam<br /> --EcoPCODX<br /> --Suspend SC</p> <p>Does anybody here have experience with these products? How effective are they? And, more importantly, is it safe to have our children in the apartment after the application (or should we stay away a few days)?</p> <p>Any help or advice is appreciated. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/could-it-be-al-queda#post-62112 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:49:54 +0000 BB_Slayer 62112@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I've been reading a lot about bed bugs and one common theme is the mystery about why they've suddenly become a huge problem.</p> <p>Some sites say because of international travel... I disagree; people have always traveled.</p> <p>Some sites say because of the banning of DDT... I disagree; the bugs were resistant to DDT in the 1940s.</p> <p>I think it could be Al Queda. Imagine some terrorist dudes sprinkling envelopes full of bed bugs in hotel rooms, on airport luggage carousels, in apartment building hallways.</p> <p>Since the 9/11/2001 attack... if they started spreading bed bugs at about that time... that fits the time frame of their re-emergence in large numbers around 2003 to 2005. </p> <p>Why would they do this? 2 reasons: keeping half the country awake all night with bed bugs is an effective psychological weapon; and if an Al Queda member gets caught with a bag full of bed bugs, there's no penalty for that... unlike being caught with explosives or Anthrax etc.</p> <p>Anyone think this is a realistic scenario? It sounds kind of like one of those people who claim the moon landings were faked.... but not quite that crazy. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/very-confused-1#post-61702 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:27:47 +0000 vabites 61702@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A friend who had bed bugs came to my house and stayed for a couple of days.. This was mid August. Immediately after that, i started getting bites on me. I thought it was some allergic reaction and kept seeing doctors. This friend one day informed me that he had bed bugs in his house. I panicked and immediately called a PCO to inspect my house. He found a dead bedbug in the guest bedroom. I got the house treated immediately, but kept getting bitten. My wife and kids who were out of town came back and they got bit as well. </p> <p>After the first treatment, the PCO came back like in one month and we were unable to find any bugs. I searched everywhere. no evidence of bugs, eggs or feacal matter. no traces of blood on the mattress as well. we encased every single mattress, box spring with mattress covers from walmart. </p> <p>Why am i not seeing anything at all? I dont see any dead bugs, skin castings or anything at all. I called a different PCO (this time a better one). He could not find anything as well. All we see are carpet beetles. This is november already and by now they should have multiplied right? After putting on the encasements, for the past 7 days, we have been bite free. In addition to the mattress covers, we put in the bed bug interceptors to the bed posts. We dont see any bugs in there.</p> <p>I was planning on getting a heat treatment but how will i know if it is succesful if i dont see anything myself?</p> <p>I am planning on getting a K-9 Inspection, but they said they cant do it because my house is recently sprayed and i have to wait for 1 month before the K-9 can come.</p> <p>Meanwhile we are all getting mad at house. Any comments/suggestions are highly appreciated.</p> <p>Also the Heat treatment is going to cost 7000 dollars for my town home for all 3 levels . I still want to do it as it gives me a peace of mind. Can someone suggest what i can do? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/paranoia-pimples#post-62159 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:05:03 +0000 bugginmeout 62159@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi everyone,</p> <p>i am so paranoid that i have been reinfested (i am in a new aparment but brought my new bed, boxspring, &#38; pillow, all of which are in encasements.) In fact, my boxspring is in TWO encasements. however, i have been obsessively scanning my bed and have found little bits, although they don't look like shed skins. some of the bits look like flat black shiny looking flakes. there were a few on the zipper, and most are at the bottom of my bed (which makes sense, as it could be anything i tracked in off my feet). </p> <p>anyway, last friday i discovered the encasement zipper looked a bit off, and when i moved it it actually ripped. i flipped out and duct tape the entire zipper (just the bottom of the zipper had been duct taped before). wow, what a deal for $70 encasement huh &gt;:(</p> <p>last night i discovered three bumps on one of my butt cheeks (sorry for TMI!) but one was a pimple (or at least pimple-like). the bumps aren't really itchy though. when i had bbs before, my bites were definitely itchy. </p> <p>i'm worried because my skin feels tingly and itchy all the time, and because it's winter my skin's drying out...AND i have a slight case of eczema &#38; sensitive skin anyway...how the hell am i supposed to know whether or not i am getting bitten??? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-nyc-pco-recommendation#post-62150 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:20:16 +0000 bughelp 62150@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi I checked the threads under this subject but basically need a few names and numbers of the BEST to for my small apartment in East Village.