Going back to NYC and my apartment has bed bugs! « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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Going back to NYC and my apartment has bed bugs!

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dh306

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Sep 10 2010 15:49:52
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Bad news, I went on vacation and my roommate called to tell me the apartment has bed bugs.
I had some bites ( I thought were mosquitos) before I left, I even have periodically been looking for bed bugs since I am pretty paranoid as it is and it is becoming so common in nyc. My landlord did not check my apartment but said there are enough apartments in the building that he is having the exterminator come but not until the 21st! they did give a list of instructions to prepare and seem pretty legit. (city pest services)

One of my worst fears is that I brought them with me on my trip, I haven't had any bites and once I found out I looked for them (staying with family) and I really do not want to have given them to them. I did warn them.

I really need advice on cleaning, since I am bring back all this stuff with me they may or may not be infested.

Also, since they exterminator isn't coming for around 10 days what I can do on my own to get as many bed bugs dead as possible. chemicals, natural stuff, I don't care I just want them dead.
I put the instructions below:
they don't want us to to put the mattress cover on until they get there (should I just buy and put on on now and in 10 days?)
I also have a lot of books in my living room not sure if the bed bugs are there, what should I do about that)
My vacuum doesn't have a bag, should I change the filter each time and clean it out with hot water and bleach?

I couldn't sleep all last night thinking about it.

PLEASE HELP!

Strip the bed linens and launder all sheets, mattress pads, blankets, and pillowcases
in hot water and dry on high heat. Items that cannot be washed should be placed in a dryer on the hot cycle (120 o F+ for at least 15 minutes). After all linens are cleaned, store in sealed plastic bags until after treatment. No bed linens should be on the bed at the time of treatment. All Bedding should be laundered at outside cleaners.

New or old mattresses Must be covered with new mattress covers. Protect -A- BedMattress Encasements can be ordered Directly from City Pest Services. priced according to size. Please note service will not be provided if appropriate encasements are not present at time of service. The technician will place the covers on the mattress & box spring for you.

All, night stands, dresser draws, closets should be emptied out.

All clothes must be removed from closets. Leave Hangers in closet.

Place all shoes and purses that can withstand heat in the dryer on the hot cycle,
and then place in a sealed plastic bags until the treatment is completed. If the items
cannot withstand the heat, thoroughly inspect and vigorously vacuum them. Once the
items have been determined to be bed bug free, place them in sealed plastic bags until
the treatment is completed.

All clothes should be put in plastic bags, brought to outside cleaners cleaned in HOT water & dried. ( DO NOT PUT CLEAN CLOTHES BACK IN SAME BAGS USE NEW BAGS)

If possible, place all bagged clothing and items away from the walls and toward
the center of the room. Our technicians should have as much access as possible to the
room’s perimeter base moldings during treatment.

Discard excessive cardboard boxes, papers, magazines, etc., in the rooms with the
infestation. If possible, items to be discarded should be placed directly into plastic bags,
promptly sealed and removed.

Remove all pets from apartment prior to treatment.

A complete vacuuming should be done and vacuum bag should be thrown away. This should be done after treatment as well.

All books, DVD's, CDs and personal files need to be inspected! Run a vacuum along
bindings and edges, and inspect for signs of bed bug activity. Once these items have
been determined to be bed bug free, place them in sealed plastic bags until the
treatment is completed.

Upon arrival ventilate apartment by opening up windows, wipe down all surfaces with damp cloth. Hardwood floors should be moped.

Please notify technician of any pregnant woman, health issues or concerns.

Excessive clutter will hamper the effect of the treatment, therefore please make sure all items are properly stored, and off the floor.

All electrical outlet covers need to be removed.

All baseboards, cracks, crevices around apartment (house) should be sealed with silicone, to prevent harboring of insects. After treatment.

Be prepared to vacate the dwelling after treatment for about 2-3 hours to allow time for chemicals to dry.

ABOUT BED BUGS:

Bed bugs feed mainly off of human blood
Symptoms may not be noticeable for 2-3 days
Symptoms could include swelling and itchiness
Bites may appear in a line of 2-3 bites
Bed bugs lay approximately five eggs per day
Bed bugs can survive up to one year without a “blood meal”

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENCASE YOUR PILLOWS, MATTRESS AND BOX SPRING:

Infestations are most commonly found in mattresses and box springs.
Some infestations may take up to three months to notice.
Infestations are very difficult to eliminate.
A bed bug mattress protector is more cost efficient than replacing your mattress once it is infested.
If your mattress or box spring is already infested, a protective barrier will lock bed bugs inside.

