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Newbie Who is Moving (As Well As Freaking Out!)

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Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Apr 19 2010 5:11:16
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Christ, I have bedbugs. ...I feel like I'm at an AA meeting! So, I guess I'm introducing myself but also seeking advice/comfort. I'm really freaking out from the research I'm doing. It sounds like I'm at the beginning of an unending battle that might eventually drive me to suicide. To think some crappy little bug has all that power! Anyway here's the situation:

I found two of them a few weeks ago. My boyfriend awoke full of bites and we found the culprit right there on the sheets. Ironically, I knew exactly what it was without ever seeing one before from researching them a few months prior. I had been seeing bugs and while trying to classify them I mistook them for bedbugs and did a lot of research on them only to find out later they were harmless grain beetles. But I saved the 2 bedbugs we found by folding them between clear tape. I called the management of my high-rise building and they gave me instructions on what to do before the extermination. To my disappointment, they had the maintenance staff come spray rather than a specialist. But I talked to them and they said they saw no evidence of an infestation or any bedbugs anywhere. They agreed that what I saved to show them was a bedbug though. They told me no one had reported bedbugs in 6 years and that was the only case. I have a theory they don't nest in my unit though. I'm sure some clueless neighbor(s) of mine has them, sees them occasionally perhaps, and has NO idea what they are or the hell that comes with them. And then they just travel to my place but don't nest here.

Anyway, they sprayed on Monday. On Friday, I caught a big fat one on the wall above my bed. #$@#!!!!!! Does it take awhile for the treatment to kill them??? I've only ever seen 3 of them plus one shed skin, is that a good sign? Is the problem another unit and they just travel to mine? Is my apartment management doing a poor job by just having the maintenance guys come and spray near my bed?? Shouldn't they inspect the other units nearby???

I'm especially worried because I'm moving in about 10-14 days!! I'm scared I'll bring them to the new apartment. Will the new management blame me and then not pay for extermination and leave my broke self to pay for it?? I'm nervous about just making rent cause I had to take a pay cut, I can't pay for this stuff myself! I thought about leaving my stuff out in the u-haul to heat up but it's only supposed to be in the 60's the next 10 days. What am I going to do????? Also I'm supposed to go to my parents' house in 2 days... worth it or no?

Also, can they travel on my chihuahua? Will they be interested in her blood? And I've never found any bites on myself. I'm confused about what I've been reading... could I be getting bitten without any bites showing up?

Any advice or condolence would be welcome!!!
bugger09

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Apr 19 2010 8:43:35
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I'm not an expert but I think with such short notice you should try vikaning all your stuff before you move. Or possibly getting someone to use thermal heat on your stuff in a truck.

As for your dog, Ive heard of bed bug bites on animals but I'm pretty sure they prefer human. Is your dog long hair or short hair? Ive heard of people giving their animals a long hot bath to make sure they dont transfer anything to the next apt. Bed bugs wont "live" on your dog though. They like to bite and then drop off and return to their hiding places.

Best of luck!! And stay on the boards. The experts are brilliant.
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Apr 19 2010 15:23:12
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Thanks for the ideas! I will definitely look into doing them!

My dog is short-hair. What's weird is she sleeps under my covers and sometimes for no reason she freaks out and runs away from my bed and refuses to go back in, as if something bit her. I look thoroughly and find nothing. She also has stopped sleeping in her own bed which she used to love by the way. Her odd behavior has been going on for many months now, but I've never seen a bed bug until just recently. I washed all her bedding and she still doesn't want to sleep in it. I wonder if there were tiny baby bedbugs and I just couldn't see them and now they're adults??
bed buggy hell

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Apr 19 2010 16:42:24
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well...this is a great place to be if you have the unforntunate luck of getting these little bastards....good luck with the move...make sure you wash everything!!!! ....and I mean everything in hot water and super long hot dryer...if you can afford it the packtite is great.....did you get matress encasements?? did they look at your boxsprings??
with how you got them, that may never be known..they should do a check of the apts. near you..but there are privacy laws that can come into play in certain states(or countries)..they may not be able to tell you if someone else has them...you never know.

