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General questions about killing bed bugs (Phoenix, Arizona)
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Evolve.Marpi
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 8:26:50
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Hey,
My name is Matt and I'm been plagued by disgusting roommates, which in turn caused me to be plagued by BBs. The roommates were easy to get rid of, but now I'm in a three bedroom apartment by myself that I don't want to introduce anyone else into for fear of them going through the misery I've been through over the last few weeks.
Basically, I just have a few questions, but I would also like to list the things I have done and if anyone has any other suggestions, I would love to hear them. One last thing, I'm on a pretty slim budget, because of the fact that I'm 18 and in a three bedroom apartment on my own..
Things done:
Cleaned. Mercilessly. Vacuuming scrubbing rearranging and de-cluttering as much as was possible.
Put down boric acid everywhere in the kitchen. (This was for the roaches they caused..)
Sprayed in // around all furniture and all baseboards with "Good Night" from SprayWay, which I read was almost exactly the same as this "Bedlam" spray I've read about here. (Weekly)
Sealed my mattress // box spring, after applying the same "Good Night" spray... and maybe some raid I'm sure I should not have used.
Put boric acid around the baseboards that my bed is against. (I know it's not VERY effective, but it can't hurt, right?)
Also sprayed the "Good Night" along the edges of my bed not against a wall. (Again, weekly)
Had a PCO out from my apartment complex, who said he couldn't do anything and sprayed some chemical around my baseboards that he said was intended for roaches...
I believe that's about all I've done.Next would be my questions, if any of you would please be able to answer..
I've heard of using two sided tape to identify bed bugs, if I were to surround all pieces of furniture with it, would that be an effective way to track problem areas?
If I do find specific furniture affected, do you think that if I were to put them on my balcony that the bed bugs would die, keeping in mind that it's currently about 110 during the day and Arizona measures temperature in the shade, so in reality it's much hotter..?
If I've been consistently spraying the "Good Night" residual weekly in each of the empty rooms, where there is no other furniture, would it be safe to have people move in, or are there places other then the baseboards the little bastards could be hiding?I'm sorry for the extremely long uncategorized post, but I'm at my wits end, as I just found a bug today when I was hoping they had all been dead.. and I personally can't afford the $1000 for rent on my own any more.
Any help is VERY much appreciated, if you all would be so inclined as to give me some advice.
Thanks!
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Evolve.Marpi
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 8:58:58
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I'm sorry, I also have one more question,
Does rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle kill eggs or just the hatched bugs?
Because that was one thing the PCO did suggest that I was curious on. -
Evolve.Marpi
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9offline
Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 9:05:58
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Ugh.. I have one last comment, as I read the post over again, there are some grammar mistakes. Sorry about that, it's 6am and I still can't fall asleep knowing they're still alive..
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buggyinsocal
oldtimer
Joined: Jun '08
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 10:23:06
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I have a few questions for you first, and one short comment, before I can answer your longer questions in more detail.
First, the comment. 91% rubbing alcohol (not 70%) is a contact killer for bugs and nymphs. The PCO was right about that. It does not, however, kills eggs. Chemically, nothing except for Bedlam kills eggs, and even Bedlam only works on some of the eggs. One of the things that makes bed bugs so hard to eradicate is that we don't have good chemicals to kill the eggs.
Secondly, what exactly did the PCO say when he said that "he couldn't do anything?" This doesn't make sense to me. I've never heard of a PCO saying that.
Third, do you know what the local laws in Phoenix are about who pays for bed bugs treatment? In many places, landlords are responsible for paying for treatment. I might call your local health department or tenants' rights organization (a word of advice--don't give them your name or address up front in the first call to protect yourself. But mention that you're trying to find out what the local laws on bed bugs are and want to know who is responsible for paying for treatment). It may be that your landlord is financially responsible for paying for treatment. If that's the case, you may not have to do battle alone.
On the other hand, since your LL's PCO seems reluctant to deal with them, it's hard to know whether that's because in your city, LLs don't have to pay for treatment or because he just doesn't know how to treat them.
The reason that I ask is that bed bugs are very, very hard to eliminate effectively and safely through self-treatment. There are a handful of people on the boards who have done so, but it often ends up costing them as much or more as hiring a good PCO would have cost in the first place. As a result, we generally do not suggest self-treatment as an option. Doing your own bed bug treatment often makes the problem worse and can be dangerous to your health if you don't follow careful safety protocols that require specific equipment.
Lastly, about do it yourself thermal treatment. I wish it were as easy as putting items out in the heat. I live in southern California (Los Angeles county) where I don't get temps that high, but I'm within easy driving distance of places that do. For a whole host of reasons, putting furniture or other items out in that heat is not a reliable way to kill the bugs. It might kill them, but the bugs might find a cool spot inside the item and hide there or simply crawl out of the item and into the shade before the temperature reaches the death point. I'm not saying it won't work. I am saying that you can't count on it working 100%, and that getting it to work is harder than you might think. (There are several posts on thermal and on trying to debug an infested or possibly infested car that cover this in detail.)
