Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Introductions
Advice on Hangers, company, and coping.
(4 posts)-
PHbrooklyn
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 3
Posted 4 months ago
Tue Jul 21 2009 21:11:44
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As a preliminary matter, this is a unique and wonderful community and I am grateful that it exists.
To my story,
I saw one, unfed, adult bedbug on top of my sheets during the late morning after I had left the bed and killed it. It did not flee, and was in daylight. I did not know to save it, as I did not know yet what bedbugs looked like. When I discovered a picture, though this site, I panicked. I am positive that the bug I killed was a bedbug (by the black splotches on the thorax).
Taking the steps outlined in the FAQ's and from several other sources, I did the following:
(1) laundry and quarantine (plastic bags/protect a bed);
(2) in depth inspection of entire apartment with construction halogin lamp inc. taking apart bed;
(3) Cleaned with murphys/vaccumed;
(4) sprayed pyrethrin/pip.butox. contact kill in all cracks and crevices;
(5) obtained (after 2 weeks) and diatomecious earthed all cracks, creviecs, sockets as well as broken down bedframe/leather couch (with nosh mask);
(5) caulked;
(6) isolated bed with double sided tape and Vaseline.I have not found one additional bedbug at any stage, dead or alive, or anything that looks like a nesting site.
I am still not at ease. I have no obvious bites, but my mind races and I get little sleep. My work suffers.
I have the following questions for this community:
1) can I hang my worn dry cleaned clothing back in my closet on hangers? My suits won't be covered in plastic after one wear.
2) Should I let my significant other back into my apartment for the night? She other believes I am overreacting. It has been a month since the initial sighting. I treated with contact kill the day of, and every three days until putting down Diatomecious Earth seven days ago. I couldn't bear inflicting this on her.
3) Should I move when my lease is up? I will have the same furniture. And will not likely leave Brooklyn.
4) has anyone had luck with vapor cleaners? I live a clean and organized life generally, and if a vapor cleaner would help me fight the bedbug plague, I might be able to justify the 600$ outlay.
5) even though I have no evidence, should I tell my (small) landlord, just as a heads up? I planned on sounding the alarm if I found any additional signs, I have not yet.
6) finally, should I take additional steps to isolate my bed?Thank you all. Again, this community, and ones like it, are a miracle and a sincere comfort.
Regards,
PHBrooklyn -
de-selftreat
junior member
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 46
Posted 4 months ago
Tue Jul 21 2009 21:26:05
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my 2 cents, strictly as an amateur
I have the following questions for this community:
1) can I hang my worn dry cleaned clothing back in my closet on hangers? My suits won't be covered in plastic after one wear.
yes, it sounds like you don't have bed bugs any more, if you ever did.
2) Should I let my significant other back into my apartment for the night? She other believes I am overreacting. It has been a month since the initial sighting. I treated with contact kill the day of, and every three days until putting down Diatomecious Earth seven days ago. I couldn't bear inflicting this on her.
yes, let her back into your apartment. stop freaking out
3) Should I move when my lease is up? I will have the same furniture. And will not likely leave Brooklyn.
no
4) has anyone had luck with vapor cleaners? I live a clean and organized life generally, and if a vapor cleaner would help me fight the bedbug plague, I might be able to justify the 600$ outlay.
it's clear you live a clean, organized life. you had one bug, and that's not a bedbug plague. i'm not even sure it was a bed bug. where do you think it came from?
5) even though I have no evidence, should I tell my (small) landlord, just as a heads up? I planned on sounding the alarm if I found any additional signs, I have not yet.
no
6) finally, should I take additional steps to isolate my bed?
no. isolating the bed a dubious move anyway, it might stop you finding signs of bed bugs if they are around, and it's the last thing you want to push them to going to your neighbors, if they really are bed bugs.
Thank you all. Again, this community, and ones like it, are a miracle and a sincere comfort.
Not sure if I count in this, but I can happily give my opinion. -
DrFrank
junior member
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 122
Posted 4 months ago
Wed Jul 22 2009 0:21:37
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Buy or make some monitors for the bed. Isolating without a capture mechanism will prevent you from determining if you have (or have eliminated) an infestation.
I have one of these: www.vapamore.com . It works okay, but it does tend to spray water until you learn to work in long sprays instead of short bursts, and spray out the condensation before you put it close to stuff. I don't know how it compares to other dry steamers, but it's cheap(er).
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PHbrooklyn
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 3
Posted 4 months ago
Thu Jul 23 2009 21:55:13
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De-SelfTreat,
Thank you for your responses.
I think the bug came from outside my apartment, perhaps the neighbors. I saw the bug after days of leaving my windows open at night in late spring. I live in a part of Brooklyn with a reputation for bedbugs. I am certain that it was a bedbug.
Dr. Frank,
I have clear two sided tape on the legs of my bed below a two inch band of Vaseline. The tape has been clean since applied. However, I plan on purchasing monitoring strips.
I may break down and purchase the whitewing. I am into cleaning, so I may get my monies worth aside from the bedbug fighting properties.
Thank you for responding.
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