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Mattress encasings

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nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 7:06:21
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I know that the forum recommends the mattress encasing from National Allergy (might have got the name wrong). OK my pco came yesterday. I saw some new blood spots and brown things looked liked dead bugs, but dunno. Anyway, I don't think I encased the mattress properly. My question is: If I buy and spend a lot of money on encasings from National Allergy, do they rip easily, are they worth it? I want to really encase my mattress because I think I did it wrong and that's how the bbs were biting me and my kids. I was thinking of getting the vinyl on the inside and cloth on the outside encasing. Should I get 2 for each mattress? Thanks a bunch!
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 7:33:57
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One more question, how do you get the air out of the encasings? I thought I did a good job, but when I put the mattress with the encasing on the bed it bubbled up. Any techniques to get rid of the air?
coopbugged

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 9:17:40
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You could try using your vacuum to suck the extra air out (holding your hand around the hose then taping it up).
willow-the-wisp

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 9:20:01
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you could have somebody lay down on it (on the bed) before you zipper it up?
lieutenantdan

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 9:40:54
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Google Cooper Pest. Richard Cooper and a company I think is called Residex are now selling BED BUG PRoof encasements at around the same price as the best dust mite encasements cost. See the info on Cooper's site. The encasements have a reinforced zipper to keep bugs out. I just ordered some the other day, of course they ship and you can order on line or by phone.
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 11:45:10
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YES - you should order the encasings from National Allergy Supply (or somewhere similar.) I ordered 2 - one for my mattress and one for my box spring. Although they were pricey, I give those covers credit for helping me solve my bedbug problem relatively quickly (all in all, we got rid of the bugs in a month.)

I recommend the cloth covers with vinyl insides. They are soft, and you can't even feel them on the bed.

I know they work, because after I put them on, the next day I could SEE the bugs underneath the cover! They weren't moving, but I could see the little brown spots (adults) just waiting to be let out. So gross.
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 14:06:22
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Thanks, guys, but do these expensive encasings rip easy? I know I need to order them right away, but I can't until May 20th when the charge will be put on my credit card for the following billing period. I already spent hundreds of dollars on storage bins and ziplocks, etc. Please, do they rip easily??
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 14:40:56
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Hi nyjammin, this is none of my business, but I hate to see you spend major dollars on expensive mattress encasements. Yes, the National Allergy encasings are recommended on this blog, and to answer your question, no they don't rip easily, but you could use vinyl encasings, try to get the sturdiest you can find, or heavy plastic painter's tarp (something thick, like 6 mil thick) and DIY your encasing. Willow did his own encasing this way. I use vinyl encasings (and I had a National Allergy encasing like the one you are intending to buy) and I feel more secure with what I use. Yes, vinyl encasings can rip. On the other hand, bedbugs can live and lay eggs on fabric encasings. So, your bed better be isolated perfectly if you are going to use fabric encasings.

Also, more important, the reason that you may have seen blood and excrement on whatever encasing you currently have is not necessarily that you failed to do it properly. Maybe your bed is not properly isolated. In fact, that is the likeliest reason. Did you follow the instructions on the faq? If you isolate the bed, but don't make sure that it is completely bedbug-free before you put it on risers and the whole bit, then of course you will continue to be bitten in bed.

I am conflicted in telling you all this because I disagree with the NA recommendation on the blog and, as if that were not enough, I'm using a different, unproved, not endorsed strategy with my bed, so I am not an objective source, but I really hate to see you spend so much money just because everyone else is. You can isolate your bed effectively with something less expensive. Others have done so. Ask Willow.
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 15:10:00
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No, the National Allergy covers don't rip at all - they are cloth. It is an investment, true, but they worked for us (and I tried the cheap vinyl ones to no avail before I broke down and got the Nat'l Al. ones.) I would look around for a similar product at a cheaper price.

BTW, I also isolated the bed, using the directions on the FAQ (they saved my life!) with the mineral oil bowls, et. al. All of these things combined contained my problem pretty quickly.
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 15:31:34
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BBsnomore

I isolated my bed doing everything but the mineral oil bowls which will be my next step but...if they can't get up on the bed anymore just where do they go? Will they start venturing around the house to the other bedrooms to find some new blood? Or do they hibernate in the walls until we slip up and then come back again...I think what I am really wondering is....do we ever really get rid of them? Here I was celebrating 6 weeks of no bites and BOOM, I get bit.....they were just fooling me all along the little monsters...
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 15:37:42
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All of your guys advice are great. Anyways, when my pco came and took off the vinyl encasings I saw new blood and fecal matter on the boxspring and mattress. I have not isolated the beds yet. I know this is vital. I don't have enough hours in a day. I have laundry to do from yesterday and I may not get to it until tomorrow. I have appointments and meeting from my kids schools. I'm a low-income person so the agency is calling me for appointments. I was sick last week and had to go to the doctor. I was decluttering everything, helping kids with homework, cookings, well, I was just soooo busy. I'm also on this blog A LOT and that takes hours! I plan on getting caulk to caulk up all the holes on the beds. I will put DE down the holes first. I will get double-sided tape and tape around the floors and maybe the ceiling and walls, etc. The only thing I did was put vaseline on the legs of the beds.