if you go to your parents...do not bring anything from your house that hasn't been washed and dryed...don't take a suitcase unless you have really cleaned it, (see info on this site) i would just use a large sealable bag...shoes, purses, books can all be infested...take no chances with bringing your personal stuff to your parents house you do run the risk of infecting them...it only takes one stowaway or an egg...ug i hate these things...

good luck
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Apr 19 2010 20:58:49
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No, I don't have any mattress encasements... in fact I don't have a box spring or bed frame either. I have a select comfort bed with the two air chambers and I just have it on the floor (carpet). They didn't unzip it and look inside or anything. I'm too scared to do it myself, lol! I think I found some of those black dots on the wall next to my bed though. I emailed my management company today to tell them I saw another BB on Friday and I asked if they've checked the other units, hopefully they have or will. I've been here 2 years but all my neighbors have changed many many times and it sounds like that's a likely way for them to spread. Also, I feel horribly guilty for this now, but I did find a small end table someone had discarded and I took it. And (this is so embarrassing!) there were a bunch of dog sweaters on the table just my dog's size, and yes I took those too! I immediately sealed them in a plastic bag though and I wouldn't dream of putting them on my dog w/o thoroughly washing them first, but I feel like an idiot now for even touching them because maybe that's what got me into this.

I've decided to not go to my parents' house... or rather they uninvited me, ha! Probably for the best, but I can see I'm going to be very isolated until this is over. Well, I HOPE this is over someday! *sigh*

Thanks for the input, I'm really happy I found this site!! I've done nothing but read the articles all day!
bed buggy hell

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Apr 20 2010 12:42:43
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oh how it sucks when you look back and go OMG what was i thinking???? well i have been guilty of buying second hand (usually through an estate sale) a few time and i had no idea these things were real until i got them...which has been pretty bad, but hopefully it is over now...we will see...

so the black dots should be looked at..i heard if you dab them lightly with hydrogen peroxide they will foam a little, because they are digested blood...i havent tried it yet...but it would be interesting to see if it works... you should probly get your bed off the floor...get a cheap metal frame and get an encasment..and make your bed "an Island"...mine is in the middle of my room...nothing touching the floor or walls...but i would call around and see if a pest company will come out to give you a free inspection/estimate.....

have you checked the end table you found on the street?? under, around etc...any fecal staining???? if you find some i would get it out asap and write on it bbs on it so no-one else takes it...if there is nothing then good...

you will feel isolated that is for sure,,,,but it will start to pass once you get a handle on thes little sh..ts.....the more you know the better you will be...get really informed...i have seriously spend hours upon hours reading on these thing...my husband is really to kill me...

anyway good luck...i don't blaim your parents cudos to you for being upfront with them and not going..watch anyone coming in and out of you apt. as well...this will be over some day...HA, HA....no really at least you caught it and are doing something about it...
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Apr 20 2010 19:47:03
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So management just set up a NightWatch next to my bed. I'll have to do some reading up on this thing but hopefully it does some good. I was reading this site all day yesterday and one actually scampered across the wall right in front of me just as I was reading about them! Yuck! I've seen 4 total now.

Management also scheduled a second extermination for Monday. That's exactly 2 weeks after the first extermination. Is that too long?

I'm going to Walgreens tonight for some hydrogen peroxide. Although, my heart has been sinking all day as memories have been coming back to me of possible earlier signs. For instance, I now remember other times my boyfriend complained of bites while sleeping here. Of course, I just got mad at him for accusing me of having bugs, cause just like everyone else, I thought you only had bugs if you were a dirty person! He's driving me slightly crazy BTW cause he thinks I'm being OCD about the situation and laughs at me when he sees me scanning the room with my eyes. Ironically, he's the one getting bitten, not me! I also remember seeing bugs when I first moved in 2 years ago. That's a pretty long time so I don't remember specifically what any looked like and I can only wonder now. The exterminator came, I caulked my leaky windows shut, and that was that (or so I thought). Could the BBs have been here the whole time?? I guess we'll never know.