REMEMBER: THE SUCCESS OF THIS SERVICE DEPENDS UPON YOUR COOPERATION
so unsettling

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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Oct 24 2010 2:44:31
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well,, that's an excellent and well-detailed rundown, and it explains why we should be allowed about 2 months to get ready before the pest control people arrive to do their thing. This is ridiculous and impossible. It is also why people begin throwing everything away, especially books, cds, shoes, and similar items. They simply cannot be "inspected" in the manner described. If there was anything in them, they would probably fall to the floor or get on your clothes while you were wearing your eyes out looking.

Another thing I don't get in these instructions and others like them--what is the point in putting everything in zip lock bags during the treatment? With many of these items, you may not have gotten the creature out, and it will just survive inside the bag and when you open it, after treatment is over, the bug will just carry on. By then, the insecticides will have lost their power.

But I am sorry you are dealing with this and good luck to you. I am still in the midst of this ordeal and have already had two treatments without having all my stuff organized in bags. As far as the vacuum goes, you might want to get a different one; I think it is easier to deal with the bags. You just have to do the best you can to get ready for the treatment; I really doubt that anyone is ever as ready as these companies claim to require. It would be much easier to just burn the whole place down.
nycyn

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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Oct 24 2010 3:29:31
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And what are disabled and people with limited mobility to do? Kill themselves?
The Reluctant Entomologist

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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Oct 24 2010 10:19:18
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This is why I think someone has to figure out a better way. This is no way to have to live. My PCO prep sheet was similar and claimed that the average family needed 2 or 3 days to prepare. WTF??? And of course, if it's not done to the letter, the warranty is null and void, and you've just spent your life savings on this crap.
biggil

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Joined: Mar '11
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Posted 2 years ago
Tue Mar 8 2011 22:29:48
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There was a mistake made here when the sheets were pulled off. It is at the time the sheets are pulled off that you must be prepared to wipe the bed bugs out. If you ever pull the sheets back and see an infestation your best bet is to put the sheets back on the bed. This way the bed bugs will calm down and stay right there.
When you pull the sheets off the bed you frighten the bed bugs into fleeing. They run for all corners of the house at this point. Jumping off the bed as they flee. They will sit in the surroundings that they ran into waiting to get back at you. This means you will have to protect and barrier many more locations than if you had just put the sheets back on and got prepared.
This is the number one reason that an infestation last so long; because, the targets are spread all over the domicile before any attempt to remove them were made.
To the question Should I do the encasement Of course do not delay for any reason.
To the question How many location are they in? The answer to that is "unless you have disrupted a nest the bed bugs will be in one or two locations through out a domicile and not all over" They are going to be where ever you spend he most time, your bed, your desk, your couch watching TV. When you disrupt a nest the bed bugs will be all over the domicile.
cilecto

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Posted 2 years ago
Tue Mar 8 2011 22:53:54
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...and here's bed bug guru & forum participant Jeff White explaining why in his view the "typical" prep routine is counterproductive. Wish more PCOs would pick up on this. The bed bug crisis would be a lot more manageable.

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And to the OP, I would have advised to just calmly return home read this FAQ and take conservative steps for relief:
- vacuum likely surfaces and toss the bag or use tape to lift bugs. Use hard tools only, no brushes and if it's bagless, then wash the cup thoroughly in hot soapy water and wipe dry while inspecting. If filter is washable, again, hot soapy water. Bleach doesn't offer you anything over soap and heat.
- use contact killer (like detergent or alcohol) on likely surfaces (mattress piping), inside of box sping, behind headboard, but work carefully, on platic tarp to prevent scattering.
- relieve symptoms (if any) with over the counter remedies or, if necessary something prescribed by a doctor.
- strategize how to prevent spread to visitors (maybe have none 'til you figure it out) and to prevent spread to places you visit (ie work), following this FAQ, perhaps
- learn more about bed bugs and how to beat them by studying this site's excellent FAQ and Resources pages. Unless you've been away for a long time, or you've just been hit by a massive onslaught, you've likely been living with BB already. They suck, but they can be dealt with.
biggil

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Posted 2 years ago
Thu Mar 10 2011 18:09:29
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To nycyn:
I offer my services free of charge to the low income and the elderly citizens. I am professing that the cure of the bed bug is in the information about the bed bugs. While I am a residence I leave a copy of one of my books with the victim. I drag the tenants along with me and give them a hands on while I am explaining what we are doing. With the elderly I end up doing most of the work; but, I educated them about how to avoid this situation in the future. I can be found in the craiglist location of Las Vegas under the volunteer section. Search bed bugs or bedbugs.