I bought temporarily, the vinyl covers for the beds until I get the "good" ones from National Allergy. Hopeless, your ideas are excellent, but I may not have time to go looking for painters tarp. It's just quicker if I order them online. Do the encasings from NA fit snugly. I was thinking of putting the encasings OVER the ones I already have. Do you guys think this is a good idea or should I just throw the cheap vinyl ones away and then put the NA encasings on them. What if I hire a new pco and they tell me to take off the encasings and then I have to buy new ones all over again?
willow-the-wisp

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 15:40:43
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NYJ-- I htought you were using the havy duty painters tarp--under 40.00 for a 50 foot 6 1/2 foot long at an ACE Hardware ... if you guys have that. I have a NA pillow case and it is nice, I have to say ... My painter's clear plastic with the duct tape is really sturdy--and I do believe it can be blown clean easily wiht a blast steamer.
I reccommend this becase of the bunk bed--it's up so high and will be easier to clean.
I SUGGEST--Don't let them take the covers off again--those PCO's. if you sitll ahve some of the plastic left--you could sort pf aptch seal it but it has to be 100%
Today when I redid m bed and I lay down on it--it rose ... like you were talking aobut yesterday... it slowly slowly settled down so since mine is doubled I don't think I have to worry about that too much.
But you know I did it all before I came on this site--or right at that time. The pillow case I have also slowly slowly lets out the air I think it is 1 micron or something. Do the best you can but remember after the beds ar 100% isdolated It will within a week or so get easier to handle all of this!
Best wishes willow
PS I'm still laughing over what yu want me to do with "Oli" maybve I should mail him to you lol
worst case scenario--and I'm not suggesting this really but as a last gasping effort--constriction sites sometimes leave this type of plastic out as garbage. I did get a huge bit 3 years ago--but be sure ( if you have to resort to that) that it's got no bugs on it.maybe your man can help you out here in getting some "reconditioned plastic. I don;t know ... the more I think this is not a good idea--jsut another last option.
less bites = less bugs
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 15:54:26
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WTW, you named "IT" Oli. Gross. Anyway, I thought that I encased the mattresses pretty well. The first time the pco came I only saw what looked like molted skin. Small and very light brown. But, the second time I saw new blood and speckled spots. So now from that experience, I knew that I had not encased the mattresses well. If I get the NA encasings and do what the faqs said like tape the zipper, how do I know that will really seal off my mattresses.

With painter's clear plastic, doesn't the fitted sheet slide all over the place. I bought plastic encasings from the storage place and found out, geez, that it has "manufacturer's holes" in it. Sh.t! But I duct taped those and now the fitted sheet come off every time we sleep on the mattress because it's so slippery. Well, it's plastic. Hopeless and Willow, does that happen to you?

Ltd. I'm going to check out that google site you mentioned. so much work, so little time.
lieutenantdan

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 17:26:57
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Truth be told that the bugs appear that they can get in and out of the zipper areas that is why we are going crazy with using tape along the zipper which is hard to do. I had this product originally on my infested mattress and they got in. Personally my vote is for a product that is innovative and proactive in research. Now the dust mite encasements seemed to work well then but now bed bugs happened, and in my opinion the dust mite cover companies should be on top of this bed bug epidemic and develop a product that helps us in our war. Get on it Corporate America you have a chance to make a large profit and help us at the same time.
The only problem I see with the Cooper encasements are if they do what they say they are supposed to do that is good.
My question to the Cooper people is how do you clean the outside of the encasement when the things take a poop?
R. Cooper knows of that problem and told me that they are working on a way to solve it. I believe him.
You mention little time, I received my covers in three days from Cooper if that is helpful. I advise speeking to them if ordering but check site it will inform you about measurements this way you can have that info together.
I have not tried mine yet but I do have a bed ordered and in time will put Cooper to the test.
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 17:34:48
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LTD: when you said "I had this product and the bbs still got in", did you mean encasings from National Allergy? And if so, how do you know? Did you like take the encasings off and then find them?

When I found blood stains on my sheets, what I would do is dab a little white-out on the spots. I now have white spots, but they are so much more nice to look at than poop or blood stains. Can't stand the site of those.
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 20:27:03
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Oh, now I see, jammin, they had you remove the encasings. So then, it's normal to see bedbug activity once the encasings are removed, no? I guess I'm missing something...

Anyway, to answer your question, no, my fitted sheet did not move all that much, a little, sure. Anyway, I stopped using fitted sheets. I like just the top sheet folded so that there's nothing on the sides of the mattress. It's not very comfortable, and obviously moves around so much more, but psychologically worth it.

I can't remember the last time I "made" my bed. I wonder if I ever will, you know, have a comfortable-looking bed with pillows and all the amenities. I stopped using pillows too.
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 20:37:04
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Hopeless, know how you feel. I really want to decorate my bed and especially my kids' beds. I went to kmart the other day and they had this really cute little SpiderMan pillow that has him black on one side and red on the other shaped like a spider head. Very cute. I almost cried. I could afford to get them one, but I couldn't because of this stupid problem. I was thinking of buying them and then wrapping them in clear garbage bags, but then I decided that was stupid, just let it go. I touched it and dreamed and then I just walked away. I was actually in Kmart spending hundreds of dollars on bins and ziplocks.