Well, thanks so much for the continued input! I'll let you guys know how the NightWatch does!
spideyjg

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Apr 20 2010 22:31:44
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A Nightwatch is a monitor to be used in the absence of a human host. It attempts to emulate a human to attract the bugs to see if any are in the dwelling.

It isn't an eradication tool. Biology wins over technology if you sleep in their radar range.

If you are seeing bugs, no point in the Nightwatch.

Jim
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 0:40:46
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Hmm... so I guess that means either they don't believe me that there are BBs OR they just don't know how to handle them? All I know is it smells super weird in here now. Would it be better if I stayed somewhere else (taking precautions not to spread of course!) while the NightWatch is here so they could choose the trap over us?
Nobugsonme

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 1:00:17
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It may be management does not believe you or just does not trust you being able to identify a bed bug.

I would suggest trapping a sample next time you see one, for added impact. You might trap as many as possible...

The Nightwatch may trap bed bugs in your presence, but you will always be more attractive to it. They can also take time to catch a sample.
cilecto

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 1:07:50
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Hello, Sylvie.

A critical factor here is your short moving time frame and your visit to mom and dad. I'm not sure if what your building is doing is relevant or helpful (from the nightwatch to having a maintain person spray, which, unless licensed, may not even be legal, assuming he's applying pesticide). My inner paranoiac tells me they're jerking you around.

You need to plan on how to move and travel safely. It's always a challenge on shirt notice, but there are FAQ and guides on the resource page concerning these topics.

Hang in there.
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 1:54:07
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Fortunately, I have kept 3 of the 4 bugs I found. I caught them on pieces of clear tape and I now have a small box for my BB collection (gee there's something I never thought I'd have a collection of!) If I had to guess I'd say they are just misusing it then since I did show a sample when they came last Monday to exterminate, but maybe they want to collect their own proof. They said they'd leave it here for 5 days I think.

Cilecto, your entire post sums up exactly what I've been thinking. When I first reported the problem they gave me a list of instructions that clearly came from a pest control company. Even though they wanted me the hell out of there during the appointment, I stuck around because I wanted to talk to the PCO when they came. I went down to my car to drop off my stuff and when I came back the maintenance staff was in my room and they were already done. To my knowledge no actual PCO was ever there. I'm wondering too if that's legal.

Everyone I talk to also seems to evade my questioning of other units being checked. They just tell me it's only me, they're my damn bugs, no one else is reporting them. The building manager also implied that the reason they were still there after one treatment was because I must not have followed instructions. Based on what I've read here, it takes at least 2 treatments! Not to mention they must surely be in other units.

But yes, I'm worried like hell about moving!!! It's all I can think about. I have no idea what I'm going to do since I'm already facing financial problems. My pay was just cut significantly not to mention I was furloughed this entire month. I wish I had some way to prove the BBs came from my building so that they would be obligated to pay for a heated moving truck or something.
cilecto

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 6:50:02
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Yeah, they have a prep sheet. They have a nightwatch device. They have their spiel down pat, they know for certain why you have BB and you're the only BB complaint they've ever dealt with? Right.

Check your address against bedbugregistry.com. Not every infested building is there and not every entry there is necessarily true, but it may give you a better idea.

In NYC (and many other places) a landlord is legally obligated to treat their place so it's pest free. It's less clear about his obligations to your stuff. You might want to get some legal advice.

This sucks financially and emotionally. I feel for you.

Do read the sticky post about suicidal thoughts. You will survive this.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 7:45:10
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If you're feeling suicidal or anxious, please read this post, and please call your doctor or go to the ER right away. Bed bugs can be difficult but not worth your life.
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 16:31:46
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I've checked the bedbug registry several times, no reports have come up (none either for my new place). I've thought of posting but I'm afraid they'd find out and retaliate. I feel at a loss since I want a good PCO on my side and all I've got seems to be misinformed management. Damned if I even know what they're treating my apartment with. I think I'm going to try to talk to a company today that can do a thermal treatment on a moving truck. I feel alone on this except for the help I'm getting here.

