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D-limonene in Murphy's and flea products
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Margaret
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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Nov 4 2007 6:01:21
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For devotees of Murphy's oil soap, I have a question. Living in St Petersburg, Russia, I haven't been able to find Murphy's so far. Still, since we have hardwood floors in our apt with cracks btw each board, and woodwork that offers plenty of cracks between floor and wall, I'm hoping to find something to follow up after our one PCO treatment.
I have read on the forums that Murphy's has d-limonene, which is also found in some anti-flea products. I thought I could go to a pet shop, find a flea soap and spray with d-limonene, and use them on the sofa and in woodwork, and even to mop the floor as a follow-up. Would this be of any use? I mean, would mopping my floor with flea shampoo and spraying flea spray on the sofabed and in woodwork do anything? Or not? The one BB we have seen since the PCO treatment was dying an awful death (I hope) inside the sofabed, and we have no evidence that the infestation has spread beyond the bed.
The PCO came 12 days ago, so I'm starting to anticipate the next generation of BBs. The PCO said they guarantee their single treatment for a year. When I asked her if some eggs wouldn't be hatching in the next couple weeks, she said they shouldn't be. Still, I am wary.
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mrbill0626
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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Nov 4 2007 10:48:41
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Margaret:
It sounds like the treatment your PCO gave could be designed to kill the next generation of bugs as they hatch. So maybe it's a residual killer, in other words. When the eggs hatch, the newly hatched nymphs crawl through the stuff they sprayed and then die. And that breaks the life cycle. Ask the PCO about this, and of course keep an eye out for any more bugs, especially nymphs, the newborns. These can be hard to see though, because they are more or less transparent right after hatching, until they get a blood meal and then they turn darker with the blood they consume. (See the FAQ on here called "What do bed bugs look like?" It shows the life stages from eggs to nymph (the tiny one) to "adolecsent" to adult)And if you get anymore bites be sure to take note of it. Write down the date it happens if you get any more bites. But anyway, about the cracks in the floors, can you get some DE (diatomaceous earth) where you are? You can probably order it online, but shipping charges may be high, especially to Russia. But if you can get some DE, you could put some of it into the cracks and around baseboards. Murpys Oil Soap is a contact killer anyway, not a residual killer, so my understanding is it won't kill anything after it dries. But see what some others on here may have to say about this, and of course, keep in touch with your PCO with any questions too.
Hope this helps!
Mr Bill
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oldtimer
Joined: May '07
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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Nov 4 2007 11:37:23
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Margaret
Do you have access to other citrus based cleaning agents?
I think Mr Bill is right about d-limonene being a contact killer. The dog shampoo is not a proven approach for bed bugs, but may work.
The recommendation for the use of Murphy's oil soap is based on the personal observations of readers here on this website.
There are a number of household substances that will kill bed bugs on contact in addition to citrus oil. High proof alcohol will work (here is your vodka based solution), but it has to make direct contact with the bed bugs.
DE is a good choice for crack & crevice areas, if it is available to you.
Otherwise you may want to make a list of agents that are available & ask Sean at the BedBugResource.com for advice about which ones would be useful & safe for self application.
I am writing to you from Saint Petersburg, Florida by the way.
Good luck
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Nov 4 2007 16:01:02
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I would not spray anything or use a cleaner anywhere that the PCO sprayed. It sounds like the product they used had a strong residual and you could wash it away(!) You could ask them, of course.
DE is fine. However, I don't think you need contact kills. That one treatment sounds pretty strong. I think she sprayed your sofa bed, and so using something on it might take away from that, as it would on the floors and cracks.
Only one dead bug sounds great. Any bites?
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Margaret
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Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 16offline
Posted 5 years ago
Mon Nov 5 2007 2:39:38
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Thanks for following my Russian saga, you guys! I appreciate all your suggestions. I *think* I have no new bites so far, and I think that is the key question before I go into do-it-myself mode. I had a couple of tiny but long-lasting red itches a couple days ago (I usually get big red spots that blister)--I was sure they were baby-nymph bites, but then I haven't gotten any more. Keeping in mind that they feed every 3-5 days, I'm waiting for more (or at least something to convince me that those *were* new BB bites) before I call my landlady and ask for the PCO to come back.
In any case, the response was pretty quick last time--the PCO came 2 days after they called--so if any more bites appear that I can show my landlady as definitive evidence, then we'll get the ball rolling again.
OK, so I'll trust that the woodwork, sofabed, and floor are treated with a residual killer. The PCO told me I could mop it off after a week, but I've left it on 13 days already (I'm not fond of mopping, plus, I like having poison on my floor) (that was meant to be a joke, but with BBs around, it's partially true!). I suppose I should mop today--but I think I'll leave the woodwork alone. I'll try to find DE based on one of its many pseudonyms (found a list on one of these pages last week), but am not too optimistic about that.
As far as the vodka solution goes, well, I'll keep it in mind, but I'm not sure I'd waste good vodka on BBs. I opted for the "tea" solution instead: I've dumped boiling water along cracks in the sofabed (not thinking about washing away the residual!!!). Mmm, BB tea.
I should add (I try to keep reminding myself) that when the PCO came, she didn't offer any recommendations about follow-up on our part, such as bagging clothes, and bed linens etc. (though we have done that). So her method (and pesticide) must be pretty potent, and maybe I really don't have anything more to worry about. Will continue being vigilant, but won't do anything silly with doggie shampoo.
Doug, thanks for recommending Sean again at the BBresource to check chemicals. I will do that before trying anything on my own. Greetings to the other St Petersburg! And again, thanks to all for advice. --Margaret
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 5 years ago
Mon Nov 5 2007 4:13:38
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Margaret, maybe they really were concentrated in the bed. We're told this was more true here in the past, when beds were made differently. It certainly can happen and it does sound like the bed was made for bed bugs.
It is fully possible that you got them in your clothes--dirty laundry, for example. It would not hurt to bag up all dirty clothing and linen and wash (as hot as is possible). And dry if possible. Some information suggests even a colder wash will kill bed bugs, and then you'd only have to worry about eggs. (Bagging dirty and clean clothes to wash gradually might be an option if doing it all at once is too much.
Or, you could wait. If they come back and you have the place re-treated, then you could bag and wash in advance, just to be on the safe side.
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