What worried me was that there were blood stains on the boxspring and mattress which I believe were new which led me to believe that they had bit me recently. I also saw black lines on the outside of the encasings which I know are from them. If they were bbs in the coverings that just came out because the encasing was taken off then that's something else. I really need to isolate my bed better.

My son's fitted sheet just comes right up and I need to fix it throughout the night. I don't want a sheet that's folded at all. I'm afraid they will hide themselves in the folds. At least they won't go into the fitted sheets between the sheets and the encased mattress, but that's from my experience. It's not a guarantee.

Do you sleep on a pillow at all? We do and the pillows don't have them. Don't see anything on the pillowcases or pillows. I bought clear garbage bags from Home Depot, put the pillows in there, took the air out and tied it real tight. The pillow gets a little deflated from the lack of air and the garbage bag gets a little bubble but it's not so bad. Did you try that?
Bugalina

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 20:41:31
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jamin....please dont' buy anything just yet....u have to keep as sparse as possible....when u are certain the bugs are gone...then u can live normally...but for now, imho, its best to remain as sparse as possible.....only my opinion..deb
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 20:41:39
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You know, for the fitted sheets to stay on, they sell these little straps you might try. (Lord, I hate recommending more things for you to buy--perhaps you can improvise something with a couple of safety pins and a strip of material, that of course needs to be laundered with the sheets but it might work.)

I already threw away my pillows, but thanks it sounds like a terrific idea. We need to come up with more low-budget ideas. I have also put all my bedbug expenses on credit cards and am now broker than broke.

Try not to go to the bedding aisles when you go to stores, ok? Nothing good can come of it, except tears. You will get through this and then you will start over.
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 20:44:00
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Oh, and about the blood stains on the mattress. Yes, it could be from recent bites, but it could be from older bites, from before you encased the mattress. Bedbugs take a long time to digest blood, and who knows what mess they might make (I'm speculating here) inside an encasement, squished or whatever.

Take your time when you re-encase and it will work out. Is your boyfriend helping you? Mattresses are tricky, two people can do a better job.
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 21:02:03
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Bugalina, no, I'm not buying anything..I was just dreaming. Thinking in my mind that I bought the pillows and decorating my kids' beds with them and the sheets. Oh, well, keep dreaming.

Hopeless, I went to Kmart for bins and the store has blankets and SpiderMan pillows right in the front entrance so you can't go around it. I was also looking for encasings for the pillows and mattresses and where do I have to go for those...the bedding department! I guess no way around it, huh?

Hopeless you read my mind. I did buy one set of straps. But I did not open them. They are made of cloth and the plastic has to snap on the other side of the fabric. I know this sound weird, but I was thinking what the bbs would think. That's the perfect comforting tight place to go after a blood meal! so, the straps are in the draw in their original package.

Buy a new pillow and immediately put it in plastic. Tie one knot next to the pillow and another knot a little further away. Don't forget to take the air out, press on the pillow while you tie the first know. You can go to Home Depot and get the clear plastic garbage bags, the 45 gallon one, 100 bags for like $25. I put some clothes in these bags and take the air out and tie them up real tight. They are real strong and do not tear easy. Home Depot has samples right next to the boxes so you know what you are buying. You can feel them and check them out. I also use them for laundry bags. And when I go to the laundermart I throw them away. I tie them everytime I put laundry in there. It's cheaper than ziplock bags but it's more work to tie and then untie and then tie, etc.

My boyfriend helped out a lot. He always ask if I need help and helps me declutter and carry the bins and actually makes room with the bins. I would just put them all over the place and have nowhere to walk but he actually made room. He's a better house designer than me. I was raised with 2 brothers and he was raised with 2 sisters.

Since I was getting bitten I thought that the bbs that smeared on my mattress were new. How long does it take to digest a meal anyway?
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 21:07:10
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Yeah, safety pins and plain material might be best.

"Several days" is the uselessly vague answer I've read for how long it takes them to digest a meal.

I'm not sure when you first encased... Anyway, the point is, if the encasings are removed, seeing bedbug activity on the mattress does not necessarily mean that the enacasings were breached. Once you re-encase, no more removing of the encasings, that's for sure!
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 21:11:19
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Of course, you were bitten in bed, so re-encasing the mattress is not all you have to do. Remember to follow the faq on how to isolate the bed. There are other steps.
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 16 2007 21:28:58
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I know I have to isolate the bed. I have it written down on paper and plan on doing everything in it. It just takes so much time! Where do you recommend I get the bowls for the mineral oil and do I get the mineral oil in a supermarket. I'm gettin real weary here I may have to continue this tomorrow. But, please any suggestions you have will be great. Hope you get a pillow soon. No need not to have a nice encased pillow to sleep on.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 10:30:25
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Sorry, jammin, I'm a hopeless failure when it comes to isolating beds. Others will chime in with advice. I imagine you can get the necessary supplies at Kmart or someplace similar. Good luck!!
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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 10:57:11
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For what it's worth, we became convinced that at least some bb's were living deep in the cracks of our wooden headboard so isolating the bed wouldn't have worked in that case. In the end we had although we had had the headboard sprayed several times we eventually sawed off the headboard and disposed of it.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 11:06:03
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Agree, headboards are tricky and I, personally, would also chuck it if I had one. Yet, I think the faq addresses this. The author of the faq took apart the bed and doused it completely with Murphy's Oil Soap, a contact killer. An insecticide could also be used.