I appreciate the concern for my mental state (as I do feel it's deteriorating!). Not a single bug has showed up in the Nightwatch but I did find bug #5 last night crawling on a pillow which caused me to cry and freak out and wash all my bedding again. I think I'm prone to paranoia anyway but I can see this lovely little problem is going to add to that. I keep telling myself that even if every possible worse case scenario happens to me, I'm still not going to die from this. Life is all you really get and a bedbug can't kill you, not even losing money, friends and everything you own will kill you, so I'm trying to let that be my mantra!
cilecto

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 17:12:33
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Drop #6 in the night watch
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 17:15:18
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How come?
cilecto

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 17:22:09
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Spritz it with alcohol (kills on contact without smashing) and drop it in. It's the "evidence" the LL claims he's looking for.
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Apr 21 2010 17:47:27
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Oh I see. Well i suppose that wouldn't hurt if they don't in fact believe me. But I can always whip out *The Collection*! I just spoke to a PCO and he told me they do thermal treatment on moving trucks all the time in Chicago. However it's $1000!!!! Why can't I just win the lottery??
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Fri Apr 23 2010 2:39:39
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Thought I might give an update.

Haven't seen a live one since the day they set up the Nightwatch. Speaking of which, this is the NW's 3rd night now and nothing's in there either. I agree with you guys that the bugs would still prefer me, which must be why I've spotted my FIRST BITE. Potentially some other bites too, but I'm trying to keep an open mind that it could be other things (or maybe I'm just sinking into denial).

I got a letter under my door today from management that I think could arguably be interpreted as tad bit hostile. I've mentioned to employees a few times that I'm worried bugs are traveling between units and gotten zero response on whether or not actions are being taken to address that. As I said before, they've insisted I'm the only one complaining and therefore I'm the only one with them. (right!) Anyway, the letter made particular emphasis that *my unit* will be inspected and treated. Also they worded it in such a way as to possibly imply I didn't follow the directions last time (ie, this is all my fault). It's always hard to tell from the written word, but those were the undertones I got.

So I wrote a long (but diplomatic) email going over every one of my many concerns about how I would prefer to see this next treatment handled (BTW thanks all, because I would be clueless if not for the hours upon hours I spend here now!) I anxiously await a response since many other tenants of this company have nothing but hate to say for the management style. I'm basically expecting them to rip me a new one. Pray for me to find my inner-bitch that surely must be in there somewhere, if need be.

As for my BF, this whole thing seems to have caused a rift between us as it has for other couples. I know he's a bit hap-hazard and would never in a million years follow my advice on how to prevent spreading them, so I told him he either needs to sleep here every night, or not see me till it's all over. Am I wrong for asking that? I'm afraid he would spread the bugs to his place and then bring them back to me. He flat out rejects the things I've been telling him about what I've learned. He's never read one thing about BBs and tells me I'm paranoid. In case you hadn't guessed, he chose his place over mine. Guess he wasn't thrilled about being up till 5am the other night washing and drying our bedding after I found one crawling towards him. Can't blame the guy. But now I feel more alone than ever. I found that it's even scarier to get in bed with the vampires alone. Is it selfish that I don't want to be the ONLY thing on the menu?

As far as moving? Wow, I feel REALLY hopeless/helpless. I'm so paranoid that I might do something wrong that I haven't packed a single thing or scheduled a moving truck. I have 5 days. 5 days!! After all the days and hours devoted to reading, why do I still have no clue where to even begin??
buggedout16

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Posted 3 years ago
Fri Apr 23 2010 5:51:15
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Hi, Sylvie. I can see how you are overwhelmed and I would be there too. Okay, where to start. I would start with clothes/sheets/towels (because they are the easiest to decontaminate.) Figure out which ones you want at your new place and start doing the hot wash/hot dry thing with them at a laundromat and put them into fresh large Ziplocs (if possible that have never been in your old apt) and put them in your car. If you don't have a car, put them in double or triple layer bags so you can discard the outer layer when you leave your old apartment before bringing them to your new apartment.