</p> <p>I called Killerqueen who was sooo helpful, but sadly just plain too expensive: $1000. for first treatment for my small E.V. one bedroom and 3 or$ 400 for the follow-ups. Unfortunately I just don't have the money!!</p> <p>My landlord can send a guy but I talked to him on the phone and he sounded really lame and scares the pants off me.</p> <p>I notice there seem to be helpful PCO's on the forum- can anyone give a good recommendation - quick???</p> <p>Thank you so much! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/protect-a-bed-box-spring-encasement-ugggg#post-62011 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:54:09 +0000 upagain 62011@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So to take some preventative measures I put encasements on my box spring and mattress before a recent trip. Well, its been about two weeks and I was stripping the complete bed and see that the box spring encasements are worn through! Not ripped, but actually worn away. I have a king bed so I have two box springs. I prepared the bedframe by using finished (clear coat, very smooth) sheets of 1/4 inch plywood, which I lay down on top of my frame so as there would be no snag hazards or sharp edges. I used the foam strips as well, placed on the plywood where the contact points are. Before I put the encasements on, I hammered all the staples and layered duct tape on all the edges/corners of the boxspring. Well, the contact points did fine, but I have multiple worn through holes in each encasement. This is not in contact spots and its not torn, just worn and frayed to a hole (around the edges, not corners but the 9 inch side dimension). Anyone else have ideas? Anyone else use a different manufacturers encasement and been doing ok? I took every precaution, but still have problems. The mattress encasement seems to be doing ok for now even though I see some loose thread at some seams, but its still holding together. (sorry for the rant :-|) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/vikane-treatment-in-los-angeles#post-55006 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:09:30 +0000 sweetblood 55006@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I'm having issues finding out where to get this done in Los Angeles. Have any of you in SoCal used it or can you recommend a place? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/good-pco-for-los-angeles#post-13307 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:54:01 +0000 jennifer09 13307@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hey,<br /> Does anyone recommend a good PCO in Los Angeles? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/finally-something-works#post-51122 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:20:19 +0000 Jason1 51122@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>First of all, i'm new here, so hello. I live in Vancouver, BC.<br /> Iv'e had bedbugs since last last August/September, first starting out very mild, not<br /> many at all....with bites a couple times a week. However, it progressively got worse, especially the last 4 or 5 months. Multiple bites every night, including the nights the pest control people sprayed. Lack of sleep (2-3 hours per night) paranoia, etc, etc, you all know what i'm talking about i'm sure. Anyway, i've never tried an OTC product because I kept thinking pest control would eventually take care of the problem....but it wasn't. Last week I was told by a clerk in a hardware store to try "Ortho Home Defense Max". He said it's worked for people in the past, even though it's not listed for Bed Bug elimination....but does have permethrin as an active ingredient, which is what the sprayers use in Dragnet. At this point I was willing to try just about anything, so decided to give it a go. Bought it Friday....sprayed cracks/crevices, floor boards, under counters, closets, etc. Also sprayed around my bed, as a barrier, so the bugs hopefully wouldn't cross. It's now Monday.....and I havn't been biten, not once, in the last 3 nights since I used the product....after being biten every night for the last several months. I sprayed around my bed all 3 nights, to make sure....but only once in the other locations. Now i'm not saying this will work for EVERYONE....and I do still see the damn bed bugs crawling around....but not nearly as many as before, and the most important thing for me.....they won't cross the bed barrier to bite me. What I don't know, is, will they try when they get really hungry....and if they do, will the barrier hold? It definately kills the bb's on contact....so I can only hope it kills them when they eventually get desperate/hungry enough and try crawling through it. Also, it's pretty sticky, so maybe that will help too. Anyway, just wanted to let others know in case anyone else wants to try it. So far so good, for me anyway! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/professional-laundryprep-in-ny#post-61920 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:42:14 +0000 sparky50000 61920@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi!<br /> I am terrified I may have bedbugs - I've been getting bitten at night for the last week, and saw a bug (wasn't sure what kind) crawling on me yesterday. I have exterminators coming tomorrow for a diagnosis. ....I had a friend visit last week, possibly bringing them in - So it doesn't look good.<br /> Anyway - this couldn't have happened at a worse time, really. Personally, I have a lot going on right now. And I am so scared of dealing with all of this - I just want to run and hide!