Was it the right advice? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Reader questions (do not fit into other categories)

Was it the right advice?

(13 posts)

Tags:

Amy

newbite
Joined: Jun '07
Posts: 2
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Thu Jun 14 2007 12:53:58
#

Login to Send PM

What I had thought were flea bites turned out to be, well, bed bugs. For weeks I had been treating my house against fleas and begrudgingly blamed my dog. Now I really hope that I am on the right track:

I spoke with a pest-control company in my city (Montreal) earlier this week. They suggested that I did not require professional services, and that as long as I do the following, there'd be hope:

- boil-wash all clothing, bedclothes, and linens
- vacuum sleeping area (including closet, cracks and baseboards, mattress & box spring ... especially the cording around each ...) and living area
- spray along baseboards, closet, mattress, and furniture with industrial-grade insecticide
- wait it out. Keep sleeping in the bed and act as bait to lure out the bedbugs so they may come into contact with the insecticide. This can take up to 3-4 weeks.

Two questions:

I thoroughly vacuumed and sprayed my mattress and box spring two days ago. If I choose to encase them in protective mattress/box spring coverings now, must I vacuum and spray again?

I haven't actually seen any dead bugs anywhere. Is this normal? Should I be finding them on the ground?

Many thanks for your help,

Amy
nightshirt

senior member
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 454
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Thu Jun 14 2007 13:01:39
#

Login to Send PM

please read the faq's before you do anything else. yes you would have to re-do everything. you will need to wash/dry clothing on extrmely hot temp and bag them in ziplock seal bags (they make them large enough), keep drawers empty so a pco can treat them. you need to do this with all towels, linen closet stuff, shoes, handbags, etc. this will all make sense when you read the faq.s

i cannot believe that a pco would tell YOU to use an industrial strength insecticide. they can be extremely hazardous if improperly applied. call another pco. find out the ansewrs to your questions before you call so you can tell whether this is a company that knows its [expletive deleted]. you can get most answers here either in the faq's or reading forum and blogs.

then after you find a reliable pco they need to come every 10-14 days b/c the treatment does not kill eggs and eggs hatch every 10-14 days so they will need to be treated after hatching. a few rounds of this and you will be rid of them hopefully.

the process is alot of work, alot of mental fatigue and can be expensive. but, you need to follow the procedures strictly to eradicate the infestation.

by the way, you may not see them for a long time . that does not mean they are not there.

if you assume anything you could be allowing an infestation to grow and that wuold be terrible.

keep us posted.
Anonymous

Unregistered

Posts: 1,455
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Thu Jun 14 2007 13:06:57
#

Login to Send PM

I was writing a post before I saw nightshirt's. So, what nightshirt said!

OK:
a) how do you know it's bedbugs?
b) what is the "industrial insecticide," did that dubiously-qualified PCO recommend it, and, more important, do you know how to use it safely?
c) the PCO you called may or may not know bedbugs but they are giving you unethical advice; call others and compare their advice
d) read the FAQs on this site (I know you have not read them yet, but you need to slow down and read them first, at least the ones in the 101 section)
wantmyskinback

member
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 344
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Thu Jun 14 2007 14:58:27
#

Login to Send PM

Excellent advice Nightshirt and Nomo. If I were Amy I would encase the mattress and isolate the bed as per the FAQS and follow Nightshirt's advice on speaking to another PCO.
willow-the-wisp

banned
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 1,527
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Fri Jun 15 2007 1:10:33
#

Login to Send PM

Througoughness and understanding of bed bugs is paramount to eliminating them.
So yeah, real ALL the FAQS before you do ANYTHING ELSE!
We even have A FAQ on choosig a good PCO. But sit there ... and read for 3-5 hours before you do another thing. That is your advice from me--and try not to read anything into anything as you read:
As you read write down your questions:
when your done reading ...

See how many of your own quesitons you can answer yourself: then--call the PCO prepared with the knowlege you'll learn here in the FAQS on what, precisely, to ask them.
Weeks = a lot more bed bugs, so I'm glad your out of denial!
Bed bugs are gross and we have to go thru this 100%, and when we do ... we USUALLY come out on the other side of the rianbow--STRONGER PEOPLE!
I am absolutly not suggesting you go searching for them in any way--until you've read ALL the FAQS!
Peace and Love and no Bed bugs eventually.