I would also start with making a list, of what you want to bring with you and what you're OK with leaving behind/trashing. Then trash as much as you can yourself (wrapped in garbage bags). That will make it easier to see what you have left to bring with you, and you can either figure out how you're going to treat it, or seal it up in airtight bags until you can treat it, which is probably easier for now on the short time frame. (DDVP strips are apparently good for a lot of things; I've not tried them, but many people here have and can give you tips, or do a search for DDVP.) If you have a lot of stuff to junk and you can afford it, the company 1-800-Got-Junk can help you get rid of a lot of the stuff in one huge haul. (disclaimer I do not work for this company- I'm just a satisfied customer- I'm sure there are other similar companies as well and you might want to compare price rates if you're interested in that type of service- I just panicked and used the first name I found.)

I'm sorry and I sympathize with the crappy landlord and apartment management. Please don't blame yourself and please take care of yourself.
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Apr 24 2010 16:29:54
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Thanks so much Buggedout, you really helped me get motivated to start this process. I feel like that character in a movie who is running around like a chicken with its head cut off and needs someone to slap them and say "Pull yourself together!"

So I went to Target last night and bought some of those big double sealed ziplocs, some isopropyl alcohol 91%, and some hydrogen peroxide. I did 2 loads of laundry which are now sitting in my trunk. I fear the dryers in my building don't get hot enough and I'm doing this all for naught. Is there any way to know???? Love that I have to pay $1.50 per wash or dry cycle that goes straight into the pockets of my LL! That's almost $5 a load since they have to go through at least 2 dry cycles to be anything but damp!

I tested the hydrogen peroxide theory and found that the fecal spots did not foam. Maybe there has to be a great quantity of it for it to foam. Though it did cause it to smear and return to a liquid state, as I hear the stuff does when you get it wet.

I also started working on things I'm getting rid of, and in the process I found a hot spot! I have 2 large posters in poster frames that I hung above my bed. One of the monsters that I caught had scuttled out from behind one before so I already suspected them. Sure enough, I took the first one down and there is fecal matter on the back of the frame (which is cardboard). I started to remove one of the edges of the frame to find more fecal matter and a cast skin popped out! With no interest in seeing any more, I bagged the two posters up plus the other framed poster in my kitchen and threw them away. I think I have to also throw away a picture that's in a real frame since I found a cast skin on the back of it. Yuck. Both the dog and I have new bites this morning. Still haven't seen any more live bugs though.

I'm really confused about how to even pack the majority of my stuff... should I try to find big air tight plastic storage bins? cardboard boxes would be bad, right? Also, I have to reserve a uhaul... how the heck do you know you're getting one that's bug-free or not?

As for the LL, they have not responded to my email yet. Grr! BUT I did find an ally! Another tenant from a different building they manage had very bad allergic reactions to the bites and wants to sue. I'll keep you all posted on that... I'm trying really hard to find out specific laws regarding this matter but haven't found anything so far other than "it's the LL's responsibility to keep it pest-free."

Ok going back to my washing...
buggedout16

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Posted 3 years ago
Sun Apr 25 2010 18:49:02
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Hi Sylvie, I'm sorry I've been out of town all weekend and just saw your reply.

The dryer temperature- get a meat thermometer and place it in the middle of a load of your clothes during the dryer cycle (before the cool down cycle).

As far as packing- I've just used the large ziplocs; I was never able to find airtight plastic bins. But I know some people have used duct tape on ones that are not quite airtight, for packing/stacking ease.

I'm glad to hear about the new ally against your landlord I hope you're almost done by now with the moving process take care.
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Sun Apr 25 2010 21:13:07
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Great idea about the meat thermometer!

I have reserved a uhaul for Wednesday night. That's what, 3 days? Eep! I still haven't packed a thing! Just trashing things and washing clothes. I wasted a lot of time at Target last night and didn't find any bins that seemed secure.

My bf dropped by yesterday shortly after my last reply. He's had it w/ my "paranoia" so he walked right downstairs to the office and apparently gave the building manager hell. They said they would have a professional coming to treat tomorrow. So here's my plan as of now: wait to meet the PCO and ask him questions/see if he can treat certain items before I pack them. Also I want to be there just to verify who they are actually sending!