</p> <p>So, I was wondering - are there any professional companies in the NEW YORK/NJ that come in and do prep for you. Including laundry. Or any professional laundry places that specialize in bedbug infested laundry, so they can come pick up/I can drop off my clothes and (1) be sure they'll heat it up enough and (2) be sure they are familiar with this - so don't let my possible bedbugs get on other peoples' clothes. Ideally, just someone who will take care of it all for me - I would be willing to pay for it! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/going-to-hotel-convention-hotel-is-on-bb-registry#post-61914 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:45:29 +0000 upagain 61914@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So, I am going to an in-town (NYC) convention and I see that there are two reports of BBs on bbreg.com at the hotel that is hosting the convention. Now, I am not staying at this hotel, just going for about two to three hours in the convention room. I am actually thinking of not going because of the reports. Just wanted to see what others thoughts were on this. Could this be too extreme. (This convention is for pleasure, not business.) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/moving-back-in-tonight-scared-opinions-appreciated-so-please-respond#post-61454 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:18:29 +0000 jeanmean09 61454@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>I'm moving back in tonight into my bedroom after sleeping on the couch for a few weeks. After reading so much on this site, i'm afraid that they may still be here. how can i be so lucky to have gotten rid of them so soon?</p> <p>here's time timeline of this case-<br /> sept. 14-16: business trip to where i may have gotten them from a hotel<br /> oct 10: saw an actual live bedbug.<br /> oct. 16: PCO came in, determined they were only in my room. would come back to spray once the room was cleared out.<br /> oct. 20: sprayed whole room ,which is now empty, mattress thrown away, clothes washed and bagged, everything else trashed. confirmed again they are only in my room, rest of the apt is clear<br /> oct. 29: came back and sprayed again, saying theres no evidence they are still there as it was a mild case.</p> <p>tonight-my clothes are still in bags in the living room. for the first time i am planning on sleeping in my room. i got an air mattress and hopefully i see no bites tonight. he put little sticker things on the baseboards to see if any would get stuck in them and they are empty. so does it look like i'm in the clear? i havnt been bit since october 16th. ive been sleeping on the couch in the living room and they havnt followed me there. the PCO says i'm safe to buy a new bed and hang up all my clothes and go back to my life. but considering what ive read here, it seems too good to be true. so many people have been cleared of BBs and months later still have them. i'm staying positive and hoping for the best. the last thing i need is to buy a new bed and to find out i still have them. is it possible for it to be over? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bites-that-come-and-go#post-62020 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:40:19 +0000 bitebedbugsback 62020@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So a couple times over this past year (probably more around the summer) I got what I thought were hives. I thought they might be some kind of bug bites, but they passed so I figured they were just allergic reactions to the soap I was using or something else.</p> <p>Towards the end of September I started packing to move. About that time I started getting the "hives" again, though they seemed to be primarily around my feet. I thought it was just from dust and mites I was kicking up from pulling stuff out of closets, packing boxes, and so on.</p> <p>After I moved they got worse -- they started appearing on my arms, legs, back and were bigger. Again, at first I thought they were just hives, but then I went to a dermatologist who took a biopsy and found they're "arthropod reactions" (bug bites). I started to suspect they were bed bug bites which I confirmed (and doubly confirmed by a PCO).</p> <p>Last Friday a PCO came for the first treatment, but the couple of weeks leading up to this the bites again decreased. By the time he came I only had a couple minor ones, though I did find a live bed bug under my pillow the week before the first treatment. So why would they come and go? A couple ideas:</p> <p>- Are the bed bugs coming out and then going back dormant? Why would they do this?</p> <p>- Maybe I'm just going through phases where I react to bites then I don't? What would cause this?</p> <p>- There's another thread about the possibility of medications people take adversely affected bed bugs. I take a few meds for a medical condition, so maybe they're affecting the bed bugs? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/cleaning#post-61955 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:21:01 +0000 monkeybugger 61955@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>How thoroughly must I clean my vacuum after I use it? (Have canister type)<br /> Should I pour boiling water inside? What about the hose?</p> <p>Thanks! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/humor-people-encasements#post-61612 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:29:05 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61612@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So there are mattress encasements, bedspring encasements, pillow encasements, even couch encasements. What about a person encasement :D A full body outfit including finger sheaths and a hood that covers your whole head, with a front that's easy to see and breath through. You can wear it sleeping or awake. The bed bugs will never be able to get to you and will die. Or they go to your neighbors, and then he can start wearing one. How about it? lol </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/a3-superior-just-heated-the-house#post-57426 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:59:27 +0000 Bugbitten Meg 57426@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>...well, actually, our house got done Wednesday, and my mother-in-law is over tonight because her house is still too hot to sleep in. </p> <p>Thanks to the several members willing to discuss or recommend a good NJ PCO, I ended up looking hardest at Cooper and A3 (AAA) Superior... I believe both companies have an IPM and a whole-house thermal treatment option. Telephoning around, I found that while both would quote me prices for an inspection, only A3 was willing to discuss (estimated) eventual costs over the telephone. (as of late August '09, they were saying: $1-2 per square foot for an IPM treatment with 2 visits, scheduled 2 weeks apart, or about twice that amount for whole-house thermal [one visit expected, but with a 60 day warranty]. ) Our infestation isn't very large; everyone in both houses is sensitive to bites, so we didn't take long to notice that we had bugs. However, our house has been under construction for some time-- there are fully exposed central beams and framing in several areas, plus the accumulated chaos of having moved stuff around to accommodate ongoing work several times already. It looked to me like thermal was likely the better (tho' more expensive) option for us, and that was one of the things I thought needed to be discussed when an inspection happened. Mom-in-law had meanwhile arrived home from vacation to find hungry bugs awaiting her, too, so her house was added to the proposed inspection.</p> <p>Jeff Klein did the inspection (with dog) and I noticed that since we have a cat he checked, among other things, whether it might be fleas. (I knew it wasn't, alas, both because the cat's on Frontline and because I've had flea bites before and they're a bit different--for me, at least. But it's nice to know that if you don't really need a bedbug treatment, he will try not to sell you one.) We discussed options and went with thermal ('mom' too-- in her case, probably because she's still not fully unpacked from moving into town a year or so ago from the larger family house </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/possible-bed-bug-infestation-2-months-before-moving-need-advice#post-61838 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:51:17 +0000 please_help 61838@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello everyone. I really need some advice!</p> <p>I'm not 100% sure I have bed bugs, but I do know that for about a month now I've woken up with itchy bites on my legs and ankles. It all started when I woke up with seven bites on my legs one morning. Since then I've been bitten on and off... some nights I get no bites, some nights I get 1-3 bites. (They start as small, white raised bumps and turn red and itchy as the day goes on.) I have considered the possibility of fleas (I live in a house and the man who lives on the first floor has a dog who's been known to have flea problems) or mites since we do have a problem with mice (I hear them running around at night), but I also know that I desperately do not want bed bugs, so I might just be trying to talk myself out it.</p> <p>One of my problems is that I think I might have bed bugs, but I have no evidence. I had an exterminator come and inspect my bed for any signs-- he saw nothing. He put down sticky traps near by bed posts to catch anything crawling into my bed at night. I've had them down there for two weeks now (they are still sticky) without catching anything -- but I have still gotten bit. I have woke up late at night and seen nothing. I've inspected my mattress and box spring for any signs. I've cleaned my room trying to find any sort of bugs that might be responsible. Because I'm still being bit, and I can't seem to find evidence so it makes me feel like I have bed bugs. My roommate's bedroom is right next door to mine, but she has never been bitten.</p> <p>I need advice on what to do. I'm moving to another state in two months. If I have bed bugs I don't want to take them with me. At the same time, I don't want to leave my room infested because my roommate is staying here. But I have no evidence that I have them besides my bites, and I can't get the house treated without it.</p> <p>I don't know what to do. I'm planning to buy mattress + box spring covers because I feel like they must live in my bed if none have shown up in the traps. I will probably get rid of my bed/bedding when I move (I don't need them), but I'm afraid they live elsewhere in the room. (Which would not surprise me given this is an old house and there are cracks and crevices everywhere.) I think I'm going to start washing and bagging my clothes. I was thinking of renting an unheated storage unit and keeping things in there that I don't need right away after the move. I sometimes think I should just trash my furniture, but I'm not even 100% definite I have bed bugs so I wonder if I'm going overboard.</p> <p>I need advice from people who have had bed bug infestations! Do you think I have them? Do you think there is any way I can gather evidence and get my room treated before moving (in 2 months)? Or should I just concentrate on treating my room myself (diatomaceous earth, caulking, mattress covers) and work on a plan of action for my move? