What is a "thin" layer of DE? Apply just to affected room?

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What is a "thin" layer of DE? Apply just to affected room?

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agh

newbite
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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Sep 10 2010 14:26:04
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I don't know what a "thin" layer of DE is. I was told that if you can see it, it's too thick, and will cause sinus problems.
I applied it around baseboards in bedroom, and out a few inches toward the center. I took off coverings for the outlets, and put some in there. I used a mask while applying.
But I don't know what is too thick.

Also, no problem seems to exist in my child's bedroom. Should I apply in there? Am I likely to cause bugs to spread? BTW - no one can find BBs (not even sniffer dog) in our house. I have just some mysterious small blood stains and a couple of questionable bites (none that are 3 consecutive, etc.).
bug-tired

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Sep 10 2010 18:39:48
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I'll defer to the experts but I don't think I would treat with chemicals unless I knew for sure that I had them. I would invest my time & money instead on matress & boxspring encasements & white sheets and maybe some passive monitors. I'd study up on some of the other signs, such as fecal spots - they really stand out on those white sheets. And I think the fecal spots are a better indicator than blood stains or bites, which could be from something else.

It also wouldn't hurt to vacuum alot and to declutter but I would hesitate to spray or dust without a positive ID.
bug-tired

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Sep 10 2010 18:40:58
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P. S. And when you vaccuum, don't forget to immediately seal up the bag and throw it in an outside garbage container....no one thought to tell me that.
bedbugman

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Posted 2 years ago
Sat Sep 11 2010 9:18:55
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I can't recommend DIY bed bug control and would first advise you call someone in to undertake an inspection. But in my opinion the best way to use DE is get a small brush, make-up / foundation brushes are ideal dab into the powder and dust into cracks / crevices. Using a bulb duster of puffer pack will only make a mess and breathing this stuff in is not a good idea.
agh

newbite
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Sep 12 2010 16:16:31
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Well, I had some odd blood stains. Exterminator & sniffer dog found nothing in our house. I live in an area that is probably new to this problem. But I had BBs in NYC a while back - so I am either paranoid or I know more about what to look for than the local exterminator. They treated anyway because of our questionable stains.

No problems for 6 weeks. Then blood stains on my pillow case, and as of yesterday morning, a few scattered little tiny bumps on my child's face. Her bumps look like small flea bites.

I don't know what in the heck is going on. The exterminator is done with me - says we don't have a problem. We can call someone else, but suspect they'll say the same thing.

We used a homemade dry ice trap per Rutgers' research - weren't able to trap bugs. We spent two nights on the living room floor, and decided we should move back to the bed in case the bugs came looking for us or our child.

I kind of figured that using DE for now wouldn't hurt, although I suppose I could be wrong. I cannot for the life of me figure out what else would cause tiny blood stains on my pillow. Any ideas?!?!