Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Reader questions (do not fit into other categories)
Appropriate First Steps
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WonderingWhereToStart
newbite
Joined: Dec '08
Posts: 2
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Dec 7 2008 11:07:35
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The Short Version
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Two mornings ago, I woke up with 3 bites on my arm around the elbow. I shrugged this off as mosquito bites and continued life. Yesterday morning, I woke up with about 20-30 bites along my legs and arms (I was wearing a somewhat tight fitting shirt and flannel pants while sleeping). Last night I slept covered with clothing (I know that wouldn't really help from the faqs) and did not receive any new bites that I can tell (I also woke up several times during the night and turned on a flashlight to see if I saw anything, which I didn't). I am wondering what I should do at this point.The Longer Version
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1. I live in an apartment (I moved in about a month ago). It is possible that the last person who was here left due to bedbugs (or left bedbugs unknowingly) or that my new neighbors have them and they've just now found me (I did not have complaints during the first 4 weeks after moving in, but I also was out of town for about 2 1/2 of those weeks)
2. I did not experience any bites at my last apartment, however 6-12 months ago there was a notice on my door saying that someone within the building had been treated for bedbugs and an exterminator might be looking in my apartment to see if he saw any signs of bugs. At the time, since I wasn't being bitten and I never heard from the exterminator, I did not make much of this.
3. I have been doing a lot of travelling over the last month, including one place where I overheard someone complain that they had to be switched to a different room due to "bedbugs" (I was not bitten). Perhaps I'm just being paranoid about some bug bites that I'd normally shrug off due to hearing this - I'm not sure.
4. Because my new apartment is roughly half the size of my old apartment (I didn't really use most of the old apartment), I tried to get rid of a lot of my old furniture that I did not want to transport (solid wood bedroom set, etc), but I did keep the mattress and box springs. They are now sitting on the floor at my new apartment (amusingly enough this was going to be the weekend that I was finally going to go shopping for a new frame for my bed). In addition to my bed, the furniture I currently own consists of a table (+ chairs), my computer chair, a computer desk, a couple of end tables, and a sofa. I was actually considering selling the table/chairs and giving away the sofa and upgrading to a new one (but obviously that would be a terrible idea if I had bedbugs....). Basically I think all of my furniture at this point is "disposable", in that it would be difficult to let go because I use it, but they are all pretty old so it's not a huge deal.
5. Next year I had planned on finally having enough saved up to get my own place - so I'm happy to ditch a large portion of my stuff (unfortunately, I'd like to keep a few of the more expensive electronics, like the computer).
6. I have two cats.
7. Yesterday was my cleaning day, so I vacuumed, did laundry, etc. (from reading the FAQs this might not have been the brightest idea as it would remove evidence).
8. I have not seen anything (blotches, spots that look like feces, bug size dots) that did not turn out to be lint or cat hair (and one sesame seed - heh).Question
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What is an appropriate strategy for me at this point? Obviously I have no proof that there are bedbugs (or that there is even a "problem"), so it seems a bit premature to notify my landlord (or maybe it's not, you tell me). On the other hand I have a difficult time believing it's fleas because my cats aren't really scratching and I also don't think I would get 20-30 bites from a mosquito. Part of me wants to "nip it in the bud" before the "problem" spreads or gets worse and part of me thinks I'm just being paranoid and keeps saying "Don't Panic". -
BugsInTO
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Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 213
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Dec 7 2008 13:04:21
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Check out your new bldg on the BedbugRegistry. Introduce yourself to your neighbours and ask about bedbugs in the building. See what you can find out. Treatments can cause bedbugs to migrate to other units. Check the trash area for discarded furniture and mattresses. Take a walk through the bldg sniffing for pesticide.
Read the FAQ's for inspection techniques and put out glue traps etc.
Might not be bedbug bites, but 20 - 30 somethings is not nothing.
Encase your mattress and boxspring in any case, if you can afford it.
Good Luck.
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Yeah, get some good quality encasements for your mattress and box springs. If you could carefully put those on your bed you could make some serious progress against an infestation. Keep checking for evidence, but I think the bites are a pretty good indication. It's pretty late for mosquitos, unless you live in FL or something. You can do lots of vacuuming, and already be cautious about your car, and going places, because if you spread them somewhere it will just be 500x harder to deal with. Gather more info about your complex because if neighbors have it there are more issues as well. Keep doing research, so you can get up to speed quickly if the bites continue. You need to have good info when dealing w/ PCO's because many of them don't know what the heck they're doing.
