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Sheet Stain Question and Subletting Question
(5 posts)-
Oh I am so sad to be here and posting at 5 AM...but I subletted an apartment because I'm working on my dissertation here in nyc and I am becoming increasingly convinced that my furnished room may have bed bugs.
I inspected my mattress and the floor boards around my bed and didn't find any evidence - most particularly, I didn't find any blood or feces spots on the mattress or sheets - they are pristine. I've checked over the course of several days to see if I have any bugs or stains on the sheets, mattress or box spring, but I can't find anything. But I am getting fresh bites unlike any mosquito bite I've ever encountered - they have all been on my feet, calves and arms, some grouped, some solitary, some small red dots, some itchy welts, they feel uncomfortable when the hot water hits them in the shower. I'm going to my dermatologist to see what she thinks it could be - but I think it sounds and looks an awful lot like bed bug bites. Is it possible that the bugs could be forsaking the mattress to live in the floor? (My bed frame is metal) Is it possible that I could have bed bugs but no feces or blood stains on the mattress or sheets? If there are no stains, can I hope to dream that the problem might be in its early stages?
My second question has to do with subletting and getting out of dodge. I emailed the woman I am subletting from to ask if she had problems with insect bites when she stayed in the room. I plan on letting the landlord know that an exterminator should be sent to the premises. But I have to say, I have no interest in staying on as "bait" in a room that I'm only committed to until May 31. I'd even swallow the cost of May's rent to avoid it; although if the answer comes back that she did have issues with bed bugs, I'd find that pill a little bitter. In the end it's my fault - I didn't ask explicitly when I saw the place, but I never would have thought to ask it until now! Woe. If I do take a break from the sublet and a PCO came to treat the space, would it do any good without a warm body in the bed? I ask this just in case I could leave for a few weeks, hopefully have the room treated and then come back to see if it is any better (with minimal stuff so as to minimize recontamination, of course)
If I do leave the sublet early, I plan on bagging everything I brought to the place (as I said, it was furnished so the bed and furniture isn't my headache) in contractors trash bags (it's all clothes and books) and taking it all to my parents' house in PA. I know that I may be transporting the bugs, but my idea is to sort out the bags in the backyard into clothes that can be washed hot, clothes that need dry cleaning and stuff that I can put in the freezer for 5 days (can clothes/shoes be put in the freezer for 5 days, do you think?) and then enacting those three eradication techniques. I really need my books right now - do you suppose a thorough inspection is enough or should I try freezing them too? Are plastic items pretty much safe, or can they also harbor the bugs?
Ok I am sorry for the length of this post and the late hour, itchiness inspired crazyness - I am totally freaked out by all of this and I just want to do things right to minimize future woe since I really need my time for writing and not obsessing over these bug bites and the possibility of spreading them to my friends/family. Thanks for any and all advice - I really, really appreciate it!
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skerred
newbite
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 2
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Apr 1 2007 15:57:46
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Sorry to reply to myself - but it is bed bugs. I did another inspection this morning and got into a crevice of the mattress I guess I missed before and found two black stains and a bed bug scurried out. I caught it and put it into an old prescription pill bottle (for anxiety medication - how fitting, huh?) so I can show it to the landlord/woman I am leasing from/PCO.
I'm currently washing clothes and preparing to freeze shoes.
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Hi Skerred,
Remember the important thing is the drying--on hot and for a long time. Also, remember to seal those washed clothes up in bags with airtight seals, or they can become reinfested easily.
Sorry you have bed bugs, but I am glad you have the evidence you need to do something about it.
nobugs -
Bugalina
senior member
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 508
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Apr 1 2007 20:16:44
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skerred..have you gone onto the Blog's FAQ's ??? What to do when you have bed bugs..- .Your landlord is beholden to treat I would think...you must make some quick decisions..get your bed isolated ..but this will cost some money for bed cover protectors...if you stay there you have to take action...if you go someplace else you'd better make certain it doesn't have a bug infestation..or that you don't bring them with you..in any case....make a plan of action asap..
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willow-the-wisp
banned
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 1,530
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Apr 16 2007 19:12:41
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skerred what ever happend? we'd like to know that you are alright!
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