Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Reader questions (do not fit into other categories)
Newbie Needing Help!
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BeatTheBugs
newbite
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 9
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Feb 27 2009 14:48:50
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Hello I'm new to this whole bed bug thing but I believe we have them b/c I'm getting ate alive and no they are not fleas! I've been batteling these bites for about 4 weeks now and I'm scared! I react really bad to the bites, I even broke out in hives the first time I got bit!
My problem is that my husband and I have a 2 month old son and not a lot of money laying around. We are looking into treating ourselves and I know that isn't advised but we don't have any other options! I did have a PCO (? i think that's what you call the exterminator?) come and inspect our house and he didn't have a clue as to what he was looking for :( He looked at my bed and headbord and said oh you don't have them. He then comes back today and gives me some sticky glue mouse pads and puts them under my bed legs trying to catch one of the little devils!
So my husband and I are gonig to treat our house ourselves. It's a small house about 800-900 sq ft. kitchen,bedroom,bathroom, nursery and living room.
These are my questions:What products (pesticides/insecticides) do i need to buy to kill the bed bugs and their eggs?
How do I treat my carpet, sofa, and recliners? can I use an enzyme cleaner? is that safe?
How long should we stay out of the house after treatment? I know you need to stay for bait so my hubby will do this but my 2 month old can't stay in there and inhale those fumes! So how long should we keep the baby out? My pedatriction recommended at least 48 hours.
We're going to the laundromat tomorrow to wash all of our bedding, clothes, anything fabric etc
Any tips on isolating the bed? I was going to put vasalene on the bed legs and put them in containers of mineral oil.
How many treatments should we do? I was thinking at least 3
What encasement do you recommend I buy? We have a cheap allergy proof one we got from walmart on the boxspring and matress now but I'm stilll getting bit :( How do I treat my matress since it already has this on it?
Any other advice will be gladly taken! Thanks in advance!!! God please let us erradicate this problem!!!
ETA: how do i change/reset my password?
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Bud33prono
newbite
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 4
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Feb 27 2009 22:55:43
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Hi there! I know dealing with bedbugs is not easy at all. It can be a very long battle if you don't do it right. You need at least 2 treatments if you decide to do it yourself. The second treatment should take place within 7-10 days after the first treatment. How long you should stay out of the house depends on what chemicals you use.I suggest you to discard your mattress immediately. I used to keep my old infested mattress and box spring because they were quite expensive but the bedbug problem did not go away. I know your budget is very tight. You can always buy a cheap and NEW mattress. Remember to buy a mattress cover to protect your new mattress. I personally prefer a vinyl to a cloth one.
Where do you live? There are so many bugs in this country. Why do you think they are bedbugs? Make sure they are really bedbugs beside you waste your money on the wrong pesticides.
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BeatTheBugs
newbite
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 9
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Feb 27 2009 23:16:50
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Bud33prono - 16 minutes ago »
Hi there! I know dealing with bedbugs is not easy at all. It can be a very long battle if you don't do it right. You need at least 2 treatments if you decide to do it yourself. The second treatment should take place within 7-10 days after the first treatment. How long you should stay out of the house depends on what chemicals you use.I suggest you to discard your mattress immediately. I used to keep my old infested mattress and box spring because they were quite expensive but the bedbug problem did not go away. I know your budget is very tight. You can always buy a cheap and NEW mattress. Remember to buy a mattress cover to protect your new mattress. I personally prefer a vinyl to a cloth one.
Where do you live? There are so many bugs in this country. Why do you think they are bedbugs? Make sure they are really bedbugs beside you waste your money on the wrong pesticides.Hey thanks for replying Bud! I live in IL and I'm pretty sure they are bed bugs b/c I keep finding the casts of skin in my bed! and I've been bit all over but here lately the majority of bites have been on but not limited to my face. The bites come and go but I think they are starting to leave scars :( KillerQueen has given me and my husband some awesome advice and I'm feeling confident that we can get rid of these pests!! Do you have any suggestions on how to catch a bed bug? I don't think my husband beleives me that we have them b/c he hasn't gotten bit or hasn't reacted to the bite! Any way thanks for replying :)
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Freaked out
newbite
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 25
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Feb 27 2009 23:33:36
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I live in IL too!
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It might be an idea to try calling some other PCOs. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to treat and you can actually make them worse.
If you must self-treat, read the FAQs.
There's also a page on encasements here. They're not all the same and I personally would not recommend a vinyl one -- they often are not sealed properly. Nymphs can get through the smallest crevice on an encasement not designed to keep them from doing so, such as the space at the end of a zipper.
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BetsyBug
newbite
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 7
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Mar 11 2009 22:51:47
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I'm sorry to hear you have bedbugs. I have them too. You are right to wash all your stuff and put vaseline on your bed legs. Bedbugs crawl so it will make it harder for them to crawl up and bite you. I have two small children so I understand your concerns. I have opted to self treat my house as I am poor and afraid of toxic chemicals. Here's what I've been doing:
1. buy a hand held steamer if you can (mine cost $50) and steam every crack and crevice
2. use a hair dryer on books and things that can't go in dryer (the high heat kills the bugs and their eggs)
3. 91% alcohol kills bugs on contact and I've found if you spray in cracks it forces the bugs to the surface
4. diatamaceous earth - I haven't used this yet but plan to - supposed to be like tiny razors on the bugs
5. steam the seams of your couches and chairs - take the backing off if possible and get up inside of it with steam
the only spray i've used is Steri-fab but there are many i've heard of like Bedlam. I would be careful though since you have a baby. I'm careful b/c i have a 2 year old and 6 year old. I don't want them around any residual chemicals. As far as mattress encasements go, I use the same cheap ones from Walmart and just double encased them. You're probably being bit from the bugs that are coming out of cracks and crevices at night not necessarily just the mattress. Sorry to freak you out!
Take heart, many people have them and you can get rid of them. I had them before and got rid of them for 3 years. I got them back from shopping Goodwill I think.
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