I went to meet my "ally" today as she lives a few blocks from me. She gave me some bottles of Suspend SC (label says active ingredient: Deltamethrin 4.75%, other ingredients 95.25%) and a few bags of stuff that is simply labeled "fossil shell dust." Does that mean it's DE? She moved from her infested building and says she was successful in not bringing them. I am a little nervous about using any pesticide though especially since I have a tiny fragile dog. I'm planning to show the PCO tomorrow to get his approval, but I'd also like to know what you guys think. My "bed bug buddy" told me to pack my stuff in cardboard boxes, sprinkle some powder in, seal the edges off with tape, and gently shake the boxes to spread it around in there. She said to also put some in the vacuum bag and then vacuum my stuff as I unpack it. Thoughts on this?
moogatu87

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Apr 26 2010 0:15:56
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Bugged out and Sylvie, thank you!! I've been on the hunt for a week now to find precise instructions on what should be done to move out.

-I have considered renting a packtite here in ny but am wondering its effectiveness? Can we drop our books in there as well? We definitely cannot afford to do a vikane fumigation or any sort method like that. All we have is the hot water, dryer, possible packtite, some insecticide spray called suspend pc that our PCO told us to spray every few days on everything, and murphys orange spray
-What if we do not have the option of surrendering our computers and important electronics to a bag for three weeks with the strip? Could anything help salvage them?
-I cannot find one thing about bed bugs and pets. I have a cat, I called the local vet and they didn't seem to know how to help but mentioned advantage for fleas? I can't really wash my cat in hot water or put him in a packtite since I love him and all. I am VERY concerned that he will help carry them over to the new place

I can't think of some other of my important questions but I am so thankful to have come across this conversation since Sylvie, you have been asking the very questions that I have been battling to find the answers to. thank you both so much!!!
delorac

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Apr 26 2010 3:30:19
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moogatu87 - 2 hours ago »

-I cannot find one thing about bed bugs and pets. I have a cat, I called the local vet and they didn't seem to know how to help but mentioned advantage for fleas? I can't really wash my cat in hot water or put him in a packtite since I love him and all. I am VERY concerned that he will help carry them over to the new place

Hi, moogatu87,

Here's an active thread about dealing with cats and bed bugs: http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bug-treatment-for-cats

Best advice is to bathe your cat (or have him bathed by a groomer) before you move. Bed bugs don't stay on pets. They just grab a bite and go home. And they really prefer to dine on you. Still, for peace of mind, bathing and combing your cat isn't a bad idea. If you put "cats" into the search box at the top of this forum, you can read a bunch of posts about how to deal with bed bugs and cats.

Regarding Packtite, yes, you certainly can drop your books in there. Also your bills and other papers, and your cardboard CD/CVD sleeves. Just make sure that you follow the instructions regarding where to put the temperature probe. I just did a search on "books" and there are lots of posts to help you with specifics.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Apr 27 2010 1:51:18
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Sylvie - 1 day ago »
...She gave me some bottles of Suspend SC (label says active ingredient: Deltamethrin 4.75%, other ingredients 95.25%) and a few bags of stuff that is simply labeled "fossil shell dust." ... My "bed bug buddy" told me to pack my stuff in cardboard boxes, sprinkle some powder in, seal the edges off with tape, and gently shake the boxes to spread it around in there. She said to also put some in the vacuum bag and then vacuum my stuff as I unpack it. Thoughts on this?

Any kind of dust is dangerous if inhaled. Putting it in the vacuum may cause it to get into the air and this is dangerous. (DE can also wreck vacuums and I am not sure about other dusts.) Shaking the stuff (Suspend or any dusts) in a box of contents does not seem wise or safe.

If you want to treat "stuff" I would recommend a Packtite if funds permit. (They're about $290 and heat treat your belongings.)

Some would recommend DDVP strips -- I cannot as it is not my area of expertise. They're also controversial and must be used with caution.

Be aware that you need to do your research on pesticides carefully, and that random buddies on or offline are not necessarily qualified or the best people to advise you. If you trust the pest pro, I would ask him.
buggyinsocal

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Apr 27 2010 12:04:24
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I've used DDVP strips on the items that couldn't be in my apartment during thermal treatment. If you want a run down of the process from someone who's done it, let me know. (I teach at a local university, and it's the end of the term, and I've already spent more time than I meant to here this morning, but if you PM me or leave a post here, I'll come back by when I have a minute.)

the short version on DDVP is this:

They offgas a chemical fumigant that should kill bed bugs.