Yes, it is extremely important to understand that isolating the bed will only work if you ensure that it is completely bedbug free before isolation. Otherwise, you will keep getting bit in bed.

Anyway, this is an old record, I'm sure, but reading the faq closely will yield new information that you may have missed.

Here is a link to the first part of the bed faq:

http://bedbugger.com/2006/11/02/faq-how-do-i-protect-my-bed-from-bed-bugs-part-i/
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 13:42:24
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ok, I understand. I have holes in my metal bedframe and plan on caulking them along with every other bedframe in the house. I plan on getting bedrisers with mineral oil (Do you think Kmart has them, I do not have a target near me). Getting double-sticky tape, can you please let me know where I can get that as well?! And getting the real expensive mattress encasings.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 13:58:17
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I didn't get bed risers (I couldn't find any), so instead I used a singled bed-sized small quilt for my full size bed so I would make sure the covers didn't touch the ground. I got the stainless steel bowls for the mineral oil at a 99 cent store. I got the mineral oil at Rite Aid. I didn't get any double-sided tape - I didn't think I needed that. But I did get a good sturdy tape for the zipper of the mattress encasing (apparently bugs can slip through even the tiniest cracks, urgh!)

Let me just say that I feel for you, NYjammin, because I have been there (and not too long ago!) It is SOOOOOOO exhausting to get all of this stuff done, but the sooner and more thorough you do it, the sooner your problem will be solved.

Isolating the bed is so critical to curbing your problem. But to me, the most exhausting thing was doing laundry every day or so. Living in NYC, this means trucking our stuff down to the laundromat, which is not easy. And living out of garbage bags for two months was awful.

We just moved a few weeks ago, which was the right decision for us. We did not see any evidence of bugs nor get any bites for over a month before we moved, so I feel pretty confident we didn't take them with us. I just could not live in that apartment anymore, constantly worrying that the bugs will come back. We also dumped our bed and couch from the old place, just in case.

Anyway, BEST of luck with everything.
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 14:03:23
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Hopeless, I just read the faqs and it says to duct-tape the holes. Should I do that or caulk instead. Silver tape along the beds does not look too nice. I know I asked this on another thread prior to today, but I think the suggestion was caulking. What do you guys think.

Thanks, BBNM. Did you get rid of everything before you moved? Your computer, etc. How do you think you moved successfully?
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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 14:18:08
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We didn't get rid of EVERYTHING before we moved, but did get rid of our bed, couch, lots clothes, and lot of papers/clutter. I am in grad school, and I got rid of all of my notes and research that I had collected thus far (sob!) We didn't get rid of our books, however, but we did shake them out over the tub just in case (and we even froze a couple in the freezer just to be sure.) We didn't get rid of our computer, either. I think it's really rare for bbs to make a home in there.

I think we were successful in moving because we didn't have the bb problem for a while before we moved, and we know it was a pretty small problem to begin with. We got rid of our couch, etc. about a month before we moved, and I think that made a huge difference. And we lived very sparsely, like we still had the bbs, up until moving day (we still did laundry all the time, lived out of bags, sprayed, etc.)

I certainly would not advise moving the next week after I found out I had a problem, for example. That's taking a huge risk, I think.

But who knows - we could still have a bb problem and just not know it! That's what makes them so insidious. Maybe they are just waiting until we're comfortable in our new home, and then they'll come roaring back. But I don't think so.
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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 14:25:40
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I hope you DON'T have a bb problem anymore. Good luck to you!
BBsNoMore

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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 14:48:45
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Thanks!

I have to say that I owe my success to this blog! I have learned SOO much from everyone on here. This is truly a fantastic free resource to the community. I knew more about bbs than the exterminator that came to our aptartment!
buggered

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Posted 6 years ago
Thu May 17 2007 23:55:41
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BBsNoMore:

i too am in NYC and have just recently discovered that i have new blood sucking room mates. i am pretty sure it started about 2 weeks ago.

can you list your treatment regimen that you used to get rid of these buggers from begining to end?

really really apreciate it!!

b.
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 18 2007 23:12:29
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Buggered, goto the FAQs section of this forum is a great way to start to battle the bbs. Anymore questions you can always post them. Good luck.
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 18 2007 23:13:56
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Ok. Can bbs live in between mattress encasings? Let's say for some reason you have 2 encasings and the top one is ripped. The mattress is still protected, but can the bbs live in between the 1st encasing and the 2nd?
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Posted 6 years ago
Sat May 19 2007 1:59:35
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Jammin--if you have two encasings on one mattress and the top one is ripped ... little bbs can slide into the area and live in there but it would not be their favorite place--except that itâ€™s on the bed so I'm sure they would try!
Vaseline on the zipper is recommended not caulk on the bed, but I suppose you could do that too--the caulk was for the holes in the metal frames ... I'm sort of remembering now this conversation before and I know you said you were getting weary/tired.
nomo--A plastic bag with three or four rolls of paper towels inside a pillow case makes for a good temporary pillow--double bag the rolls I did that and I also shoved some clothes into plastic bags so I have two fake pillows.

