Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tools/ideas for fighting bed bugs
Murphy's Oil vs. "Being the bait"
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Maddash
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 4
Posted 2 weeks ago
Tue Nov 3 2009 10:07:40
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Hey all,
I'm between 1st and second treatments right now. My wife and I have a queen sized wooden bed with a finished wood slat base, and my daughter has a wooden Ikea bed with one of those raw pine slat bases. I know. I have inspected both bases regularly with a flashlight and found nothing at all, but I'm worried about how available these wood bases are to the bugs. I was planning on spraying it all down with Murphy's Oil-- but then I had a hesitation because I know we are supposed to remain as "bait" for the bb's so they cross the poison-- I don't want to repel them to other areas-- is this a danger? Or should I spray the hell out of these things?
Also, any thoughts about replacing the slat bases? Would a single sheet of plywood be better?
TIA
Dash -
cilecto
senior member
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 511
Posted 2 weeks ago
Tue Nov 3 2009 14:59:13
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"Brian Fellows" disclaimer. I'm neither a PCO nor an entomologist. I'm just a guy with a masters degree who's intrigued by BB.
If you can, coordinate with your PCO. You wouldn't want to undo their work if they've applied stuff to the frames.
Yes, unfinished wood with voids is attractive to BB. You need to decide if you want to attract BB to your wood (where you can spot and kill) or keep them away (because treatment would be difficult). You may have different strategies for each unit.
Ex. If your slats are small enough to remove and bake or replace, you might leave them as is, perhaps treat with Murphy (leaves gooky residue) or alcohol/sterifab (take fire precautions).
Another option with bare wood is to harden the target; fill the gaps, prime and paint. You can then treat with Murphy as needed (paint does not go on well over a soaped surface, but Murphy over paint is fine, alcohol will ruin a paint job).
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twitchyscratchy
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 33
Posted 2 weeks ago
Tue Nov 3 2009 17:01:02
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maddash,
i wondered that same thing. we are still pre-PCO (it's happening this week) and i've mopped twice with murphy's. we're keeping the room dark and warm and both of us and the cat sleep there at night. i want to keep them as localized as possible before treatment. but then i wondered if the murphy's would dissipate them into other areas/repel them from the bed zone.
judging by my fresh bites, it looks like it doesn't matter. what they want, they're going to get.
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