That chemical fumigant, the PMPs assure us, leaves no residue.

The particular chemical is the last organophosphate labeled for use in the US; it isn't legal in some states, but it is in others.

Using it in containers to kill bed bugs is an off-label usage, so you're outside standard guidelines on its use. You need to be aware of that and exercise extra caution.

DDVP strips are labeled ONLY for use in uninhabited structures (like an unattached garage or a shed.) I would absolutely not ever use it in "sealed" containers that were stored inside my residence.

It needs to be put into containers with the objects being debugged and sealed so that they are airtight. For that reason, I wouldn't feel comfortable using plastic bags because the chance of someone or something tearing part of the bag and making it no longer airtight, meaning the fumigant not only might not work on the items but might leak out (hence not storing said sealed containers inside).

There are threads that talk about how long you need to leave the items like that. You need to leave the items long enough to kill the bugs. At really long times, however, the fumigant may cause corrosion, so you don't want to leave them in there too long. I'm an English major, and numbers do not stick in my mind, so I don't know them off the top of my head, so you'll want to look for the threads where that is discussed.

I used them to treat DVDs and CDs that had to be removed from my home during thermal treatment.

Hope that helps, and don't hesitate to ask for more detail if you need it. Just be aware that since it's the end of the term, it may take me a day or two to respond, and if it takes me a while, it's not you, it's me.
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Apr 27 2010 23:09:37
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Moogatu, glad to have inadvertently helped you!
I can't really wash my cat in hot water or put him in a packtite since I love him and all.
<--lol! I think I'm just going to give my dog a good bath as Bugger09 and Delorac suggested.

Nobugs, I agree. I felt a little nervous about trying that stuff anyway, but since you say so I'll definitely skip it.

Buggyinsocal, you've actually already given me all the info I needed. I was curious about DDVP strips but I guess they wont work for me since I've got nowhere uninhabited to put stuff. Just for curiosity's sake, could you leave items sealed in with the strips in a back yard or something? I don't have a yard but might be good to know if my parents ever get BBs god forbid.

To update you all, a real-live PCO did in fact come to treat yesterday!!! Yippy!!!! I was so bummed though cause I wanted to talk to him but I had to go to work. I left him a note though and asked if I could get his number to call him later, and he very graciously obliged me. I called him and asked my questions and he was super helpful and told me that I should spray an oz of that Suspend SC stuff mixed with a gallon of water all over my walls before I move in. I'm going to try to pick up my new keys early tomorrow to go do that before we start moving in at 6pm. He also said that I must have a very small problem cause he didn't see any signs of the bugs anywhere. Yeah, yeah, I know that doesn't really mean anything since they hide so damn well, but it was still comforting to hear. I also got the guts to look around inside my mattress after he came. I didn't see one trace of bugs in there. He did spray my mattress though, which I think people here have mentioned that being dangerous. Haven't grown a third arm yet, but I will be ordering a mattress encasement ASAP regardless!! He sprayed my couch too (which also seems to have no signs of BBs but I asked him to treat it in my note). Still debating if I'm going to keep it anyway since it was my parents' "spiffy new couch" when I was like... 8! Yuck!

Back to packing! Yes, I finally started!!
bed buggy hell

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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Apr 29 2010 0:31:57
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sylvie...i have to say you are pretty funny...even though you are totally stressed...and rightfully so, you have a very good attitude...pretty dam funny sometimes...sorry the peroxide didn't work...a pco told me it would...he was wrong...i also tryied yesterday and it didn't work for me either..oh well good luck...keep the faith...
Hopeless_again

