Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tools/ideas for fighting bed bugs
Prevention and Choosing an Apartment
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bugfear
newbite
Joined: May '12
Posts: 4offline
Posted 1 year ago
Tue May 29 2012 11:55:56
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So, I have recently had a bed bug scare that is probably turning out to be a rare "just one" scenario. But I still feel that sense of hyper-awareness that bed bugs are everywhere, waiting to come home with me. Still, I can do things like dry my clothes immediately when I come home and not carry a purse and try to ignore my fear a little bit, so that I can still function somewhat normally.
So what I am wondering is... Well, at the end of the summer, I plan to move into apartments and I have read here what a horror that can be (in getting landlords to pay, in getting them to pay for actually effective treatments and not getting them back, and particularly in how much they can spread in those locations) and I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to prevent bed bugs from spreading into my apartment from neighbors? I've read some things about caulking or maybe doing my own DE barrier but others seem to have said that seemingly preventative measures are likely ineffective and may even cause harm...
Is there a general sentiment here? It seems like at least being aware and monitoring for early detection will be beneficial, but is that it? (And should it be at the length of buying $200 encasements and/or using Climb Ups before I have a problem?)
Also. Is there anything I can look for when choosing an apartment? A corner apartment so I have less neighbors? Not the middle floors? I assume it's better if each building has a limited number of apartments, but those ones are few and far between... Any other tricks? I guess it'd probably help to ask the manager what they do when a tenant has bed bugs...
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 6,825offline
Posted 1 year ago
Tue May 29 2012 14:32:21
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bugfear - 2 hours ago »
is anything I can do to prevent bed bugs from spreading into my apartment from neighbors?Yes and the most effective thing you can do is free, namely to educate them, call it part of your welcome pack, a few select facts such as a list of good websites and resources along with the explanation that you have had friends with issue and would never want anyone to go through that hassle. OK not 100% but it a nominal cost for a few sides of paper and the printer ink.
bugfear - 2 hours ago »
I've read some things about caulking or maybe doing my own DE barrier but others seem to have said that seemingly preventative measures are likely ineffective and may even cause harm...
Is there a general sentiment here?Personal sentiment, optimise you bed and sleeping area for efficiency of monitoring and work on the principle that if you limit their potential places but leave their behaviour as normal as possible they will not choose to hang out in odd places.
I have actually not been approached to do such a project for a hotel that opens in 2015 where I will start the project with the architects and will follow it through to the fit out teams and staff training. OK you are not moving into a new build but the principles are literally the same.
bugfear - 2 hours ago »
It seems like at least being aware and monitoring for early detection will be beneficial, but is that it? (And should it be at the length of buying $200 encasements and/or using Climb Ups before I have a problem?)Again personally I don't see any point in encasement beyond a snug fitted base encasement to limit refugia and enhance monitoring. It is again a simple Zen philosophy but the reality is that much beyond that adds to behavioural routines which are not always constructive.
My view of monitoring is actually a very simple one, monitor don't trap. That removes all the useless tapes, glue boards, blunder devices and pseudo scientific baiting and you keep it simple. I am obviously biased towards this area having invested time and money into this area but I think I am also one of the very few who can put their hand on their heart and say they have kept a consistent message for all the years I have spoken out.
bugfear - 2 hours ago »
Also. Is there anything I can look for when choosing an apartment? A corner apartment so I have less neighbors? Not the middle floors? I assume it's better if each building has a limited number of apartments, but those ones are few and far between... Any other tricks? I guess it'd probably help to ask the manager what they do when a tenant has bed bugs...OK again personal perspective but I am going to be open on this one. Pick a place that you feel comfortable, where you get the feeling that you might want to at least have a passing acquaintance with the neighbours because knowing people is step 1 to communicating in an effective way.
Yes you can limit the chances by limiting the adjoining neighbours but I am not sure if you would want to live in an apartment attached to only 2 neighbours neither of which ever left the house or traveled or went to the cinema, or traveled on public transport, or went to the theater, the hospital, the doctors surgery, certain department stories, libraries ......... or any one of many thousands of potential risks. the point is that everyone has a level of risk and the only real driving factor is education.
When you check places check around the bed areas, check the walls and skirting around beds or where bedbugs used to be or where they would most likley be. Have a flashlight and a magnifying lens and better still some bedbug blue to test on the stop.
Ask the building management what their policy is, the ones that say we don't have one we have never had an issue maybe need to be careful if they are carved from wood. They also need to be told shame because having one is a plus point in consumers minds. If they have one look at it, chances are you will know as much if not dare I say a little more than them.
Above all avoid making decisions based on worry as they are of no value compared to a decision based on fact.
OK opus for the night over but I wanted to share a lot of this today.
Hope it helps.
David Cain
Bed Bugs LimitedIn accordance with the AUP and FTC I openly declare my vested interest in Passive Monitoring as the inventor and patent holder or method and product. Other products mentioned by name are done so with no financial self interest as its not like I can sell them to you.
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