1--It takes time to get rid of them.
2--Bathe the dog frequently and towel dry him/her very very well ... before they come out of the tub--no shaking water rom fur is a good idea.
3--pillows can carry hidden bed bugs--if your going to keep them wash dry for hours and encase in sealed double plastic bags letting most of the air out of hte bag slowly--put it in a pillow case and you'll ardly know the difference!
4--ALL cloth items mudt be isolated after proper ewashings--including face towels in the bathrom--you werar it--bag it at night in the laundry, or, if your goign to wear it again the next day bag it anyway!~
When you totally understand the method behind those four statments with ease--your probably ready to call a DECENT PCO andask the right questions.
BUT HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE PCO?
you tell me. Did you kow that you can kill up to half of them before the PCO even comes?
Did you know that will make 5 visits turn into 3 visits?
Do you know how much money that will save you?
You can't tell me these things until you read all of the FAQS! (can cost up to 500 bucks a room)
Happy reading and then we are so so with you!
We'll help you kill those capitol F'rs!
Willow
PS under good pco advice--you can Kill 25% more during treatments--these are not roaches! "WE" are included in the treatment process and it takes a ton of hard work ... some of it repeated over and over.
Nobugsonme

your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,743
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Fri Jun 15 2007 1:49:52
#

Login to Send PM

What they said!

FYI one good PCO I know told me some companies don't want to take bed bug cases (they feel they can't offer warranties because of situations where neighbors aren't treated in multi-unit bldgs, they have to put in many hours of work to do a good job, etc.) so perhaps this is the case here and they are trying to deflect bed bug work.

Also they may feel you don't have bed bugs (or don't have many) if they did not find one. Unfortunately, they often don't find them even if you have them.

I'd read all the FAQs and I'd follow the instructions in the FAQ on selecting a PCO. Good luck. And keep us posted.
Amy

newbite
Joined: Jun '07
Posts: 2
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Fri Jun 15 2007 11:16:35
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks for the advice. I called up another pest-control company. They're stopping by for a free eval. on Monday, but they have already told me that they'll most likely have to spray a water-based powder insecticide in my bedroom/living room. The dog will have to be housed elsewhere for 4 weeks. They are offering me a 6-month guarantee. They also shook their head when I told them about their competitor's advice. I'm getting there, I'm getting there...
nightshirt

senior member
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 454
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Fri Jun 15 2007 13:03:20
#

Login to Send PM

my pet dog just had to be out of my house for 4-6 hours amy. 4 weeks is wierd. what is this water based power made of? and hes using only that? on to another one amy.
u2dan

junior member
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 100
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Fri Jun 15 2007 16:38:06
#

Login to Send PM

I cant read a lot cuz my eyes hurt but if no one mentioned the vacuum I sure will!

After each vacuuming you should take the vacuum outside, away from your dwelling and change the bag, put the old bag inside a plastic baga nd tie it TIGHT.

Be careful that nothing is left in the vacuum itself.
ofallthebeds

junior member
Joined: Jun '07
Posts: 110
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Fri Jun 15 2007 18:18:29
#

Login to Send PM

In re: vacuum: Can one do the bag changing in the tub and rinse off right after. Any suggestions about this? And what if I don't have many bags? They are costly... should I just charge them... must I change it all the time? I have heard they crawl out... is there anything else one can do?
willow-the-wisp

banned
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 1,527
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Fri Jun 15 2007 22:35:46
#

Login to Send PM

You can try taking the bag out--taping it shut--putting it into another plastic bag and tape that shut too!
When you re-use--re-load the vacuum bag, into the vacuume not IN the tub. OVER the tub--(your on your knees leaning over tub).
You donâ€™t need to be so scared of them unless they are hungry they will not come at you unless this is so.
Keep your contact kill available and very handy nonetheless--even if you only have a few, If so great!maybe the one you "Might see and kill" .... will be one of the very last!
Nobugsonme

your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,743
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Fri Jun 15 2007 23:01:53
#

Login to Send PM

Some people said they put DE on the floor after vacuuming and sucked it up, so it would be in the bag with the mo-fos. Then they tape the top and re-use later. I have not tried this, but seems plausible.

Amy, I hate to send you to talk to MORE PCOs, but I have not heard of anyone needing to put pets somewhere for 4 weeks. Most say 4-6 hours, and many of us like to do it overnight just to be safe.

I also wonder if the 6 mo guarantee was based on one treatment, or whether they routinely did two or more, and then come again if needed? VERY few people need only one treatment. The treatments do not kill the eggs, so the eggs hatch in 10-14 days and that's why they must come again at 2 weeks.

I would go to thebedbugresource.com. It is run by a Vancouver PCO so he will undoubtedly know more about standard treatments available in Canada. (He'd probably even know if Quebec had different laws re: some chemicals). He will be able to tell you if you should be able to get a treatment the dog can handle.
Nobugsonme

your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,743
offline

Posted 5 years ago
Fri Jun 15 2007 23:02:51
#

Login to Send PM

ps when you go to thebedbugresource.com, leave a message under treatment in the forum for the general public. tell Sean I sent you! The PCOs on the board can give really good advice on treatment--what's available, what you should be offered, down to the chemicals.