I used to tape the sheet with a 3 inch border inside the plastic cover--because it does slip all over the place. I gave that up because it was like every other day I had to redo the tape. I like the idea of a strip of material at heads and foot lain under the sheet and safety pinned down that way--of course that's also a good way to catch bed bugs when you take it off to do laundry. They love to live UNDER THINGS.
I hope that helped some people ... I read thru this thread kind of quickly.
But to all the new people it is ALWAYS BEST TO READ TE FAQS ON BED ISOLATION.
You can use mineral oil in bowls ... you can use bed risers.... you can just "smear a good goop" of Vasaline around practically anyting to isolate the bed bugs movements.
KEEP EM IN--OR KEEP EM OUT! That's what isoaltion is all about!
Keep them in or out of an area.
I have posted stuff on isolating the beds, too--and I sort of recommend what I wrote a month ago. But you have to adapt all of the isolation info to your own situation, however whatever you do--do it 100%
willow-the-wisp

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Posted 6 years ago
Sat May 19 2007 2:07:35
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This is what I wrote about a month ago, as seen below, d
It is sounding a bit neurotic--to me now but there is a lot of activity in this thread and so, read the FAQS and then I suggest you try to adopt some of this info below intoyour personalized regimes: the goal is to get the bed and the entire frame bed bug free and to keep it that way!

Especialy in the first few weeks. It is like this and laundry all the time!

*******************************************************************************

This is really more about keeping the bed surfaces (top and bottom) TOTALLY free of any and all bb's ... AFTER Total ISOLATION AND "STERILIZATION."

BTW-- when I say sterile, it is always meant as "as bed bug free clean as possible."

a--you've allready competley isolated the bed from touching anything and everything at all even the posts have been prepared with grease or have been placed in motes--good.

b--you've completely cleaned the entire bed and completely covered matresses and boxsprings--(as in 100%-sealed them)--good.

Now your 99% sure there are no bugs or eggs or little unseen nymps anywhere on the actual bed--including headboards foor bords matresses and boxsprings--even blankets and sheets.

This is probably a moot point to many here, but when we say matress covers--we don't mean a little cotton thing you just put on top of the matress--we mean total encasement of your matress(es) and your box springs so that they are completely covered and completely sealed shut.

I used heavy heavy plastic with lots of duct tape. (The problem with duct tape is that it does come a bit loose, so I have to re-check it all--all of the time, say like 3x weekly.(I'm finding that I usually have to reseal some of the duct tape or even cover it up with even more duct tape.)
I also have to totally re-sterilize my entire bed, say, 3x weekly.

I use either steam or 91% rubbing alcohol on all of the the plastic--both sides top and underneath. The metal gets treated with steam 3x weekly too.
But there are other methods: Store bought sprays and the like.

Some other points: and this is really for those who keep finding BB's up on the bed even though they have isolated and completely covered thier beds:

Try to imagine that you are a surgeon and that your bed is the operating table.

You-yourself must be completely bb free EACH AND EVERY TIME you:
A--CHECK THE BED
B--TOUCH THE BED
C--GET INTO THE BED, and this includes your entire body even in between your toes.
D--NO POINT IN CHANGING THE SHEETS AND RE-DOING THE BED AS IN WASHING/CHANGING THE SHEETS, IF YOUR NOT AS COMPLETLEY BB FEE YOURSELF WHEN YOU DO IT.

NOW ... letter "b" ABOVE is the hardest for me, and I'd imagine for many--especially for those with kids or pets or for those who live in crampt spaces and are only barely able to isolate the bed: You have to be dilligent with this--touching or leaning over the bed.

***If you touch or lean over the bed, by accident, or even if you accidentally rub up against it--you must immedialty re-sterilize that entire section starting from the outside and working inward to where you accidentally touched or rubbed up or leaned over on the bed or bedding.

Am I perfect at this? No. But dilligence is really the # 1 tool.

A BB proffesional came by recently and was leaning on stuff I told him that was probably contaminated. "DONT LEAN ON OR TOUCH THAT!" I said ...
Five minutes later, he was leaning on it again ...
Five minutes later--AGAIN.

Many people have talked about shoes--don't foget that the socks and the pants or stockings you are wearing might have an nymph so small you'd not even see it.

I'll end with these two thoughts:
1--It does little good if you take a shower and dry off with a sterile towel then traipse barefoot across your home to get into the bed. Your feet are potentially dirty with a few bb's.

2-- When I sit on the bed at night, I make sure I have everything I need within reach, should I need it--so I don't have to get out of the bed again until I wake up.

Ideally--the last thing I do is sterilize my feet before I take them off the floor and allow them to touch the bed. If you have to go to the br a lot at night--there are medical supply stores that sell bed potties. You can try that--or you can just make sure you are as steril as possible each and every time you get out of the bed and find yourself getting back into it.

Be as dilligent as you can. Luckily--the few larger nymphs I've seen on my bed were dead, probalby becasue I've suddenly become such a clean freak--especially about the bed!