And, there's nothing in your post about laundering all fabric items in hot water and then drying them 20 minutes past dry on high heat. That's a basic bed bug protocol that eliminates bugs and eggs from fabric items. Have you begun the process of doing that and then sealing any items you're sure are bed bug free in ziplocks that are new and therefore also bug free?
Your most reliable way of quickly, effectively, and safely getting rid of the bugs is to have a good PCO who knows what to do with bed bugs treat the apartment. If you live somewhere where it is the landlord's responsibility to pay for treatment, it may not cost as much as you're afraid it will. You're only the second posts I think I remember seeing from Arizona, so I'm not sure anyone on the boards already knows land lord liability laws for your area off the tops of our heads.
Hang in there.
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persona-non-bugga
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Joined: Aug '07
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 10:31:56
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Hi Matt,
Put boric acid around the baseboards that my bed is against. (I know it's not VERY effective, but it can't hurt, right?)
The pros say boric acid is not effective at all against bedbugs. Forget "very." ('tho, like you said, they're great against roaches.) There are dusts that work against bedbugs - like diatomaceous earth.
To monitor for the presence of bedbugs, look up forum and blog posts on interceptors like Climbup. They go under furniture legs. Unlike double-sided tape, they've been shown to work.
You sound very stressed out and understandably so. You've done a lot of cleaning and work that has probably exhausted you but, sadly, is not sufficient to eliminate these bugs. You're only eighteen. If you can, get some competent professional exterminating help.
Do you own this apartment? If not, have you told the landlord? He/she has got an interest in getting rid of these bugs also.
You found a bedbug today. If you get new roommates before eradicating these bugs, your roommates and their possessions will be exposed to bedbugs. Good for you for being conscientious about this. I know you're financially pressured. I hope you stick to your ethical guns and don't have people move into this situation. If you can't afford this apt, then find a new place. Recruiting two new compadres to inflict this misery on will only create more problems.
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Evolve.Marpi
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9offline
Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 15:48:45
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Thanks for the replies, guys..
buggyinsocal:
Thanks for the info on the rubbing alcohol.
The PCO came out and said that he had never dealt with bed bugs. He said he didn't think the stuff he had would work so he just sprayed it around the baseboards, probably for the roaches I mentioned that I haven't seen in over a month in a half. Boric acid was awesome for those bastards, but it seems bed bugs are just ridiculous. He also said that the apartment complex may just go through another company for this, and that they would call me when they knew what they would do, but it's been about three days and they have not called me.
I have been washing the clothes that I need in hot water and then drying them twice, and just leaving them in the dryer until I need them. I guess I should be sealing them after I wash them. Underestimating these damn bugs is a bad idea.
Persona-non-bugga:
Do you know if any major retail stores carries food grade DE? I'd rather not order online, as most of the places I have been able to find it online have extremely shady shabby looking websites, and then it takes the time to have it shipped even if they don't steal my CC information..
And yes, I told the complex front office. They looked at me like I was disgusting and then said they'd send their PCO over. Who then had no idea what to do. I really would rather avoid talking to these people again, but I realize I don't have much of a choice.
I do really want to avoid spreading these repulsive things to other people. Some friends of mine who need someplace to stay for a few months want to move in in a week or two, they are aware that I've not completely gotten rid of these. Should I just go all out and make sure I get a good PCO at least twice before they get here, or should I ask them to hold off for longer if they can?
I can throw out my couch (which is the only place I've seen a bug in about a week) and then purge the surrounding areas with chemicals. I would be more then willing to put food grade DE along the edges of the entire house on top of having the PCO come, as I know that the DE doesn't kill them very fast so much as it's a process of dehydrating the bastards.Unfortunately for me my bed is just a box spring and mattress on the floor, no legs, and I don't react to bites. I've been extremely alert for the bugs and visually inspecting everything and not seen anything, but if the two sided tape isn't a good way to track them I'm not sure how I'll find out for my room, but here I haven't seen one in about two weeks.
So, after I find out whether or not the landlord is required to take care of bed bugs, should I just go talk to them about what they want to take do? And if they aren't obligated to and don't want to on their own, how can I find a PCO that's should be able to deal with them? Also, do any of you know what it costs approx for a PCO? My budget is still pretty slim, but I'm sure I can manage something..It might help if I mentioned that when my former roommates found out they had bed bugs, they started sleeping in the living room on the couch // floor.. and did not tell my why (I work nights, and did not know why they were sleeping in the living room until I had a day off) until I asked them, and then they told me, so they had time to take root as those morons decided to both not tell me and proceeded to do things to make the situation worse. Also, they spread them to my other roommate at the time who left when they were kicked out. I got them in my room last, and (I hope) right at the beginning. So, in short, if the things I've done on my own aren't working then they literally are in every room of my house..
