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Lots of bites>>can't afford exterminator

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JayCouls

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Posted 9 months ago
Wed Aug 1 2012 1:58:34
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So, a couple of months ago my husband and I washed our bedding. I remember finding a tiny little dead bug in the blanket AFTER it had been through the dryer but I checked the mattress for any signs of bugs and saw nothing so carried on. Within a month I started to get itchy little spots all over my arms and my feet. I've experienced hives all summer from normal allergies so I thought perhaps it was just a flare up of hives. Unfortunately, I was just sitting on my couch and saw a little bug crawl out from underneat the sleeve of my PJ's! I instinctively swatted it away. Having the laptop right there on my lap, I google image searched "bed bugs" and had a eureka! moment. It was a bed bug, small and flat reddish brown...creepy! And that explains all these bites It's been a couple months since I spotted that one dead but so how bad is it now?! Chances are they are in my actual bed, but my husband is sleeping in it and I can't wake him to strip our room for bed bugs. It's 1am and I'm sitting on my floor all crawly and itchy and I don't know how I'll sleep! My husband and I are totally broke- barely scraping by this month on rent and Aug/Sept will be just as tough. We can't afford an exterminator. Should we let our landlord know? Are there any cheaper chemicals we can get at Wal Mart to destroy or at least "disable" the little guys or is this going to cost us an arm and a leg? What can I do? Anything to alleviate my anxiety! Your replies are much apprieciated.
DreDay17

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Posted 9 months ago
Wed Aug 1 2012 2:14:26
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You should defiantly tell your landlord as the bed bugs could be coming from another residence into yours.

Also, please read through the FAQ and other resources for information.
Traumabugged

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Posted 9 months ago
Wed Aug 1 2012 2:16:54
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My deepest sympathies. Even though I cannot really do anything useful to help but you've found the right place (forum) so try to relax a bit and sleep for a while.
JayCouls

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Posted 9 months ago
Wed Aug 1 2012 22:20:17
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Welp, almost 24 hours later and I confirmed an infestation in our mattress! They were congregated near a couple of areas on the mattress and box spring. I snagged one and put it in a ziploc bag, went through our bedroom top to bottom, cleared out the clutter, washed all out bedding and went over every square inch of my mattress/box spring like 3 times with the vaccume, behind my nightstands, etc. Vaccumed our couch and recliners and emptied it all in the dumpster outside. I cleaned all day and will contact the landlord about it tomorrow. Hopefully she will pay to exterminate them. My husband hasn't really been bitten but I have bites all over! It makes me all crawly to even sit on my couch or chairs! Ick! I'm freaking out that this is going to last months and months and maybe even years (per the horror stories on this forum)
Nobugsonme

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Posted 9 months ago
Wed Aug 1 2012 23:33:39
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You need to find out the local
laws -- are landlords required to pay for treatment? In many places, they are. And if so, then it's going to probably resolve the problem more quickly and fully than trying to self-treat.

A tenants' advice organization can usually advise you -- Google should help you find one. Alternatively, a reference librarian at the main public library can usually help you find out the laws which apply to rentals. Try to find a tenants' org first.

If it turns out you must self-treat, seek advice from some of the experts here and the comprehensive guides in the Resoures page.