Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed Bug Success Stories
got rid of the bugs
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littlestowaways
newbite
Joined: Aug '10
Posts: 1offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Aug 10 2010 11:18:09
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I was getting bitten, two or three bites at a time, close together. I'd get the bites and about two weeks later, I'd get more. That's the bed bug signature pattern. I looked but never found any of them or any of their leavings or signs, but I sleep in an old wooden bed so there were lots of places to hide.
I didn't have the money to pay the big prices I hear exterminators are charging, so I did some research on the web. I came upon the food-grade diatomaceous earth solution and tried it. Now I don't get bitten any more.
I have put things I keep but don't use often in large clear plastic bags in case they got into my closet. I have sprinkled the DE on the floor, in the closet, in old purses, etc. At first it didn't seem to work. I found a crack in my bed frame that I'd overlooked and added DE there. But the thing I think that really got them was that I sprinkled some DE in my bed near the bottom (my legs were the part of me they bit most often) since I was the bait. That seemed to end it.
Now I don't worry about bed bugs. If they show up again, I'll just kill them again the same way. I have enough DE left to last the rest of my life.
Be sure to get food-grade DE, don't mess with the stuff they use in swimming pool filters. -
buggyinsocal
oldtimer
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 2,440offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Aug 10 2010 11:49:49
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Littlestowaways,
How did you confirm that you were fighting bed bugs and not one of the pests that are often mistaken for bed bugs like carpet beetles, fleas, or something else?And, how long have you been bite free?
To anyone else who might read this,
The method that littlestowaays describes here is not recommended as a treatment for bed bugs. Littlestowaways's account does not explain how he or she confirmed that it was indeed bed bugs. DE can kill other pests besides bed bugs, so the fact that the bites stopped is not necessarily confirmation that bed bugs were the culprit in the first place.In addition, even food grade DE is not the totally safe "all natural" substance that many less than reliable sites online suggest that it is. While many of us think of DE as a very useful and important tool in the fight against bed bugs, it's generally not enough on its own to eliminate a bed bug infestation, and if improperly applied, it can be a major health hazard. Please read the the FAQ on DE before using it.
At the bare minimum, people should be using appropriate personal protective equipment (specifically an N95 respirator mask, which is cheap and available at any hardware store) while applying even food grade DE and should only apply DE to places where, say, sitting on the bed or couch or walking across the floor will not kick dust up and make it airborne where it can be inhaled by people not wearing PPE.
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Beth
account closed
Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 612offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Aug 10 2010 20:38:27
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I am glad the DE worked. It is sort of miraculous, isn't it? More effective than any pesticide I've gone with. The trouble with it, as buggy mentions, is it is an inhalation hazard. It should not be applied, in my opinion, to mattresses, or to cover large areas of a floor. I am only using it now as crack and crevice treatment and in outlets, in front of heat vents. In joints underneath a bedframe would be safe I believe also.
Please be careful. Yes, use a respirator. But glad your bugs are gone!
Amy
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bedbugginNYC
junior member
Joined: Aug '10
Posts: 59offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Aug 25 2010 0:32:10
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I'm hoping the DE will be helpful as part of my "kill bed bug" regimen. Of course, I will use all precautions mentioned and only use it in isolated areas, crevices, cracks, etc.
I'm glad it's helped people out there.
Would anyone else like to comment on their experiences with DE?
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