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Evolve.Marpi
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9offline
Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 15:54:24
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Scratch that. just found on on my bed. My room was ground zero for all of my purging as well. I suppose I really will have to break down for a PCO who can deal with BBs.
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Evolve.Marpi
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9offline
Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 17:42:22
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My apartment complex says they will not pay to have a PCO that knows how to deal with bed bugs.
they said that they will cover every type of infestation other then that.
when the health departments are open tomorrow, I'll call them to see if they're required by law, and if they are i'll point it out to them, and if they refuse i'll probably contact a lawyer.
if they're not required to, i dont know what i'll do. cant afford the $300 they want to charge me for one visit. -
Evolve.Marpi
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9offline
Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 17:43:12
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Oh, and the woman at the front suggested that I just "Throw away my mattress" as if that would solve ANYTHING.
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persona-non-bugga
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Joined: Aug '07
Posts: 340offline
Posted 4 years ago
Sun Jun 7 2009 23:22:38
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Do you know if any major retail stores carries food grade DE? I'd rather not order online, as most of the places I have been able to find it online have extremely shady shabby looking websites, and then it takes the time to have it shipped even if they don't steal my CC information..
I'm sorry, I don't. You could try googling local gardening supply places - maybe Home Depot's gardening center. Call down the list of stores and ask if they carry fresh water DE.
As for your bed .... if you want to use the interceptors, consider getting a cheap metal frame.
And Matt, this is tough news, and I'm sorry to give it: if your friends move in with you in the next week or two, they'll be moving into an apt with bedbugs. I understand the circumstances that might press this into happening. But you and your friends should be really clear on that fact before the move. They will be bitten, and they might react. They will have to participate in treatment protocols. These bugs could hitchhike back home with them, etc.
On a more positive note: you've heard of food-grade DE. That's good.
Did you read the FAQs on this site? There's info on how to hire a PCO, deal with laundry, prevent spreading the bugs, how to get rid of bedbugs from stuff, etc. If you haven't, read the FAQs. If it's too much info to take in at first, read it again.
Your intention to eliminate this problem is right on. I just get the sense that there are some info gaps and confusion that's making this situation even more stressful and chaotic. The FAQs will put a lot of info in context and help you put together a strategy of how to manage this problem.
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Evolve.Marpi
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9offline
Posted 4 years ago
Tue Jun 9 2009 17:19:50
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So I called around the health department and tenant lines and none of them gave me any real information.
So I checked on the BBB website for the Orkin near me, which said B-.
But i called and they quoted me about 130 and then 50 when they came back, but the guy says they DONT spray the baseboards or really anything inside the house, that they kill them from the outside.. this doesnt make any sense to me. that sounds 100% worthless, seriously. That's not just me right, that wont do a god damned thing? -
Evolve.Marpi
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 9offline
Posted 4 years ago
Tue Jun 9 2009 17:27:54
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Actually that was the HQ, my javascript was disabled so i did not see the location near me.. they got an a+
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bedbugsbad
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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 50offline
Posted 4 years ago
Tue Jun 9 2009 17:48:09
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Matt,
You're right, there is no way to treat bedbugs from the outside. The person you spoke with has no idea what they are talking about. Additionally the cost is too low and represents what a major PCO would charge for a regular (e.g. ant, roach etc.) spray. It seems in Phoenix has not had as major an investation yet and as such most PCO's don't know how to treat.
One of the best ways to find a PCO in this situation is to Google undernews "Phoenix and bedbug" . In this way you get tv and newspaper reports from Phoenix outlets referencing the bedbug epidemic. In almost every case the author will be quoting a local PCO who is knowledgable on the subject. For example:
http://www.kpho.com/houseandhome/19367796/detail.html
These are the PCO's you want to call and interview. Additionally the local university housing or entomology departments often have experts, and again are often quoted in these articles. Good luck.
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kimberlymock@yahoo.com
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Jul 30 2009 21:36:38
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I know that it has been a month and I hope that you have found some sort of a solution. I went through a bed bug experience about two years ago and I live in Arizona at an apartment complex. I did a lot of research and found that the LL's liability is to take care of a BB infestation. Although mine ended with throwing away everything I owned.
Ok so after several calls to the health department and overtime them telling me that it is not considered a health problem I turned to one of the local TV stations like three on your side and they ended up contacted the health department for me and that is when the apartment complex started actually working on the problem and the health department sited the apartment complex and stuck with them for 1month to ensure that there was no longer a problem. So keep trying the health department and if they still do not help you call the news stations they get it going. They love helping out the little guys.
