Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Reader questions (do not fit into other categories)
Moving solution - Pack Tite, cardboard boxes (wrapped), DE Anything eles??
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bedbuggedBK
newbite
Joined: Jul '11
Posts: 6offline
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jul 16 2011 11:03:31
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Hi, I discovered my infestation last month when I was itching non stop and found 2 bugs in the seams of my mattress along with fecal matter. I told my LL who called an exterminator immediately to turn up 5 days later. I did the laundry and bagging cycle while waiting for him to turn up. After my 2nd extermination, I found 6 bugs over 2 days, 1 on the floor the day after extermination in the tiny room beside my bedroom (must have fallen off me??), and a mix of 5 baby and 1 big ones on my bed 2 days later while I was sleeping. At this point, I had also unbagged 1 bag of clothes. It may have come from there, but I have also discovered that other apartments are infested as well and tenants did not report to the LL. It's a rent stabilized building with majority of renters being low income earners with little education.
I just completed my 3rd and final extermination yesterday morning (I'm not doing any self-treatment although I have since purchased a Pack Tite), but am not convinced I'm completely bug-free. Although I haven't seen anything in the apartment since I got home from work yday evening, I did get bitten on the way back and caught sight of a tiny red one on my arm. I suspect it must have come from my handbag.
I am moving to another building 2 doors down in 2 weeks. I am PT-ing my clothes, books, shoes, handbags and misc items in these 2 weeks, and putting them in contractor bags that will be sealed for the move. For kitchenware, I am planning to put them in new cardboard boxes which will be bagged in contractor plastic bags too. This seems more economical vs. plastic bins. I will be discarding my bed, mattress, couch and dresser, and bringing my teak bookcase, wooden curio and coffee table that is in another room that I don't sleep in. My exterminator will give me a 4th treatment a day before I leave, and help me clean out the furniture I will be bringing with me. I also purchased Murphy's Oil- the original- and am planning to use it to wipe my furniture down before the move. I will not be using a van or anything since I'm moving to another building 2 doors down. It is cleaner, and I'm told no incidents of bugs ever. I don't want to bring any with me!
When I get to my new apartment, I will PT everything in bags before putting them away. I will also wipe out my furniture with Murphy's Oil for double protection. I recently purchased some DE and hope to line my new apartment with this. I will also caulk and seal any crevices.
Am I doing enough? I'm thinking with the PT, I'm 3/4 ahead of the game given my "light" infestation? Exterminator says he didn't see anything anymore yesterday (although it doesn't mean I am bug-free). Is it too early for me to move? Am I being reckless in any way?
Please let me know because I do not wish to relive this nightmare in my new apartment nor wish it upon anyone else! Thanks!
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bedbuggedBK
newbite
Joined: Jul '11
Posts: 6offline
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jul 16 2011 11:11:43
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Oh, and I plan to buy an air mattress to sleep on for a while since I'm kind of freaked out by beds at this point. I don't think I will isolate my air mattress in my new apartment since if there is a bug or if I run the risk of bringing one with me, I would prefer to nip it in the bud and kill it with DE, Kleen Free and / or even a steamer. Isolation doesn't seem to do much but to prevent bugs from getting to you while you sleep, correct?
If I get a bed, I will keep it minimal - platform or just plain metal. No headboards, no box springs. Thoughts?
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bedbuggedBK
newbite
Joined: Jul '11
Posts: 6offline
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jul 17 2011 12:06:16
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Bumping up this question please.
After my 3rd extermination on Friday, I finally found a bug on my clothing item yday, so I don't believe that I'm completely bug-free. Late last night, my landlord emailed me to apologize for everything that is going on and revealed that one of the units upstairs who is infected is refusing extermination. That is one of the reasons why after 3 attempts, I'm still not bug free!!! Anyhow, I'm moving out and can only focus on NOT bringing anything with me.
Can someone please tell me if my moving strategy above is sufficient or I need to do more? I'm moving with boxes and am planning to seal the edges with tape and steri-fab it before and after usage, and then discarding them in plastic / marked etc.
Please provide any input. Thanks!!
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endless_nightmare
member
Joined: Apr '12
Posts: 142offline
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Apr 27 2012 20:50:54
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Hi I will be moving in two months, I plan on doing something similar to you, but this time I will be super extra careful
I moved once already, threw out my bed, couch and a lot of other furniture, I was extremely careful when I packed my things, I inspected every CD, every books, vacuumed and re-vacuumed everything and then cleaned it with alcohol. But I brought the bugs with me, I'm now at my 4th heat treatment and 2nd chemical treatment, and I still have them. Before I moved the 1st time I had 5 or 6 chemical treatment and DE was applied for a good 3 months.
So what I'm doing now is deciding if I should throw every single thing I own away before the move, I think that's the only sure way to move without bugs,in between places go to the gym with some brand new clothes and shoes, shower over there for a long time, put on your new clothes throw away your old
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,730offline
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Apr 28 2012 3:43:12
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Cardboard boxes are a problem. Corrugated cardboard has nifty hollow walls which pests love. Bed bugs would be happy to hide in these. Putting bags inside them doesn't seem to solve that issue if they're being exposed to the old home and brought into the new home.
I hate to say this but the chances of a building two doors down from a building with lots of infested units would seem to be higher than some. One person throws a bed out, a neighbor picks it up. Not a definite but cause for concern.
Are you in NYC? (You don't need to say, of course.) If so, did the new landlord provide the required bed bug disclosure rider for the building on your lease? If so, a clear report, or one suggesting a problem was properly dealt with, is a good sign.
I am not clear if you need to move now or if you're just trying to flee bed bugs. If the latter, it's an understandable desire, but it's not always easy.
I would encourage you to consider staying there longer if it's possible, so you can be a bit more confident the problem is gone, even if you need more treatments. The landlord should have some legal recourse with tenants refusing treatment, though he may have a fight on is hands there. The really good news is he does sound interested in solving the problem.
Note that if your problem has improved after each treatment, then it may just not be done yet. They are not necessarily coming from the other unit. It's not unusual to need three or even more treatments.
If this is not an option, you may have a better situation in the new place even if you need more treatments (you have to face the fact that this might happen, though with some work and luck it hopefully won't).
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