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-with-bug-id-please#post-61881 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:19:52 +0000 SamUk 61881@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I found this bug in my son's bed this morning. It is 3mm long and to me it looks like a head lice but the colour seems wrong. It's the same colour as a bed bug so I would just like someone to help with id.<br /> thanks.<br /> <a href="http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/2412/pic0508.jpg">Bug</a><br /> <a href="http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/93/pic0512.jpg">bug1</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-and-poor-college-students#post-61752 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:45:31 +0000 keldo 61752@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello bedbuggers, been lurking here quite a bit recently and I thought it'd be beneficial to make a post of my scenario and get a fresh perspective</p> <p>I, as mentioned in the topic, am a poor college student. I share a &lt;650 sq ft. one bed room apartment with one other individual. About a month ago my roommate started to receive small welts, which a doctor confirmed to be bites (At this time I hadn't a clue because I wasn't being bit). We promptly contacted our land lords who (at their own speed) laid sticky traps to determine what precisely the pest problem is. The traps confirmed bed bugs. Fast forwarding to today, my apartment *should* be getting sprayed as I type this. Now I just have a few curiosities to be answered:</p> <p>The real estate company that owns the apartment complex is fortunately paying for this treatment. I assume because if nothing is done my building (imagine a sardine tin) would be at risk. They originally mentioned that if additional treatments were required (this one is done through 8 visits I believe) it'd be out of our pockets; Which I understand. Today, they said if the problem returned, they'd break our lease and evict us (I'm not 100% sure on the context i.e. threat or not, my roommate was the one at home). Now with the persistence of bed bugs in mind, I'm a smidge concerned and am curious to the legalities of this. I'm attending a large university in Connecticut to get a sense of logistics. </p> <p>Just to add a few things:<br /> My roommate and I are quite sanitary people. Our small space is vacuumed regularly, clothes laundered and dishes washed. We suspect the problem occurred from an overnight visit to a friend in Boston, who (after the visit of course) we found out was experiencing bed bugs (fyi this information was not disclosed to the real estate). </p> <p>I've already developed a great bit of dislike concerning my land lords from previous encounters but one thing that sticks out is that a week or so prior to informing them of the issue, they were suppose to "spray" (I think gel was suppose to be used actually) the base boards as preventative measures for 'spiders and roaches.' As the notice directed, we pulled everything out of the pantries, pulled all furniture and furnishings away from the walls, and waited for the pest control/maintenance crew to show. They were suppose to arrive at 11, they showed up at 12.30, as we saw them park out front. They then said they were doing each apartment in order, (I'm #11) so it'd be about an hour and a bit. I personally was home and waiting (in a disheveled apartment) for them to stop in, but they never came; actually witnessing them leave about 45 mins after arrival. So of course I called up the real estate company to figure out what was going on, and then said to "Not worry about it, and feel free to put everything back" (paraphrased). I did just that being fed up that they didn't understand why I was upset. The kicker of this whole story is that my roommate also called to talk to someone and the response he received was that "the maintenance crew came by and saw a sign on the door that said 'Do-Not-Enter'" and just proceeded to continue onwards (Odd they say that because they were suppose to key-in the Pest crew if no one was home anways). There was definitely no such sign on the door, and there was someone home the entire day, so that is completely false. Is this in any way relevant to any legal issue or just an example of terrible land lords? </p> <p>I can also try my best to provide any other details if anyone is interested.</p> <p>Edit: I forgot to mention that the level of infestation I imagine is quite low. Despite immense effort, I've failed to see any bed bugs or signs of bed bugs (black specks in tufts of mattress, blood spots on sheets, etc), just the handful of bites. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bugs-picked-up-from-a-hotel-full-of-carpets-what-could-they-be#post-61792 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:04:57 +0000 curlynicole 61792@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello. I went on holiday 2 weeks ago and the second hotel we stayed in was FULL of carpets!!! (we were in Turkey near Aphrodisias in Western Turkey and it was the only hotel in the area ...) Carpets on the floors, hung on the walls, over tables and sofas.. one of which we sat on when we arrived as we were exhausted... The hotel itself didn’t look that clean, being run by one bloke and his lakkie and infact he didn’t seem that keen for us to sit on the sofa but offered us some uncomfortable looking chairs (they had small carpets on them too!) Anyway we did sit on the sofa about 30 mins before eating and going to bed… During this time I was wearing a wool cardigan too… : ((</p> <p>Two days later, (about 60 hours) in the morning at a different hotel … (we only stayed one night at the Carpet Hotel!) we were both suffering from small bites, hardly visible but really quite itchy mainly on our hands.. I also