When to invite friends over: Input please :) « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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When to invite friends over: Input please :)

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Started 2 years ago by needsomemoresleep
Latest reply from ladywithkids
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needsomemoresleep

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jun 11 2010 14:12:45
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So my parents found out that they have BBs about 1 week ago. They seemed to be centered on a chair (where my dad, who travels a lot for business usually sleeps...er...slept). This chair was thrown out as soon as we figured out what was up.

We've since vacuumed/bagged/etc, and since I'm a recent college grad with 3 weeks before my job begins, I've spent about 16 hrs a day looking for them/cleaning and so on. We called in a PCO that came highly recommended from Angie's List and he did everything that this site said that a PCO should do (look behind picture frames/take apart beds/unscrew the legs of the loveseat...). That was on Wednesday (the 9th?). I've found lone stragglers, but no harborages (and trust me, I'm looking!)

The question is this: my mom want to invite family for July 4th. Is that too soon to know if they're gone? (Our PCO is doing a 2 week follow up before then) Recommendations would be much appreciated. Sorry for the long post!
DeedleBeetle

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jun 11 2010 14:22:53
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playing it sort of close, huh?

that's a little more than two weeks away from now...

Is she going to tell people that she was treated for this problem?

it's probably best to give people a choice of whether they want to come...get everyone to rsvp after having the information so your mom knows how much food, etc. she'll need...

or

wait until next year...

(i haven't seen a bug or had a bite in more than 3 weeks now, but i only just started seeing clients here again and with notice that i had a light infestation, was treated and that i haven't seen anything or suffered a bite in 3 weeks).

just put yourself in the shoes of your guests...Then you'll know what to do...
BugsInTO

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Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jun 11 2010 15:41:11
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Also, if the family comes over and accidentally takes bedbugs home, this adds an extra level of complexity to your fight, because now you have the possibility of them being re-introduced back into your home in a kind of ping pong infestation.
ladywithkids

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 14 2010 12:32:55
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BugsInTO - 2 days ago »
Also, if the family comes over and accidentally takes bedbugs home, this adds an extra level of complexity to your fight, because now you have the possibility of them being re-introduced back into your home in a kind of ping pong infestation.

Agreed! I have several friends that usually come over and I informed them of my problem. I told them just to be on the safe side to please not come. One of my friends came for a moment to help me with a steamer, but didn't sit anywhere. His parents went through it so he knew what he was doing. He was actually giving me pointers on how to properly steam.
needsomemoresleep

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 14 2010 13:22:00
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Thanks guys! We've told everyone...and they all still want to come and help clean! Though after the first treatment (and disposing of the chair) no one has been bitten but I know it's way too soon to know (is even a month soon enough?) ...keep your fingers crossed for us!
needsomemoresleep

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 14 2010 13:26:27
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Oh and one more thing...we have a pool so everyone was going to make sure to inspect their shoes and take a dip before they go (yay for Texas heat!)...does swimming in chlorinated water ensure BB death?
Allipat

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 14 2010 15:00:33
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I agree that you should tell everyone and let them decide if they want to take that risk. I also think it's good to tell people so they can become educated about bedbugs in general. I think the fact that so many people hide their bb problems out of embarassment is actually making things much worse. When I discovered my bbs I had no idea what they were and that they drank human blood. After I told my friends and family I realized that none of them had a clue either, but now I've educated them on what to look for/how to inspect etc and hopefully that will keep them from having to go though what I have. I think of it this way- every time I educate someone about bbs I am kind of killing bbs too-by keeping them from getting an infestation in the first place.
bugnut

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Posted 2 years ago
Tue Jun 15 2010 10:08:29
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I am impressed you told your family and they still want to come! If I told my family even after I treated and was bb"free" they still would not come over - ever. They would find some excuse for not coming. I know because another family member had carpet beetles and admitted to it and was ostracized until they moved to a house. It would be nice to be able to talk about it with family, but it is not an issue. I even worry about the neighbors seeing the K9 team or PCO coming. It is now June and my goal is to be able to have people over at Christmas.

I get so jealous went I walk around my neighborhood and see people out chatting or gardening. They spend their time doing what they like and not packtiting, laundering vacuuming or crawling around with a flashlight and magnifying glass. They don't need to spend hours trolling the forums to see how others issues affect their own. DOn't get me wrong - I appreciate this forum, but some stories can send me into a panic.

Anyway, I am getting this off my chest. Packtite is running next to me. I am going out to spend more money on garbage bags and taking a dresser to the dump.
PSed

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 12:13:23
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Bugnut, I can so relate!! In addition to the activities, I've never noticed people's clothes more than now. When I'm wearing a Walmart tshirt that I've run through the dryer two times and a shrunken bra....seeing people in an outfit that they've chosen because of the style and feel, and a purse that clearly hasn't been shredded seems like a totally different creature!...Yay you for keeping your eye on the "when this is over" and having December as a goal.
DeedleBeetle

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 13:34:47
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but you never know what goes on behind closed doors...maybe those neighbors who seem so carefree are packtiting as they stand outside...
Jenn28

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 15:13:06
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Packtiting as they stand outside....LMAO!!! What a funny thought
ladywithkids

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Posted 2 years ago
Tue Jun 22 2010 1:21:45
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Hey honestly if they are willing to come over knowing what they know awesome. Best advise to them would be that as soon as they get home put all their clothes in plastic bags until they go launder it in high heat. They should take a shower as soon as they take their clothes off. Their car should be ok due to Texas heat. They should leave their car in direct sunlight so if any get in there BAMM they are dead. I think it would take a few days in the car though if I'm not mistaken. I now knowingly park my car in direct sunlight these summer days just in case.