Posted 1 month ago # PM This User

Post script--steaming the allergy covers may not be the right thing to do--so this info is for for plastic and heavy vynle covers only.
willow-the-wisp

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Posted 6 years ago
Sat May 19 2007 2:12:21
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only now ... eight weeks later do I allow myslef to sit on the bed ... each time I do I KNOW i am possiby letting one litle unseen egg on my clothing or bed bug up on the bed.
I think never sitting or touching the bed is best forever! And being clean whenever you get itno it. Feet too!
I now check the bed every week without fail--regrease the posts check the tape ... the integrity of the plastic ... And I don't ever let a week go by without at least throwing all bedding itno the dryer for "bone dry plus a few extra quarters."
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Posted 6 years ago
Sat May 19 2007 11:18:42
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WTW: I apologize if I was repeating myself. I temporarily put vaseline in the holes in the bed frames until I can get some caulk. But I duct-taped some of the holes instead of caulk. I was worried about how it looks, but now I'm starting to say who cares about that. Maybe I got confused as to the vaseline and caulk and where to apply them, etc. I'm sorry about that. My mind is spinning. Also, I agree with you as far keeping people off the beds. But I have 2 kids who are on and off the beds constantly when they are home. Taking naps and playing on the beds. It's hard. Very hard. I appreciate your advice.
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Posted 6 years ago
Sat May 19 2007 12:42:07
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NYJ--that's why I think the thick plastic would be best for you. I know the sheets slide like crazy ... but you can steam blast the beds fairly easily.... I'm thinking about this though--the bunk beds ... When you clean the bed bugs off the top mattress they may fall onto the lower one ... That s so tough on you! I'm suggesting a schedule like every 3 or four days blast those beds clean, with some de on the floor to cut up any bugs that fall off it, then vacuum that de up--whether it seems it is needed or not. In a few weeks you can do that every week.
it is really all about doing the laundry huh, even if it's just the dryer ...
Even though I donâ€™t have kids I know they like jumping onto everything! That Vaseline may hold, it is easier ... but the caulking would be more permanent. now see wit the Vaseline in the bed cracks and crevices--it may be hard to get it all out to put the caulk in there. I'd suggest sticking to the Vaseline if it is in there already, because it is so much work! To have to try and get it all off so you can caulk? Then the caulk has to dry?
donno.
Anyway good luck!
PS it's no wonder you got confused ... your doing so great
I know my best purchases were the plastic, the steamer the de and the alcohol based contact killer (and I just use the 91% r alcohol--it does kill them or at the very least really does some damage!
Did you ever get a shot at the Doctors and they put the needle in before the alcohol they swabbed on your arm dried ...? remember how that stung? I'm figuring that's what it must feel like to the bed bugs, if ... they even feel at all. At least olivia does not seem to be able to smell, or she doesn't seem to care ... It is SO hard to say ... She did turn away from the windex, but that could have been for any reason, and I did touch her with the tinyest touch of Vicks ... she didn't seem to flinch, but that is just one bug .... one litle touch ... Maybe she was "playing dead" In a few days I will post the result of all of this other "experimenting" so we will hopefully have a better Idea.
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Posted 6 years ago
Tue May 22 2007 13:41:41
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Maybe I missed something or reading too fast or too much to remember, but, when the FAQs state to duct tape the zipper, does it mean the whole zipper that goes around or just the metal part at the end of the encasing. As always, thanks.
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Posted 6 years ago
Tue May 22 2007 13:43:53
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The whole zipper. Do not use blue painter's tape as it peels easily. Use either the industrial strength duct tape or "gorilla tape" or something like that, and inspect often to make sure it's still in place.
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Posted 6 years ago
Tue May 22 2007 14:08:06
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Gotcha! Thanks!
nyjammin

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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 23 2007 21:56:27
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I had asked in the past about the top encasement being ripped but here's a new question. If the top encasement is ripped, should I just throw a new non-ripped one over that one or strip the bed and start fresh with a new non-ripped one? The only thing is, I'm afraid if I take off the ripped one then I would be exposing so many of the bbs.
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Posted 6 years ago
Wed May 23 2007 23:22:32
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I would just add on, Jammin. You're right--otherwise you can expose yourself to stuff.
willow-the-wisp

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Posted 5 years ago
Thu May 24 2007 1:06:24
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could be little eggs in that stuff and they could so easily disloge and fall on the floor and go unoticed--or even the baby one's ... they are quick on the draw when hungry too! So small ...
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Posted 5 years ago
Fri May 25 2007 7:00:29
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I know that duct tape seems to work well on vinyl, but what about the top cloth encasements from NA? I would not think that duct tape would stick all too well to tape the zippers. Any comments?
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Posted 5 years ago
Fri May 25 2007 7:51:11
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Do the encasements from NA fit snuggly? I bought the cheap vinyl encasements that not only tear very easy, but when I put it on my boxspring, it hangs to the floor. That's how it does not fit very well. Of course I took the proper percautions as to pull on it and then fold it and then tape the whole fold with duct tape, so it doesn't fall on the floor. But I did not do that on the mattress because it will not hang on the floor. But it does have "fold" in it since it's so big. Is this a problem? If a bb gets into my bed can't it make a home in the fold? Should I spray the folds or put de on it? Thanks!
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Posted 5 years ago
Fri May 25 2007 14:02:28
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Ok. so I ordered the vinyl only mattress encasements from NA. They are supposed to come like 5-7 days which is of course longer considering Sunday and the holiday weekend and such.
willow-the-wisp

