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PCO came today, some concerns - would like opinions
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SO the PCO my co-op uses and is paying for came today. I had to do a little additional work once he got there, moving furniture out from the walls (it was mostly done, But IT WASN'T ON THEIR PREP SHEET!) They spray a mixture of three chemicals - I know one is Suspend, he said one is an exciter(?) or something that sounds like that, and I think an IGR. They also dust the electrical outlets and backs of wall hangings with DryDie (spelling?). My room is the only room with evidence and it was the most extensively prepared. Here's my concern, he only is spraying baseboards, floor cracks, and across the door entry (from what I saw). I asked if he'd be going up onto the closet shelves and he said no, but then he fully admitted that they could be coming from or now escape to the unit above me. Confused! I forgot to ask, but I do not think he was going to spray my dresser (wooden) or the drawers. Shouldn't it be sprayed? I have ClimbUps on the legs already.
I knew they would not treat the mattress, they had already told me that. Should the couch be sprayed? I don't think it was on the plan. Should I self treat it? I already have it on ClimbUps, but I did see two live bugs (killed them both) on it once.
My son's room. The baseboards again, I think all that is being treated. We have seen no evidnence in that room and founsd no bugs, but he has a Captain's bed which I cannot isolate in the ClimbUps. Should the seams and the drawers of the bed be treated?
He told me I would have to have all my area rugs steam cleaned, no one had told me that in my previous converations with them, I had assumed they would get treated. I am afraid of having a cleaner pick them up and clean them offsite for fear of spreading any bug/eggs that may be in them. Any experience using a rental steamer and DIY?
thanks. in Queens, NYC
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Well I am back in the apartment and feel certain that the dresser and captain's bed did not get treated. Should I just do a DE treatment of these myself, or call the PCO and complain? I had not instructed for them to be done, just assumed from reading here that it would be part of the treatment.
As for the area rugs that he said I would need to get steamed. Recommendations? would a dusting of DE down for 2-3 days then vacuumed up get any nesting that might be going on?
Thanks - Queens, NY
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nervousaboutbedbugs
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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 69
Posted 3 months ago
Thu Aug 13 2009 20:28:53
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Both PCOs that I've spoken to told me they were going to treat the furniture. One was going to put Phantom on the bottoms of tables and couches - the other was going to spray all furniture with Sterifab, and also steam the couches. From my limited knowledge, it is naive to believe they are only in the bedroom, and living room furniture should be treated as well.
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sisterfaith
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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 48
Posted 3 months ago
Fri Aug 14 2009 21:18:31
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I can tell you that my PCO pulled out the drawers in my dressers, sprayed them all around and left them out to dry.
He took my bed from it's metal frame. Dismanteled the frame and sprayed it. After inspection, he put the encasements on the mattress and boxspring, and left the bed on a plastic bag (I supplied), leaning against the wall.
He squirted (from a can) Bedlam into wide space between baseboard and floor by my bed, and put "dust" in the switchplates.
He heavily sprayed the baseboards and floorboards (old wood with spaces) in my sleeping area, then went around the rest of my apartment, which is a "floor through railroad style" space with no doors, and sprayed the baseboards a bit. He sprayed inside the closet, but I still hadn't moved thing from the shelf, so just the floor got treated...but that may be all he'd have done anyway.
He also sprayed the hallway outside my door.
He came back for a follow up yesterday ...2 weeks after the initial treatment...and inspected and lightly sprayed.
I don't know if any of this helps you...I hope so!
Good luck -
Well I just found a live adult bug on my couch, so I guess I know they are in there. There are ClimbUps on each leg and nothing is touching the couch and nothing from the couch is touching the floor.
The couch had been sat on for over an hour tonight, that is why I decide to check it after some lights had been turned off, I thought the CO2 might bring them out. I got out my brand new respirator and dusted the wooden frame with DE as best I could (using a paintbrush to distribute), then did seams on the cover and cushions and also did edges on the plasticy mesh thing that the sofa-bed mattress is on (the mattress is already encased).
Have people treated sofas directly with a spray?
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Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 596
Posted 3 months ago
Fri Aug 14 2009 23:34:40
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Sounds as though you didn't get what you should have. Call and complain and have them treat the entire apartment correctly. Using the products they did, I would guess the exciter will get them moving to areas they may have not been previously. As for suspend and the world famous IGR ... I will tell you they would never be in my arsenal. There is enough research on these products that should make you choose better insecticides.
But yes, call back and complain. They don’t offer steam treatments with the conventional application?
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buggyinsocal
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Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 15 2009 1:20:59
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I'm not sure that I would use DE on the cushions on a sofa. Remember, you may be wearing a respirator when you apply it, but unless you're also wearing a respirator every time you sit down on the sofa or drop a bag on it, you're still running a risk of inhaling DE.
In addition, and maybe this is just because as someone with insomnia I sleep on my couch kind of often, I wouldn't use any pesticide spray on a couch that isn't also labeled for use on a mattress.