Also if you told you apartment complex and they did nothing about it you can end up getting you rent back for the months you lived with BB and them not helping.
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newbite
Joined: Apr '11
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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Apr 28 2011 17:14:28
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Many people believe that the bed bug problem is mainly limited to New York, Chicago and other major cities on the East coast, you would be surprised at how many bed bugs have made it out here to the good ol' southwest. I am a k-9 bed bug inspector here in Phoenix. My partner, Marcie, a two year old beagle mix and I inspect homes all over the valley for bed bugs. The problem is growing at an alarming rate. If you haven't already had a problem with bed bugs, I suspect you have heard of someone who has.
If you have bed bugs, it can be a very traumatizing even in your life. I have helped hundreds of families with bed bug infestations and even though I do not treat bed bugs, the education I can provide is priceless.
The reason I am posting here is because I am dedicated to bed bug education. If you have any questions at all about bed bugs, please feel free to call me or visit my website for more information about what I do and how I can help.
Thanks,
Abenadi (AJ) Richards -
tfom
newbite
Joined: Aug '11
Posts: 2offline
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 20 2011 21:26:10
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Recommendations for people in Phoenix fighting bedbugs:
This is from personal experience and success eliminating bedbugs. I used a combination of PCO treatment and some cheap but effective home treatments that eliminated the ones that were deep in my furniture. I have a degree in Meteorology so I decided to use the greenhouse effect to heat up my furniture to bedbug killing temps.
The first thing I can say is to be on alert and don't let them get a strong foothold. If they are only in your furniture you are in pretty good shape. I won't say prevent them because you can't. I knew that a relative had them and there was a possibility it would get passed to my house. If you see bites in a pattern, you should assume you have bedbugs. Mine looked like a half moon shape. I couldn't find live bedbugs at first but I knew they were there. Don't waste time, get an exterminator quickly. You don't want them to move out of the furniture and into the walls. Put all your clothes in black plastic bags and put them outside. Don't return them until they have been through the dryer. The exterminator wasn't getting all of them out of my furniture so here is what I did that really did the trick and its cheap and effective as long as it is summer in a hot climate.
I went to the local Uhaul store and bought plastic couch covers, loveseat covers, and the large roll of Saran Wrap (its green). I knew of live bugs in my couch, loveseat, and one of the beds. You need two plastic covers per couch. Put one underneath first, someone has to lift the couch while you get it in place. Then put the other on top and seal the seams with duct tape. At times I rolled the seams together and then sealed them. The goal is to have this airtight because your going to use the greenhouse effect to heat the furniture up in the sun. It's ok if the plastic is not tight to the furniture, it just needs to be sealed. For the mattress and boxspring I used the green saran wrap. I wrapped both and sealed any questionable seams with duct tape, especially where it met on the ends. A tip, put the ends of the mattress and box spring on plastic chairs so you can easily wrap the bed. This is a three person job, one on each side of the bed and one to hold the mattress. This stuff is tough and I left it on when I brought the bed back in and its still on today. Its way cheaper than a bedbug cover and just as tough (try tearing the plastic and try tearing a bedbug cover).
Take your sealed furniture and put it outside, facing south, preferably with a little distance between it and an outside wall that reflects sunlight back onto the furniture. I registered surface temperatures of 200 degrees and temperatures deep within the couch of 180 degrees. For the mattress, I turned it midday so both sides took direct sunlight. Leave the furniture outside for as many days as you can live without it. We had no couches or beds for a week (we slept on the floor and sat on plastic lawn furniture). I cannot promise this will work in less sunny locations, but for Phoenix it is great. Technically you should be able to achieve these temperatures even in May because it has more to do with trapping the sun's energy than outside air temperature, but the high air temps will certainly help. I also used my car as a bedbug killer for things I couldn't fit in the dryer. Also, look for puncture holes on the mattress and box spring and seal them with duct tape (if you are leaving the plastic on). The total cost for this treatment was around $30 and was the most effective way of killing the bedbugs in the furniture which is where most of them lived anyway (closer to the food source). I hope this helps. I should start a business but I want to share this with anyone who is suffering.
P.S. If you live somewhere cold, the reverse should work. Don't seal anything and put it in the extreme cold.
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tfom
newbite
Joined: Aug '11
Posts: 2offline
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Aug 20 2011 21:28:45
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P.S.
I used Truly Nolen. They aren't cheap, but they will keep coming back for a year. Then never complained when I asked them to come in and treat. They also came and dealt with Palmetto Bug (i.e. Big A$$ roaches) that start coming in during June looking for water and cooler temps. They got the bedbugs that were out and about but heat is the best killer for those hiding deep in the furniture.
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