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Posted 5 years ago
Fri May 25 2007 18:58:17
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NYJ--here is just something to think about and see if you want to try this: (And this is for the new covers that will be coming in the mail)
1--Vaseline at the zipper end a big goop. A lot of people recommend that and they say it works. See now ... in your situation, with the kids up and off the beds so much ... well one place I'm like 99% sure a few stray bed bugs would most likely want to go is along the rest of the zipper. That is because it is slightly indented and has a little seam.(which we know they love) If ... you only Vaseline the end of the zipper I bet you might find some of the bed bugs trying to set up house along the rest of the zipper. Here ... you would have to check in bright light and real closely.
You could consider not taping or "Vaseline-ing" the rest of the zipper for a time, say, up to but not longer than 5 days or at most a week. week. on each day in that time get some Murphy's oil or R. alcohol and be prepared to kill these few bugs when they are just settling in there. Remember--they only bit on average 3-8 days.
Do you get my drift? Think less in terms of any bug on the bed is bad for a little bit then you may be able to kill off many of them by trying this.
It is not SOP ... but they will likely try to hide there as opposed to other areas of the bed. When that's over--then use good duct tape on the entire zipper seam. It is almost like saying you are using the zipper-seam as a trap. once you do duct tape the whole zipper--any in there will stay in there and you may have had the opportunity to
a--assess more accurately just how many are still getting into the bed (via kids getting on the bed and off the bed) and you'll have a good chance of killing them.
in this case one or two bites outweigh the possibility of killing 20 bugs! And, trapping permanently the few that might make it inside the rest of the encasement.
t will be sealed in one week--and--the entomologists tell us that since they have that "sucker" mouth--they just can't claw their way into or out of stuff well at all.
Think about that for a while and make an informed decision. it is not for everybody this suggestion to think over but from all I've gotten from you--I'm saying if I was you I'd probably try it. Same for your bed too!
I just want to point out here--that we have a myriad of creative ways of using the bed bugs likely moves to kill off more of them by doing so.
There is no ultimate FAQ about this idea.
And on the bunk beds it may tend to get the bugs to try to nest in an area much easier treated than by duct-taping every single crack--which would take hours and hours and lots of maintenance--not to mention you'd ruin the finish of the wood.
I hope that makes sense to you--I know it does to me.
once a bed bug settles down for a day of sleep unless they are "doing it" they usually tend to stay put.
Overall--it is actually out-thinking the bug based on what they are likely to do!
I should bill you for this one! it is--I think, nearly priceless
The risk is eggsâ€”so after the five to seven days are upâ€”it would be a great time to Murphâ€™y oil all the wooden cracks and stuffâ€”then use spritzing r alcohol on the wood (if you donâ€™t mind a little damage to the wood) the next day and again for three more days.
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Posted 5 years ago
Fri May 25 2007 19:12:49
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WTW: the bunkbeds are metal not wood.
willow-the-wisp

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Posted 5 years ago
Fri May 25 2007 20:31:08
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well at least that makes cleaning them easier--because they are metal, but the not taping the zipper all the way but only at the closing place for 5--7 days, then catching the bed bugs and killing them on the rest of the zipper seam ... Does that make sense?
There may not be as many as 20 only 5 or 6--but better to let it bite once with a high degree of cathcing it and killing it--than letting it bite and get a way is the bestter of two evils just for 5--7 days.
Unless the kids react really negatively to a bite ... What do you think? Do yo ufollow the idea? this outthinking or out-smarting them?
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Posted 5 years ago
Fri May 25 2007 22:30:11
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WTW: thanks much for your help. I'm tired right now and my reading is foggy so it's hard to follow what you are saying right now. I'm going to have to read it another day and get back to you on it.
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Posted 5 years ago
Sat May 26 2007 8:59:11
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ok wtw, I read your post. I don't think that's a good idea. I don't want any bbs on the beds at all. I'm afraid they will not go into the zipper and that they will just go into the mattress encasement because they can fit in there. Thanks anyway. ok, i isolated the beds but I'm still getting bitten. why is this? I put drione in between the sheet and the mattress encasement. I dforced the bedframes, put vaseline everywhere? What the heck I'm doing wrong. The pillow are encased in plastic Maybe I'm not getting bit on the bed. Maybe somewhere else in the house like the futon my boyfriend sleeps in and then bbs come from there and then into my bed or my kids' bed. Yes, they are being bitten too. I put drione all under the beds as well.

I'm sorry, I'm trying everything and nothing seems to be working. To tell you the truth, I'm not vacuuming like I should. This is getting expensive. I'm afraid to vacuum and then change the bags because it's so much money. I put the bag in a plastic bag and then put it back in the vacuum and re-use it. I'm afraid I'm not going to have any more money! I'm exhausted and broke! I am going to be one of those poor people who has to live with bbs. I can't do this to my kids though, but I have no choice, not until some pesticide is used to get rid of them. I feel like giving up! Sorry for all the negativity, but that's how I feel.