noticed a kind of rash like thing going on down one site of my torso, quite itchy but more rash-like than anything else, although there were some raised pimpley type thing going on there too. Since returning from holiday the “bites” seem to have got a lot more extensive, now especially on hands, wrists in the area of the veins, and up the arms… I can also feel some bite-like symptoms on my feet occasionally or maybe I’m being paranoid?? I also feel that when I wear the cardigan I was wearing at the time, I seem to get more bits… they are like pimples in size and elevation but really quite itchy at first but this soon goes… after about a day the bit has subsided… </p> <p>The strangest thing is I haven’t seen ANYTHING bug-like on my skin at all???? </p> <p>Has anyone any suggestions what might be causing such things and possible treatment? I live in Turkey so any treatment would have to be generic or from a natural source as we don’t have the range of products available elsewhere (despite being quite a “buggy” country!!!) Worried the culprits will be migrating into my collection of Turkish wool kilims!!! Help!!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-3-lb-dog#post-61785 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:09:46 +0000 shaye 61785@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>We have a 3lb dog that has his own bed in our bedroom (where the vampire bugs are) I have sprayed and sprayed and applied de. Thought they were gone when noone received bites for 2 weeks, but sure enough they are still there. Should I remove my dog from that room completely? I have de around his bedding as well but it seems like they are still getting him and I'm worried. Last night I couldn't take it, I needed a break from bites, so I slept in a bug free room while my husband was the bait. I could hear my dog in agony. Was this from the bugs or because I wasn't in there? Never heard him again after my husband got on my side of the bed. Any thoughts? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/site-may-be-down-for-5-15-minutes-10-pm-est-saturday#post-61816 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:42:00 +0000 Nobugsonme 61816@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Site may be down for 5-15 minutes 10 pm EST Saturday</p> <p>Don't be alarmed! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/company-in-coquitlam-bc-that-sells-encasements-etc#post-61804 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:26:38 +0000 sickofbugs 61804@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Canadian Pest Control Ltd. 604-524-5511 sells bed bug encasements for mattress/box springs/pillow cases at very good prices. They have other products too.</p> <p>sickofbugs </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/washing-encasements-necessary#post-61765 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:58:32 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61765@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>The Protect-a-Bed instructions say to wash them for best results. How does washing them making them 'better'? Do I have to wash them? The PCO finished his first visit a little while ago and I forgot to wash the encasements. Really not in the mood to head back to the laundromat to was the encasements if I don't have to. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/30-rock-bed-bugs-reference#post-61727 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:58:47 +0000 eatingmealive 61727@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Obviously 30 Rock is a sitcom, and the reference was out in left field/not totally accurate, but it was a mainstream reference. Definitely not informational, but I enjoyed it. </p> <p>(Jack Donaghy is being discriminated because he is said to have bed bugs) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/im-ready-to-announce-success#post-60916 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:13:21 +0000 Itchy-Scratchy 60916@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>It's been a while since I've been on the forum, as my brain needed a break from all the BB drama. But I thought I'd post a quick update, as I am now feeling a little more confident that we've achieved success. We haven't seen a bug, had a bite or had blood on the sheets since February 2009. And our building, which at one point had 10 infested apartments, is "clean" also.</p> <p>We battled for 7 months and had 12 treatments from Orkin. Mattresses were encased, beds were isolated, we used DE sparingly. I caulked all of the baseboards and all of the bedroom furniture (thanks to Jim's advice!). We put a number of sealed, plastic bins into storage (that won't be coming out until September 2010). My daughter and I are still keeping a lot of items in baggies -- frankly, we are so accustomed to bagging our laundry, we didn't stop! And my daughter's mattress and boxspring were eventually pitched and replaced.</p> <p>I have to say that battling BBs was one of the hardest things I've faced. I still have occassional nightmares where I awake screaming, itching and feeling like I have bugs crawling on me. I snap on the lights, inspect the bed, and then lay down again knowing that I'm OK.</p> <p>This board saved my life. I didn't think I'd get through it. Honestly, by the 9th treatment, I was really losing hope that we'd ever get rid of them. But we did. And that's my message to everyone -- <strong><em>don't lose hope!