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Need help with Bed Bug infestation

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amishbr

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 26 2012 10:39:27
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Hello,

I live in a 4 bed townhouse in a college city with 3 of my friends. I spotted the first bed bug about a week ago here in Dekalb, Illinois. I am 12 days away from the end of my lease and I tried to fix it myself (big mistake). I was at a point where I would see one every two days I would spray Raid Bed Bug spray so I thought it wasn't that big a deal. Last night I woke up to get a sip of water and I turned the lights on when I came back and found two on my bed and two on the wall near my bed (the bed is not touching the wall). I couldn't sleep that night and I have a feeling they are coming from my box spring.

I have cleaned my room out multiple times including spraying the box spring and mattress and all the edges intensely along with spraying the vent and attic which is in my room. I have washed my mattresses and dried them as well as all my clothes in the hottest settings.

I couldn't sleep last night and had to sleep on the couch. None of my roommates have any signs of infestation which is a good thing.

I called my landlord the first thing when their office opened today and the person who talked to me did seem mad about it which is completely understandable but he said they will give the exterminator a call.

I just want to get through these 12 days and then go home where my mom (who has had experience in getting rid of these critters) will help me clean up.

Should I sleep on the couch and spray my door during the night so they dont get out of my room? Should I just wait for the exterminator?

Thanks for reading.

P.S: I am a college kid who is running on a very tight budget till the end of the year so I cant afford some of the high end treatments.
punaisedelit

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 26 2012 22:27:24
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Usual advice is to not go sleep in another room because the bugs will follow you, but I don't know how valid this advice is for twelve days?
Spraying your door will be ineffective - what you're using is a contact killer, which means that unless you spray the bugs directly, it won't affect them (by the way, I don't think Raid is extremely effective anyway, but others will probably comment on that). If you search "isolating your bed", you'll find posts that give you advice on ways to prevent bugs from getting to you, that should provide you with enough relief for the last few days.

You need energy to get through finals week, so if you cannot sleep, you can use some OTC medication to help (Benadryl worked well for me was I was in the midst of the infestation). Try to eat well, take care of yourself.
amishbr

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 26 2012 23:24:51
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Thanks a ton for answering.

I really don't think I can sleep in my bed anymore after that experience. What if I am going to sleep on the couch in the living room while the infested room is upstairs. Is there a distance to which they can smell bait? I am asking this because I have two roommates whose rooms are right across from mine.

The only thing in my mind over the past few days has been bed bugs. I am at the point of just going home and commuting (like a 40 min drive).

The exterminator did not show up today so I doubt he will show up tomorrow and then it's the weekend.

Can someone tell me how far can they travel?
esperanza

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 26 2012 23:44:59
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If you have enough bugs that you're seeing a few out at once when you get up in the middle of the night, I would be very careful about going back and forth to your Mom's place because you don't want to spread the infestation. The bugs and/or their eggs can travel with you in your suitcases, clothes, etc, if you don't take precautions like drying clothes on high and sealing them in zip-locks. (Although if she's had experience with them, maybe you brought them from home?)
amishbr

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Apr 27 2012 21:45:48
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esperanza - 21 hours ago »
If you have enough bugs that you're seeing a few out at once when you get up in the middle of the night, I would be very careful about going back and forth to your Mom's place because you don't want to spread the infestation. The bugs and/or their eggs can travel with you in your suitcases, clothes, etc, if you don't take precautions like drying clothes on high and sealing them in zip-locks. (Although if she's had experience with them, maybe you brought them from home?)

Well the deal is that we have gotten them before when I was in high school so I helped her clean up. I saw one baby on the bed and one on the wall (adult)

Another thing is that I just had the exterminator come in and tell me that this he would categorize this as a mild infestation if not lower. He said 1-3 treatments should do the task.