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helpmeee
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Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 15 2009 1:58:15
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RB - 1 day ago »
Well I am back in the apartment and feel certain that the dresser and captain's bed did not get treated. Should I just do a DE treatment of these myself, or call the PCO and complain? I had not instructed for them to be done, just assumed from reading here that it would be part of the treatment.
As for the area rugs that he said I would need to get steamed. Recommendations? would a dusting of DE down for 2-3 days then vacuumed up get any nesting that might be going on?
Thanks - Queens, NYHi I am knew here and have been researching every method possible to eradicate these bed bugs. My pco came out 8 days ago and to my shock he didn't even know what he was treating for. Once I told him bed bugs he went out to his truck and spent a good 10 minutes on the phone. I knew this was not going to go well. He then came in with a dry vapor steam machine which he used on the mattresses , my husband stayed and asked him to steam the couch and my sons rocking chair cushins because he had walked right by them. I was told he was going to inspect all dresser drawers and steam them I found out he did not. All of the drawers were empty too. He did spray chemical along the baseboards.
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helpmeee
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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 5
Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 15 2009 2:02:59
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helpmeee - 1 minute ago »
RB - 1 day ago »
Well I am back in the apartment and feel certain that the dresser and captain's bed did not get treated. Should I just do a DE treatment of these myself, or call the PCO and complain? I had not instructed for them to be done, just assumed from reading here that it would be part of the treatment.
As for the area rugs that he said I would need to get steamed. Recommendations? would a dusting of DE down for 2-3 days then vacuumed up get any nesting that might be going on?
Thanks - Queens, NYHi I am knew here and have been researching every method possible to eradicate these bed bugs. My pco came out 8 days ago and to my shock he didn't even know what he was treating for. Once I told him bed bugs he went out to his truck and spent a good 10 minutes on the phone. I knew this was not going to go well. He then came in with a dry vapor steam machine which he used on the mattresses , my husband stayed and asked him to steam the couch and my sons rocking chair cushins because he had walked right by them. I was told he was going to inspect all dresser drawers and steam them I found out he did not. All of the drawers were empty too. He did spray chemical along the baseboards.
To answer your question you could steam you carpet, bed, and many other non washableswith a good dry vapor steam cleaner. You may be able to rent one. I am thinking of buying one tommorrow
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KillerQueen - they do not use steam. I went with these PCOs because my building is paying for it.
buggyinsocal - thanks for the concern. I should have stated that I only treated underside seams. That said, I am having my son sit on the recliner that has not been used by anyone for over 2 weeks and has been in ClimbUps for a week. If there are any bugs there, I have not seen them or signs of them. I do plan to vacuum the couch thoroughly in a few days. Neither of us ever sleep on the couch.
I will be able to PackTite the seat and back cushions of the couch, and maybe I can flip it over and get to more of the frame that way to treat. Or maybe I can hire a steam treater for just a furniture and carpet treatment.
helpmeee - I dry vapor steamer or low-moisture steamer is just out of my price range right now. I opted to buy a PackTite instead. I will see if anyone rents them.
I wonder how the combo of a regular steamer and a wet/dry vac would work?
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buggyinsocal
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Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,130
Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 15 2009 11:35:12
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The issue I have with putting pesticides on any upholstered furniture is that the reason that only one pesticide is labeled for use on mattresses is that we spend a lot of time sitting or lying on mattresses, sofas, cushy chairs, etc. And when we're sitting on one of those items, esp. in say, shorts, our skin is in direct contact with the furniture.
Some pesticides are absorbed through the skin.
There's a reason it's a good idea to leave pesticide application to professionals, and that reason is that many of us don't know enough about the chemistry of individual pesticides to use them wisely and safely.
In addition, if you've been treated, it's hard to know what chemical pesticides the PCO already sprayed and where.
If you dusted DE anywhere on the couch, when you sit down on it, the mechanical action is likely to cause the dust to "puff up." Think about what happens when you hit a dusty rug with a broom. Same basic principle. That seems to make it entirely too easy to inhale the dust--whether it's been applied to the seams at of the cushions that are on the underside or the side you sit on. So unless you and everyone in your family is wearing respirators every time you're in the room with the couch, you're risking inhaling DE.
I sympathize with the fact that you feel like the PCO didn't give you the treatment you need, but I'm also concerned that in your frustration over that and your desire to get rid of the bugs (because, really, who doesn't) that you'll do things that may have long term health consequences that you're not considering right now.
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Finally getting back here. Had second treatment from the same PCO today, 2 weeks after first treatment. This time all of the livingroom wall baseboards were sprayed, and "dust" was put in dresser drawers and the drawers of a captain's bed.
I have a question about this "dust", I am not sure how it is applied by the PCO, but it is in a form that goes into the outlets and makes a solid line on the furniture and backs of pictures. I forgot to ask if it is safe to touch. It seems to rub off if touched. Can I put my bags of clothes back in the dresser?
I'll try calling the PCO office tomorrow, but thought someone here might know.
To follow up on the previous messages, all the DE was vacuumed up (while wearing a respirator) and the couch was vacuumed twice more. In addition I treated the cushions in the PackTite and have them bagged. I know have a borrowed steam cleaner and will steam them before they go back on the couch. That should clear them of any DE.
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