I found success, maybe you can too « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed Bug Success Stories

I found success, maybe you can too

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GoingNuts0410

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Feb 13 2012 8:02:03
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Hello everyone I posted on here a few months ago about my issues with bedbugs and how I could not sleep, eat, or function because of the psychological impact this was having on me and my boyfriend. We have been bed bug free for over 6 months now and I thought it would be nice to share our experience and tactics.

First of all we cleaned like maniacs. And when I say clean, we did major overhaul of all old clothing we no longer used, swept, threw out old drawers or furniture that was merely taking up space in our room, shoes and over misc. things like books, book bags, etc. I cannot exaggerate the effectiveness of throwing away crap that the bugs love to hide in and you don't use anyway. So we caulked the corners of our room, bathroom, hallway, etc. we spread DE on our front door every night before we went to bed, since we don't know where they came from and we were suspicious of the less than hygienic people in this building and we also put it in the front of our closets, other doors around the house, etc.

A PCO came once to reinforce what we were doing and he himself said that it looked good in here and he saw no remaining signs of bed bugs. Before we caulked we also used diluted alcohol in a spray bottle for preventive measures, it worked just fine.

As for the beds, we used the bedbug proof mattress encasements for both bottom and top, we removed our bed frame and got a simple metal frame with climb ups. My boyfriend was reluctant about the climb ups but I have to say that we not only found dead bed bugs in them for days at a time but they out my mind at ease. We cleaned them out once a week and reapplied baby powder each time.

After many months of scratching , crying, frustration and hell we believe we have finally rid ourselves of the menaces. A really good telltale sign was my dog since he was getting bitten and scratching himself much more than an ordinary dog does. He has been normal and I haven't noticed anything wrong with him, and since he spends most of his time on the floor, we consider him a good marker for reinfestation. We stay constantly alert and continue to clean and take preventative measures whenever we can. I advise everyone to never give up and seek therapy when it gets too much to handle mentally but it is possible. Good luck fellow beg bug sufferers!
jrbtnyc

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Feb 13 2012 16:32:45
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GoingNuts0410 – I'm not claiming to speak for anyone else, but thanks for taking the trouble to describe how you have emerged victorious. It can mean a lot for others just initiating the process to read accounts like yours in Bed Bug Success Stories.

As a way of comparing how far you've come, here's your earlier thread:

http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/i-am-quickly-losing-my-mind-extreme-anxiety-attack .

Are there any more details/tips/tricks you might be able to add?

And what was the cost altogether – I take it you did have some budget for the battle?

It sounds like your approach was pretty much DIY – Do It Yourself – which, it is said, often doesn't work very well so if you can shed light on how you got it to work for you that might be especially useful to others.

(Did you use the DE often but, as strongly recommended, quite sparingly each time where it was hardly visible to the eye and wouldn't kick up in the air? Have you noticed any unusual feelings as to breathing which might be from the DE if it did kick up?)

(By cleaning your clothes do you mean in a conventional washing machine and dryer?)

(You were able to avoid having to apply any chemicals? The PCO you mentioned came and inspected but didn't "spray"?)
GoingNuts0410

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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Feb 14 2012 7:46:31
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jrbtnyc - 14 hours ago »
GoingNuts0410 – I'm not claiming to speak for anyone else, but thanks for taking the trouble to describe how you have emerged victorious. It can mean a lot for others just initiating the process to read accounts like yours in Bed Bug Success Stories.
As a way of comparing how far you've come, here's your earlier thread:
http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/i-am-quickly-losing-my-mind-extreme-anxiety-attack .
Are there any more details/tips/tricks you might be able to add?
And what was the cost altogether – I take it you did have some budget for the battle?
It sounds like your approach was pretty much DIY – Do It Yourself – which, it is said, often doesn't work very well so if you can shed light on how you got it to work for you that might be especially useful to others.
(Did you use the DE often but, as strongly recommended, quite sparingly each time where it was hardly visible to the eye and wouldn't kick up in the air? Have you noticed any unusual feelings as to breathing which might be from the DE if it did kick up?)
(By cleaning your clothes do you mean in a conventional washing machine and dryer?)
(You were able to avoid having to apply any chemicals? The PCO you mentioned came and inspected but didn't "spray"?)

Hey jrbtnyc- I put a very large amount amount of money into this project, which I know is not something everyone can do. I would estimate that I spent between 500-600$ in about two or three months with washing clothes, dryers, buying extras and so on but I was willing to do anything and spend any amount of money for the itching to end. The approach was VERY much DIY and that was because when we heard about the horror stories of expensive PCO visits and no luck, we figured we couldn't be any worse off than trying for ourselves. No one knows your apartment like you and it is up to the individual to assess what areas of the house are broken with cracks/ need to be cleared, etc.

When I mentioned cleaning my clothes I initially meant throwing away old clothes that take up space in your closet and throwing away furniture that also you don't need. I know the general rule is to try and not throw your furniture away but when one undergoes the amount of stress I did I was ready to live in this apartment with nothing but a bed and a tv. The DE I used was sparse and very thin and I didn't notice any inhalation problems, neither did anyone else in my household. The best tip that I can give is to please stay vigilant, it is such a hard struggle but if you stay with it, it will work. A lot of people stop trying because they keep getting bit, and you will for a while but you will eventually notice a lessen in your scratching, itching and restlessness I guarantee it.

As for the PCO he visited and did an inspection and said he thinks he didn't need to spray but we had him spray away and it was a environmentally safe solution that was ok for our pets and us to be around.
jrbtnyc

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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Feb 14 2012 13:04:18
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Are you kidding, $500-$600 is el cheapo! Now everyone is going to want to be able to replicate your success at beating the bugs for such a bargain-basement price.

By the way, are you able to name specifically the environmentally safe solution your PCO used because it's a favorite topic – what choices work yet are safe around humans and pets.
bugs-mi

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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Feb 15 2012 5:07:35
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I'm happy for you, your persistence has paid off.

One spray that was recommended for do-it-yourselfers by a local (Michigan) company is the Ortho Home Defense spray. They said (and they specialize in BBs) that, tho it's not "listed" for BBs, that it works very well and is listed as safe for indoor/home/self use. Of course, you must follow the label as to usage, and avoid spraying on items you touch or kids touch. But for baseboards, and other out-of-the-way areas it works very well. It also works on many other pests...

We tried it and were very pleased with the results, and it's CHEAP -- only a few dollars at home stores...

Amazon sells traps called "Climb-ups" for far less than you might find them elsewhere, and they work well as long as you isolate the bed to prevent BBs from accessing it by another route - like a bedskirt or drape. You MUST, however, use a metal base beneath the trap if it's used on carpet or the weight of the bed will crack the trap. Try thick metal hot pads -- available at local stores or on-line -- as a base, they're only a dollar or so each and work well.

Good Luck