http://bedbugger.com/forum/ Bed bug support forums en Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:59:28 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38389 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:36:33 +0000 Nobugsonme 38389@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Oh, and it sounds like the landlady has moved past the idea of tossing sofa and bed but just so you know, you should not borrow anyone's car (!) to dispose of a bed bug-infested sofa, which can't be reliably sealed (IMO). </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38388 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:35:18 +0000 Nobugsonme 38388@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I_Miss_Sleep,</p> <p>Just so you know, there's no way the PCO can be <em>absolutely certain</em> the other tenants do not have bed bugs, even if he did a visual inspection and gave them the all-clear (which I assume they did for your unit too, after treating it 6 weeks ago).</p> <p>It sounds like you are getting somewhere with the landlady, which is good. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38298 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:38:42 +0000 Marixpress 38298@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>n/m </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38294 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:15:15 +0000 I_Miss_Sleep 38294@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>She came up again to pass me some info on treatment dates, and I told her a little more about the encasements, and how it's not an advertising claim, but actual lab testing that makes me so sure nothing can get in/out, and she seemed less sure, but told me to check with the PCO about it (which I suppose I can do, since all our treatments are now scheduled for my day off, augh again -- I'll have to get up early to go somewhere else all day). So I guess that's something, although just talking about it in front of her made me finally burst into tears, which made me feel like a total putz. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38291 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:57:29 +0000 buggyinsocal 38291@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I_miss_sleep,</p> <p>I'm so, so sorry that you're clearly so stressed out over all this. A lot of people don't know as much about bed bugs as they should. Everyone and their brother told me I'd have to get rid of the mattress because that's where the bugs were, and lo, months clear of the bugs, I still have mine. </p> <p>Here's what I would do: first, don't try to talk to the landlady when you're as emotionally upset about the mattress as you (understandably and rightfully) are right now.</p> <p>Second, see if you can't find something here in the FAQs or something on one of the professional's websites to print out to give to her about the whole "must toss mattress" myth. It's possible that if it comes from a professional, she'll be more inclined to hear it.</p> <p>Third, keep in mind she may be in a position of having to tell you things she doesn't buy herself. If the higher-ups are mistaken, she may simply be under orders from them about the mattress.</p> <p>And, fourth, as a last resort, if you ultimately decide that you have to toss the mattress because that's the only way to deal with the higher ups, don't forget about air mattresses as an "until you're sure the bed bugs are gone" option. Which would also give you a bit more time to save up to replace the mattress. I don't honestly think it'll come to that, but I know that when I was most freaked out about money, I got a less less overwhelmed and panicky when I realized I had options that didn't involve trying to come up with the money for a new mattress immediately.</p> <p>Hang in there, and keep us updated. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38290 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:34:16 +0000 losingit 38290@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Ask your landlady point blank how tossing your mattress will help (but not in a snotty sarcastic way). If she says 'oh that's where the bugs live..' then you'll know she really doesn't know that much. Cos really, as MyWorstFear says, it's not that simple:)</p> <p>And so what if the higher-ups are tired of you - you're tired of the bugs. You have more at stake than they do, don't give up or lose hope, keep chipping away at their arguments. </p> <p>Hey, here's an idea: LIE, tell her; yes you've tossed it and that you bought a new one?! How would she know? Tell her you took it in your parents car far, far away. I truly, truly hate lying but it could just ease the path to treatment... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38287 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:15:13 +0000 I_Miss_Sleep 38287@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>It's not my place; it's a rented apartment, and I get the feeling the higher-ups who approve maintenance are getting very tired of me. Over my landlady's objections -- she really does know bedbugs, just maybe not the encasements -- they're only agreeing to treat our suite this time. Yes, this is stupid. No, I have no control over it.</p> <p>I have no control over anything. I've done everything that's been asked of me so far, and it hasn't helped. I don't want to throw the mattress out when it really seems like that's not the answer, but what can I say to her if we still have them and she says, "Well, have you thrown your mattress out?"</p> <p>And I know for sure my husband won't agree to throw it out, because we spent so much money on the encasements (they had to be imported, and UPS hit us with a huge fee for that), so I feel completely stuck.</p> <p>I'm having some Very Bad Thoughts. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38282 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:18:39 +0000 Marixpress 38282@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Sounds like you need extensive caulking done in your place when you're done with this round of treatment</p> <p>(doh! double post) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38280 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:17:58 +0000 Marixpress 38280@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>CAULK! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38279 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:16:16 +0000 MyWorstFear 38279@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Sorry you are going thru this. Your landlady doesn't understand bed bugs and seems to think that if you "just throw out your mattress and boxspring" that's the end of the problem. Wish that it was that easy. Losingit has a good idea, assuming that your PCO really knows bed bugs and can educate her. Best of luck to you. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38278 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:50:07 +0000 losingit 38278@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Sounds like your landlady doesn't really understand about the mattress covers (I assume if you have a boxspring that's covered too?). I wouldn't throw it out no matter what since you'll have to get a new mattress and a new cover = $$. If need be contact a reputable PCO and have them confirm the usefullness of these good covers and then tell your landlady what the PCO said.</p> <p>As for the couch, it's hard to treat them I know, but she can't insist you chuck it out unless she's willing to pay for a new one. Plus you'll either have nothing to sit on or get a new one and then you're back to square one if THAT one gets bugs too. Hold on to what you have and continue to get treatments until the problem is resolved.</p> <p>You're doing the best you can, hang in there, have faith, (take care of your cold!) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/just-some-useless-wailing#post-38275 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:58:09 +0000 I_Miss_Sleep 38275@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>We have the Aller-Zip encasements, and put them on our mattresses after our third treatment. Six weeks after that, I caught another bug, and took it downstairs to report it. My landlady says that we're the only unit infested in the building, that the PCO gave the eight surrounding units the all-clear last time and it's just us.</p> <p>She also insists that we have to throw out our mattress and box spring, and took me to the basement to give me big plastic bags to double-wrap them. I tried a couple of times to explain about our encasements and how they'd be keeping anything in there inside and not letting anything new in, but she just shook her head and kept saying we had to get rid of the mattress. She also said that we may have to get rid of our couch, too.</p> <p>The building's policy is that the furniture has to be disposed of off-site, and I understand that this is so that people don't go, "Well, that looks just fine" and bring the infested furniture back in. Trouble is, I'm going to have to ask more favours of the in-laws to achieve that, since we have a small car. I'm not even starting to think about how we could possibly afford a new mattress and box spring, let alone a new couch, and where we could sleep in the interim, because then I'll cry, and I'm trying to avoid that since I have a horrible cold, too. </p>