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Posted 3 years ago
Sat May 1 2010 0:31:34
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I want to share my story about moving. The whole nightmare started about six months ago when the management told me the guy three doors down "may" have bed bugs. The manager who said she had special training in Bed Bugs came into my suite lifted off my sheets and declared I had no bed bugs but she would get pest control in to spray anyways. What a joke! The pest control came sprayed and said I was 100% clear. The issue is they sprayed the guy to the left of me but not the guy to the right of me!! Not a smart idea. (I later found out the guy to the right of me was so infested he said to throw out most of his belongings.) Two months went by and then I started getting bites. I freaked out and went down to the office to tell management. She laughed at me and said no you do not have them but we will send someone up to check it out. The pest control then came for a visit and sure enough he found dropping on a piece of tape I laid out. Then the hell started, I washed everything I owned and threw away my lamps. bedside tables & mattress. They sprayed everything and checked two weeks later and declared everything was good. I fought with the landlord to let me break me lease early and move out. They knew they handled the situation wrong and made me sign a document saying I wouldn’t take them to court, which I was considering. They paid me out $700 for my dry cleaning as well. After a huge battle and loosing my damage deposit they let me leave. Still worried I hired a pest control company to come pick up all my furniture, shoes, books, luggage, pictures, purses, snowboard and yoga gear and got it heat treated for $1200 of my own money!! I double washed and doubled bag all my clothes and moved out and got my heat treated furniture delivered to my new apartment. I even got my SUV sprayed and a new bed delivered !!. The only thing that wasn't heat treated was my 50 inch plasma and DVD players but they inspected it.
In my new place i set up monitors & two way all around my bed and walls "just in case". I have been living in my new apartment for two weeks now and about three days ago the bites started appearing!! My sister came to visit a few days ago ( before I had bites) and she got bitten two! Its unbelievable! My worst nightmare has come true and I am now more worried about getting evicted then getting bitten. I called the pest control and they where in shock that the bed bugs have shown up again. They even offered to come to my new place free of charge with a K9 to pin point where they are hiding.
I have missed three days of work, hours of sleep and maybe even a relationship over this issue. I feel isolated, alone, depressed and sick everyday for the past two months. Now on top of this I have to come up with a way to tell my new management without them evicting me. I honestly tried my best to get rid of them and did more then most people do when they have bed bugs. I will even pay for the PC to spray my new place as long as they don’t kick me out!! The thing is I moved into a brand new upscale apartment which was bed bug free, therefore they will know it came from me. I am so worried & stressed, the PC & K9 can't come until Thursday. The shitty thing is everything I own is brand new! I am a recent grad who was ready to start her new life and now all I feel like doing is getting ride of everything I own, quitting my job and running away to another country and never owning anything again.
Has anyone moved and the bugs reappeared about getting sprayed & treated? If so what did the new management do? Evict? Make you pay or where they pretty reasonable. I have never seen a bed bug even though I have been getting eating alive!!
Sylvie

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Posted 3 years ago
Sat May 1 2010 17:03:42
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Thanks Bed Buggy Hell, I'm trying to keep my head held high. I've definitely been through some low points and shed a few tears of frustration, but I try to tell myself they're just bugs, many people have had them throughout time, and this isn't the end of the world. We're all still alive after all!

Hopeless_again, my heart breaks for you. I'd like to punch your old LL in the face! And boy can I relate to so much of what you wrote! I've definitely been worrying myself about infesting my new building with bed bugs and subsequently being in trouble with management. I've wondered if they would evict me or make me pay for treating the building. But if I do bring them here, this is what I think: I can tell them that I found them right before moving. I notified my former LL immediately. I did everything I was instructed to do. The PCO sprayed 2 days before I moved and told me that oughta do it. I even got his # so I could ask him advice on not bringing them with etc and I did everything he advised. So if I do bring them here, I did everything in my power not to and had the PCO backing me up. I think that's pretty reasonable and management can't get mad at me if I'm doing all I can. I think it would be different if a tenant was negligent and didn't do anything to end the problem or keep it from spreading. You said:

[previous management] knew they handled the situation wrong... I honestly tried my best to get rid of them and did more then most people do when they have bed bugs... I called the pest control and they where in shock that the bed bugs have shown up again. They even offered to come to my new place free of charge with a K9 to pin point where they are hiding.

If you tell your new LL all of that, I think there's no way they can be mad at you!

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