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advice on correcting bad self-treatment?
(4 posts)-
thebuglady
newbite
Joined: Jan '11
Posts: 2offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jan 1 2011 15:12:03
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Happy New Year! I've been reading this forum for a few months and am finally making a post.
I live in Brooklyn and discovered bed bugs in mid-October, after about a week of bites. Because it took my super and landlord a few days to respond to my report and about a week more to arrange a PCO visit, I did a few things to self-treat to alleviate my problem in the meantime. Of course, I didn't know what I was doing and did a few things I shouldn't have, like bagging up some of my possessions, throwing away others, and taping over some cracks between the floor and ceiling in my closet and behind my bed. I've since gotten a Packtite and dealt with the majority of this, but the taped baseboard problem remains.
When the PCO came the first time, around November 10, I told him about the duct tape and said I was happy to remove it so he could spray there. He told me to leave the tape and sprayed Phantom over the taped areas. He then told me I should tape up another wall adjacent to my bed, which I did that following weekend. He came again December 1 for a follow-up treatment and sprayed Phantom on the tape again. He told me to have the super come to caulk the baseboards throughout the apartment, which he just did on December 31. However, those two taped walls and the closet are uncaulked, still covered with tape. Plus, the Phantom has caused the tape to deteriorate a little. I'm worried it will come loose and free trapped bed bugs or wrinkle and create additional harborages.
What should I do? Should I remove the tape and have the super caulk the cracks? Should I just tape over the old tape to hold it in place? Spray in some DE and then get the cracks? I have no more PCO visits planned; my landlord only will pay for two. I was planning on waiting to see if I get any bites in the next few weeks before arranging a third treatment on my own money.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,750online
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Jan 4 2011 1:21:26
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Any professional suggestions on this?
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 6,761offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Jan 5 2011 9:01:22
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Hi,
I am not a fan of caulking for this precise reason. It should only be done once an infestation is resolved and there is no risk of trapping in bedbugs only for them to come out later.
I would therefore suggest that you remove all the tape and asses the situation. If you remain clear for 2 weeks then by all means caulk and seal but if you still have an issue have it treated.
I also see no value in caulking items of furniture, floors and skirtings maybe but not stand alone items.
Hope this helps and hope you are clear when the tape is removed.
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited -
junior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 81offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Jan 5 2011 9:44:12
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I thought the Land Lord was required to do pay for at least 3 treatments or until the problem was eradicated?
That is the way it is in my area, outside of Cincinnati....
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