</strong></em> </p> <p>Kate </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/air-mattress-038-bed-frames#post-61732 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:36:04 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61732@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Is any standard metal bed frame ok to use with an Aerobed, assuming it's the right size; or does it have to be a certain kind to support the Aerobed? Also, any suggestions on where to get one (locally rather than online)? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/temperature-in-single-stand-alone-home#post-61585 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:14:31 +0000 watkinsnewan 61585@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I know that raising the temp inside of my single home will not kill the bugs... BUT will it help the eggs hatch if I were to raise the temp in the home... I have central heat an air...I leave the thermostat set from 69 - 72 degrees should I have it set a little higher to the help the eggs hatch.. and If this will help the eggs hatch... what if I leave the home can I set the thermostat A little higher than when I am home.. What is the ideal temp...will it help.. It has been 5 days since my first treatment... Anyone Please!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-pco-was-going-to-put-de-on-my-couch#post-61714 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:36:56 +0000 twitchyscratchy 61714@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>i came in briefly from outside (i knew he wasn't spraying yet) and he was about to "dust" my couch! that's not good, is it? </p> <p>also, is it normal/good to see little piles of the DE in certain places? my understanding was that it should be too thin to see. it also has permethrin in it (the dust he was using) and he said it wasn't toxic to cats! BS!</p> <p>i've already paid him up front for two treatments- what should i do?</p> <p>he was a really nice guy, but i got the feeling he and i had different concepts of safety- especially where kitties are concerned.</p> <p>thoughts? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/please-help-identify-pics#post-61535 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:35:13 +0000 upagain 61535@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi, please let me know if you think this is BB related. Looks like a book louse but I am unsure.</p> <p><a href="http://img24.imageshack.us/g/sidehq.jpg/">http://img24.imageshack.us/g/sidehq.jpg/</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/climbups#post-61679 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:35:05 +0000 soscared 61679@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Is it possible to find just fecal specks in the climbups, but not bugs? I found loose black specks in the outer well. Strange! How often should the talc be replenished?<br /> Thank you. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-cant-you-packtite#post-61659 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:12:23 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61659@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I thought I was going to be able to avoid getting a Packtite by putting my boxes of old papers, magazines, etc in Ziploc bags and not opening them for a year-plus. Well, tonight I found an old, dead bb in a book! It was on the inside of the dust cover.</p> <p>I was flipping through my books pretty quickly, not really expecting to find anything, but there it was. I read another post by someone who said he never found a bb inside the pages but did find them on the edges, spine, and inside the sleeves; so I made it a point to look there, and that's where I found one.</p> <p>There's no way I'm throwing out my books, and packing them for over a year isn't an option; so it looks like I'm getting a Packtite. Anyway, can you put boxes of stuff in them? I imagine so, since you can put books in them. And I take it boxes with packing tape on them are ok? What about Ziploc bags?? It'd be awesome to be able to put the bags in there instead of having to take all the stuff out. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/dont-know-what-is-was#post-61660 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:17:19 +0000 Vell23 61660@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>But I killed it anyway, I just woke up and found some type of bug on the double sided tape I have down. It was kinda a lil longer than a bed bug, and fatter, but it had lines going thru it, I smashed it with a shoe and no blood came out so I don't think it was a bb. I actually have not seen any on the tape, which got me wondering wats going on with them. I couldn't take a pic cuz I don't have a phone, I know right </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/airtight-containers#post-61513 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:34:09 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61513@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So I have some boxes of old papers, books and items that I want to keep. My plan is to wrap the boxes in Saran Wrap, put them in XL Ziploc bags, then put them in airtight containers and not opening them for over a year or until/if I get a Packtite. Can anyone recommend a good airtight container, preferably that I can buy locally instead of online? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/mattress-on-street-risks#post-61604 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:50:21 +0000 upagain 61604@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I try to avoid walking by mattresses in the street but sometimes I can't (like today, walking with a client and couldn't think of an excuse to cross street, took a peak at the seams too.). What would the risk be of picking up a bugger walking by close to one of these things, or I am just being real paranoid? </p>