Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tales of Bed Bug Woe
Moved bbs. Now what
(6 posts)-
Doglady
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 11offline
Posted 10 months ago
Thu Jun 28 2012 7:45:01
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I had a small infestation 2-3 months ago. The bbs came in apparently on a mail order of new clothing. I had a full chemical treatment (x2) done on entire apt, laundered clothes, had a company steam various items of furniture and then threw it out (!), steam and bag other items, shoes, bags etc., plus threw out 50% of my personal items, including bed, shelves, magazine, books etc. Total overkill I know. That seemed to work ok.
Unfortuntaly I was asked to leave that apt about 2 weeks after the 2nd treatment as I did not have a lease. I was already on notice period when the bbs came and I think they were like get out of here with your bbs but they didn't put it that way. So ended up putting my stuff (clothes - laundered super hot, books, papers etc) in storage and moved to a hotel - with fresh laundered clothing only. I would not have moved if I had not been told to do so as I wanted to make sure the problem was under control first but didn't have a choice.
Some of my stuff was still bagged from the treatment. I tried to take out and rebag as much as possible in the short time I had to move out (10 days), just to look and see what was going on. The firm that had bagged/steamed items had done the bagging before the first treatment.
I moved to a new place 4 weeks ago and took some plastic boxes out of storage. Within a few days I had 2 small bites. I had a dog come immediately (10 days ago) to check my place (the same guys from my last place) and they said there was no evidence and maybe bites were mozzies. Yesterday I had the new landlord pest people spray for regular bugs. Obviously I have not told them I moved from a bb situation as the dog didn't find anything.
Last night I found more bites and 1 small bb under my pillow which I killed and put in a bag (I had not seen a live one before even in my last place - only 3-4 dead ones after the treatment). I am sleeping on a new air mattress (not from the old place) so the only place for it to hide was under my pillow.
I will have to call the ll today and ask for a full bb treatment. Incidentally I find in my lease that I am responsible for pest control costs (NJ). I am devastated that I have to go thru all this again. Even the pest guy last week said you are doing everything you can - quite frankly they think I'm nuts.
My question is: do I lay my cards on the table with the new landlord and pest person? Or do i say something like maybe I got them at the storage unit? This is a hard telephone call to make. I'm so mortified (again) and just beaten down and humiliated. Can they even do a bb pest control if they just did a regular one yesterday?
Any advice is appreciated. I want to do some action today. I must have a very small problem as I basically have no furniture or bed here but tragically the place is wall to wall carpet so not sure how that can be treated and its brand new. I resealed the plastic boxes I took out of storage and I guess will throw them out at the weekend unless they are very sentimental value. The rest of the stuff will have to stay in storage until I get a bug tite (does that do papers/books/dvds/jewlery?)
I am also going to tell my friends who helped me bring in the two large tables from storage which were the only furniture I kept (metal/glass). they had not been at my old apt so never told them but now I'm horrified I exposed them to the situation.
Any sound advice how to handle today, telling landlord, telling friends, is appreciated.
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cilecto
oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 3,851offline
Posted 10 months ago
Thu Jun 28 2012 12:25:48
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Keep inspecting your environment for additional bb and their signs. The bedding is not the only place they can hide. Post a picture of what you found so we can ID it. Do not own up to your history with your landlord. For all you know, there may be an existing problem in your building and the LL will just use the insinuation of your fault to blame you.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,693offline
Posted 10 months ago
Thu Jun 28 2012 20:51:31
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Is there a bed bug clause in your lease? If the local
laws say landlords pay for treatment, then this may or may not be legal. I would call a tenants' organization in your city and ask them. -
Doglady
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 11offline
Posted 10 months ago
Thu Jun 28 2012 22:49:16
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Thank you oldtimer that is good advice. A friend also had the same advice.
I do not know how to get the photo posted here. I put it on flickr but then got stuck. Viewed side on, it is a triangle type bug, black with legs trailing out of it (small at top to large at bottom). It doesn't look like the round bbs I see in photos but in my last place after treatment there were a couple of these on the floor and the pest guy said that was the bugs.
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cilecto
oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 3,851offline
Posted 10 months ago
Fri Jun 29 2012 0:02:11
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Just post the web address to the flickr page that shows your specimen.
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Doglady
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 11offline
Posted 10 months ago
Fri Jul 6 2012 0:00:04
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Cilecto thank you for the offer. I still can't get to understand flickr. I posted there under bbuggin so not sure if that helps.
I had a pco look at the pics. They are not bbs. He's not sure what they are (two different types of bugs) but too small for bbs. I'm still getting bitten mostly on feet and ankles/leg. I have some sample bugs I found and waiting for the super to pickup to give to the building pco. With the holiday he didnt stop by so I'll call him tomorrow.
I'm spraying off on my legs and feet at night and that seems to help. The bugs seem to be in the bathroom or at least that's when I caught them jumping onto my feet. I'm hoping once the super gives the bugs to the pco he will find the right kind of spray to kill them. They already did a regular bug spray on my apt about 2 weeks ago (not for bbs, just regular) and I guess these bugs need something special.
I've decided not to take any more items out of storage into my apt and will try to do some kind of heat treatment at the storage unit. If anyone knows a company that can do a treatment (heat?) at a storage facilty in NYC or take the stuff away and treat it would welcome suggestion. Its mainly photos, papers, cds, expensive text books etc. No furniture but random items such as fans, oil heater, beach umbrella, tv, shoes etc. (Shoes were treated with steam in my apt but now I'm wondering if that was any good?). I keep hearing about this vikane service so will research that more unless you guys have a recommendation, and especially how effective it is.
Thanks again any advice appreciated.
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