Good lord I think I found their Base of Operations « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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Good lord I think I found their Base of Operations

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DDavid

newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 9:32:59
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Hello there - cluttered Oscar Madison type with Captain's Bed here.

It seems last night I found where they come out... a corner crevice in the headboard near my mattress and pillow. I wouldn't have thought there was a crevice, but I saw a small black substance "leaking" out of that corner. When I tried to get it with a piece of curled tape, a bedbug came out.

I taped the entire line across and the corner as best I could, but couldn't sleep, thinking what I'd done probably would result in their relocating to get to me within the day.

The management is looking into what poisons the PCO uses and whether he has a license (didnt know one had to be licensed per poison and not just to use poisons). They claim a success rate treating bldgs in the past but havent worked with this PCO before (remember he's the regular bug guy contracted to make the rounds and keep roaches out).

I have a nasty job ahead of me clearing out my place and somehow bagging things (no one's come forward to explain what sort of bags are a "safehouse" against these things). But for now it SEEMS they haven't hit the closet.
DDavid

newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 10:30:25
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ANYWAY I did have a question or suggested advice.

During the course of the cleanup I wonder if it is worth clearing out the headboard, somehow getting that funky fossil dust, and treating the area and removing the headboard ahead of treatment? The thought of hundreds of bedbugs lying wait inches from my head is unnerving (although they've never attacked my face - yet).
buggyinsocal

oldtimer
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,160

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 12:05:34
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I didn't use DE so I can't say, but there's a pretty extensive FAQ on it over at the main site. If I were you, I'd read over it before doing anything, and most importantly, don't use it before clearing it with the PCO. Even though it's not a poison, anything that you do to the apartment needs to be coordinated with your PCO.

http://bedbugger.com/2007/03/30/faqde/

For example, steam can be a great weapon in the fight against bed bugs, and many PCOs and bed bug warriors, as spideyjg calls us who fight 'em, use steam from dry vapor steamers.

But using steam on some places in your apartment while you're being treated can actually undo the poisons that the PCO has laid down.

DE can be a useful part of an overall strategy, but some PCOs won't treat places where it's been laid down, and some detection dog/handler teams are the same.
spideyjg

oldtimer
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,524

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 12:12:18
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See the "captains bed" tag for more advice from the professionals.

I know experience and actual BB knowledge seems to have fallen out of favor around here lately. But the tag contains a lot for people to understand or just toss off as part of the great PCO worldwide conspiracy.

Jim
DDavid

newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 13:27:54
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Okay, it seems I shouldn't do a thing with the bed or headboard until the rest of the place is ready for a treatment, then have them dismantled (yes, it was from Gothic Cabinet Crafts) and wrap the pieces so no one is remotely tempted to salvage the thing. I dont know how I'm gonna reconcile with one drawer of themed sheets and pillowcases. Both in their being rescued and where I'd store them (I needed those drawers).

The PCO was a noshow on Saturday for some reason. Management was going to have a talking to with them. I still don't have a good feeling with mister roach guy.
stricken

junior member
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 75

Posted 4 months ago
Wed Jul 1 2009 0:04:20
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My landlord was making me use our roach guy too. But as of 3 a.m. last night, when I found a bedbug on my air mattress (having thrown out my infested couch and wooden platform bedframe on his advice, though now knowing it wasn't disposed of properly and probably infested the entire building in the process, and been sprayed twice), he is so fired. I am going to start from scratch with my own pest-control company (NYC recommendations welcome) and let my LL fend for himself.
I consider it an investment to get a reputable company that specializes in bedbugs and knows not only the protocols but also the science/logic behind them. This will also help prevent future infestations.
Marrowneress

newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 3

Posted 1 month ago
Thu Sep 24 2009 1:01:46
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Depending on the size and shape of the Head board you could always go to home depot get some large plastic wrap and use duck tape to seal. Live and let starve for a year and a half.
bbfiend

junior member
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 82

Posted 1 month ago
Thu Sep 24 2009 10:21:18
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FYI, The Container Store sells these HUGE yellow-tint, clear plastic bags for HUGE items.. I think they have the size right for your headboard.

We got some for our large pieces of art work... I think they have sizes large enough for mattresses too..
bbfiend

junior member
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 82

Posted 1 month ago
Thu Sep 24 2009 10:21:55
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I think they are called Banana bags or something like that, with the word Banana.... (yellow tint)