Regards to everyone.
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Posted 5 years ago
Sat May 26 2007 9:16:05
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I know this is off topic, but I wanted to post it here in reference to my post above. I'm sorry, I feel a little better. But I still think that I will have these bbs for a long time. I post the reasons why in another topic.
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Posted 5 years ago
Sat May 26 2007 10:59:15
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ok. so i sealed off the mattress with encasements and duct-taped the zipper all the way around. Now, when the pco comes and it's time to take off that encasement, like Nightshirt did, doesn't ripping the duct tape off damage or rip the vinyl of the encasement. Don't I like have to buy more then?
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Posted 5 years ago
Sat May 26 2007 11:41:02
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As far as I know--- WE DON'T TAKE THE ENCASSMENTS OFF WHEN THE PCO COMES.
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Posted 5 years ago
Sun May 27 2007 9:01:04
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I am new to the plague(I guess i've had them for 4 weeks)I am taking all the steps, I have not super properly encased my mattress,just after steaming it and the box spring where I found one and eggs (no vacuum or DE, I will do this properly before PCO comes on Wed).I wake up now and see/feel 2 trapped below my beedsheet anfd the famous molted skin(though i feel no bites yet).I think one is gone now while im writing this! How should I kill them ? I have put pressure on that dark spot...
Impossible to go back to sleep now...
-PCO wants me to take off encasement_ should i, yes or no?
-ALso, I got a vaccum cleaner that is bagless-how should i clean the recipient, after emptying it in a bag?alcohol?
Thanks to all you people for the info, long live the net, truly,
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Posted 5 years ago
Sun May 27 2007 14:04:42
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Hi ficktion!

First thing might be to start a new thread so others can find you and offer help. If your PCO wants you to remove the encasement, it is likely that s/he wants to treat the mattress and will then ask you to re-encase. Generally, however, I think once an encasement goes on, it stays on. You should ask your PCO exactly what they intend for you to do after.

If the vacuum cleaner receptacle comes completely off, I would just wash it with water and soap.

Sorry you're in this bedbug mess! I hope you found a good PCO...

Best wishes...
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Posted 5 years ago
Sun May 27 2007 17:27:59
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Also besides starting a new thread you said you didnâ€™t put the encasement on properly you think--and you did it right after steaming it. So it will be moldy unless you let it dry. Leave the encasement on until just before the PCO comes--my advice, for starters read all our FAQS on the main page and yes ... start a brand new thread to tell your story and your living arangements and also to ask you questions on.
We usually donâ€™t have threads much longer than this before the NBOM person the site owner stops them. This is because it hurts our wrists to have to scroll thru a lot of stuff and it hurts our eyes to have to read thru a lot of stuff.
And the we get confused.

Oh yeah â€¦ you should call the PCOâ€™s and ask if the will be encasing the mattress and if so with what. You may need to buy another one, or you may be able to use the one you said is on wrong â€¦. He may be supplying one or he may prefer not to use one. 9s0me use poisons on the mattress labeled for such use.
IS THE PCO KNOWLEGABE IN BED BUG TREATMENT????????????
Big question.
How are they planning to treat the whole area?
Call and ask and let us know what they said.
We can answer questions better that way!
The encasement on their now?
Whatâ€™s it made out ofâ€”is it home made? (Better a little more mold and a little less bites, Iâ€™d say.)
Bites = breeding!
YOU DONâ€™T WANT THAT
But you donâ€™t want to be swimming in a soggy mattress and waiting for three weeks until they get there either.
Youâ€™d need a specialist as in â€¦

Youâ€™d get a specialist Doctor for an eye operationâ€”youâ€™d not hire a hand surgeonâ€”get my drift???
Bed bugs are not treated as are roaches! And not every PCO out there knows this! Most do by now â€¦ we hope â€¦ but askGoods luck--see you in a new thread???
Read and then RE-READ THE FAQS!Before you do too much else at all!
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Posted 5 years ago
Wed May 30 2007 12:59:25
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ok, mattress encasements are here! I'm going to call my pco later and see if I should put them on or what?
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Posted 5 years ago
Tue Nov 13 2007 22:40:30
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(MODERATOR) Why can't we post any URL's on your site other than those within bedbugger.com? If this is a true resource then we should be able to include links to studies from Universities, news, other blogs etc... Please advise.

Tony
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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Nov 14 2007 3:48:33
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Buggedouttony,

You can post URLs but not if they advertise a product or service. (The reason for that rule is people were using this method to get free advertising and advertising helps support the site. It is not expensive to advertise here, so I think it's fair to product and service providers.)

I am not sure where you got this idea. There are links all over these forums to research data, news, other blogs, organizations, etc.

Also, I'd appreciate it if you use rel="nofollow" tags if you know how, but most people do not and I have not complained yet.
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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Nov 14 2007 16:45:02
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Tony,

Upon further investigation, your post touting a certain product and itchyscratchy's remarkably similar one were removed by a moderator because they violated the site's policies as per "Please read this!' in the green stickies at the top of the main forums page.

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