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losingit
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 292
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Dec 8 2008 10:12:34
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If you can, get a bb sniffing dog to check out your place, they're not 100% accurate but a lot better than a human inspection.
It's possible your bites are from a trip you took - my bites definitely showed up around a month after I was bitten, a lot of people say it can take up to two weeks for bites to develop but not in my case.
Not saying you don't have them, I think a bb dog is the best step for now though.
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WonderingWhereToStart
newbite
Joined: Dec '08
Posts: 2
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Dec 8 2008 10:36:50
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Thanks for the comments and ideas.
I couldn't find a good encasement at the local stores I looked at so I ordered one online. In the meantime, I've put a cheap vinyl cover on and duct taped over the entire zipper. I moved my bed from the floor to a cheap metal frame (I taped over the sharp edges to make sure it shouldn't cut the encasement). I put the bed on some risers, mostly because it will be easier to vacuum underneath it (I am not attempting to isolate the bed). I've denied my cats access to the bedroom (they are not happy) as I don't want them to claw up the encasement and render it worthless. I removed all the bedding and moved it into either a giant ziploc or a contractor garbage bag after washing it. I washed about half my clothes and put them in giant ziplocs (I didn't have time to do the rest - will hopefully finish tonight or tomorrow night). I put on clothes straight out of the ziploc after showering, but I didn't leave for work for another 20-30 minutes. I think tomorrow I will just put my pajamas back on and do a "switch" right before I leave and dump my pajamas in the washing machine (is that too paranoid?).
Two new bites last night, so there's definitely something around.
My building is not in Bedbug Registry (then again, there's not much entered into Bedbug Registry for any of the suburbs of Minneapolis). I have not seen discarded furniture or mattresses, but I hadn't been paying that much attention (I will now of course). I did not smell any pesticides when walking through the building.
I put out some glue traps (hopefully I catch something) - basically rat/mouse traps and then I put an air activated foot warmer in the middle. They didn't catch anything. I put another out this morning before I left in the hopes that while I'm gone they might be more interested in such a small heat/CO2 source if they are hungry.
Questions:
I know that people say that adults are about 3/8 inch long. According to my measuring tape, a dime is about 5/8 inch long. For people who have seen an adult before, should I expect the size to be roughly "fits comfortably on a dime, but covers most of it"? The pictures of adults I found never seemed to have a good perspective so I could get an idea about how large of a spot I should be looking for.
What has people's experience been with respect to notifying their building management that they are being bitten and that they suspect there are bedbugs in the building (but don't have any proof but bites)? I know every apartment is going to be different, but in general will I be taken seriously or will they demand I bring some sort of proof? Since I've been taking preventative measures to try to contain a potential infestation (vacuuming, cleaning, etc), I'm a bit concerned about a PCO not taking me seriously either if they did get one... (unless they've had bedbugs in that apartment before...). Are there any arguments, points I should make if they are resistant to getting a PCO to at least take a look?
Are there any other things I should be doing (beyond continuing to vacuum/clean/unclutter/bag) at this point that would help my chances at success? -
goingalittlecrazy
newbite
Joined: Dec '08
Posts: 1
Posted 1 year ago
Thu Dec 11 2008 11:02:53
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I am in the exact same situation... New apartment, got a great deal which I suspected very soon after was because of a previous infestation. My apartment was "remodeled" with all new appliances but it's clear that the updates were done in a hurry. Just last week I came home to find a neighbor throwing out their mattresses and rugs outside of the building and found out that the bedbugs were back. They had their apartment treated by a PCO and I have been in a constant panic since (we share a wall). I am going crazy because I don't have any solid proof that I have had any but I do have what I believe to be three scabs from scratching at bites on my lower leg. I had JUST purchased all new furniture from IKEA (all of this after moving from Montana in August...). I also have two cats and don't know where to take them to get checked? My main concern is whether or not I need to seriously consider breaking my lease and moving. I am bringing in a PCO just in case tomorrow but I am still confused about whether staying in my apartment means submitting to a life lived out of ziploc bags? Someone help!
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Overwhelmed
junior member
Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 42
Posted 1 year ago
Thu Dec 11 2008 12:16:13
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I also have two cats and don't know where to take them to get checked?
This is one thing that I wouldn't worry about. The bed bugs aren't going to take up residence on your cats like fleas or ticks would.
Unfortunately, if you do have an infestation at present, picking up and moving probably won't solve your problem in and of itself because you could bring the little monsters with you.
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