Will bedbugs set up shop in encased mattress/boxspring?

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » General Topics

Will bedbugs set up shop in encased mattress/boxspring?

(9 posts)

Tags:

Az Kev

newbite
Joined: Oct '10
Posts: 22
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 12 2010 11:43:57
#

Login to Send PM

Hello all. I recently discovered bedbugs in my daughter's boxsprings, and so I bought bedbug specific encasements and covered both her mattress and boxspring. I understand that the bugs could be in other places (we bought some good product to put on the baseboards and such), but I am wondering : can, or do bedbugs set up shop on encasemets around the mattresses and boxsprings like they do in un-encased ones?

I was thinking that if we totally encased both, put vaseline on the legs, and stayed vigilant about changing the sheets (washing and drying them on as hot a settings as possible) that I could give my daughter a little assurance that most likely they won't crawl on her now. But she is concerned they will just get between the bed and the boxspring encasements and continue "business as usual". Is she right? Is there anything I can do to prevent that?

All replies are greatly appreciated, and thanks to all on this forum - as well as the creator(s) - for giving people like me a place to ask about this stuff without having to get financially raped by an exterminator for the same knowledge! Lol
Bed Bug Epidemic

senior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 449
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 12 2010 12:07:38
#

Login to Send PM

Hello!
the purpose of the encasement is to keep whatever ones were on the box spring/mattress IN there and off you. Keeping it on for at least a year will ensure their death. That doesn't take care of the rest of the bedroom though. The ones that were not on the mattress/box spring can resume their business as usual.

It's never easy for anyone financially, but getting a competent exterminator involved would be the best option.
Jenn28

senior member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 435
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 12 2010 14:42:28
#

Login to Send PM

Az Kev, BBEpidemic is right.

I have my mattress encased but I have a bed frame where there are a ton of hiding places. I would love climb-ups to isolate the bed but the thought of them getting to you by dropping from the ceiling doesn't sit right with me. It sounds worse! Whether you have the money or not, you have to get an exterminator. You need to be rid of these pests ASAP. I tried to self treat and ended up having the equivilant of a nervous break down because I worked so hard and discovered I obviously hadn't succeeded. Lesson learned for me. When it comes to bed bugs, don't beat around the bush.
Az Kev

newbite
Joined: Oct '10
Posts: 22
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 12 2010 17:16:20
#

Login to Send PM

I appreciate the suggestions to get some professional pest control, and I may eventually end up doing that. However, I am a single dad raising 2 kids who lives paycheck to paycheck, and more than being "not easy" financially, it is more like being not possible - or if possible, absolutely financially devastating. So to Bed Bug Epidemic, while I understand what you are saying, I think it is important to note that some people really just don't have the money or credit worthiness to just go out and get professional help.

And I think that is the real root of this whole epidemic : the exorbinant cost of truly getting rid of them. A friend of a woman I know got an estimate of $1800 from a local pest control company to get rid of them completely. Now, for someone who lives paycheck to paycheck like me, that amount is completely unrealistic - truly.

So at this point, I am more concerned about keeping them off me and my daughter while we sleep. I hadn't even thought about them "dropping from the ceiling" onto us, as I don't really think we have a full-on infestation of that severity going on. Of course I have read and realize that finding only one makes an infestation, and that it is entirely possible that one could drop from the ceiling. But I have to live in the now, within the reality of what I can and can't do in this moment.

What I can do is encase the mattress and boxspring (which I have done), try to prevent them from climbing up the legs of the bed (which I have done), pulling the bed away from the walls (which I have done, and we don't have headboards; also, we have metal frames), and spraying the baseboards and other cracks they might be hiding in. For now, that has to be enough.

I guess what I was really looking for was a LITTLE reassurance that I might, through all my efforts, at least be able to keep them off of us while we are sleeping. I am aware that the only way to truly get rid of them might be to get a professional, I just can't afford that right now.
bbugophobic

junior member
Joined: Aug '10
Posts: 50
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 12 2010 18:50:03
#

Login to Send PM

Az Kev,

I understand your frustration. As a preemptive measure, maybe you should encase ALL of the box springs and mattresses in the house. Also, white sheets for everybody, and inspect for new signs everyday. Encase the pillows as well. Make sure you tape down the zippers for all of the encasements to prevent even the smallest nymph from escaping. I'm not a pro. Maybe they will chime in with other options.

Best of luck to you.
Bed Bug Epidemic

senior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 449
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Oct 13 2010 12:52:03
#

Login to Send PM

So sorry Az Kev. I know not everyone is in the position to get professional help. I suppose I feel like if you're desperate enough, which I was, you find a way and believe me, I was not able to afford my professional treatment whatsoever. Many bills went unpaid and a loan from a credit union was acquired. It really sucked.

And maybe you do have just a couple and not a full on infestation, and what you're doing to help the situation will limit their reproduction for sure. Are you in a house or an apartment?
Az Kev

newbite
Joined: Oct '10
Posts: 22
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Oct 13 2010 15:53:54
#

Login to Send PM

BBE - I appreciate the apology. And I understand that you are merely trying to be helpful. So no worries. Perhaps I was a bit too defensive, so I apologize to you as well : )

I have found a website that has some GREAT supplies for dealing with this stuff, and at very reasonable prices : http://www.bedbugsupply.com/

I have spayed my daughter's boxsprings lightly with the contact killer from JT Eaton, then encased both the mattress and boxspring. I bought some climbup interceptors for all of our beds from that same site, and am planning to buy a steamer they sell there for only $44.95 that is engineered specifically for bedbugs (and this not spam or intentional plug - promise. I had never even heard of this company before today).

Because I don't think I have a full-blown infestation, I am not sure if I will do more at this time. I guess my next steps would be to do the DE powder thing as well, and stick to a regular regimen of steam cleaning, as it sounds like that is really the most effective method for killing them.

I was relieved to find the products on this site for the prices they are offering because it sounds like I will now be able to do a lot of this myself, and for a lot less money than I had anticipated. I do live in a multi-family dwelling - a 4 unit condo, so there is a chance that another unit has them and I could get them again. But I am going to take every measure I can to protect my unit and see how successful I can be. My number one priority at this time is keeping them off my kids and me while we (try to) sleep so we can get some actual sleep. Of course, the only way to truly achieve that is to get rid of the ones we have, and prevent new ones from getting in, and that is what I am working towards. I'll let you all know how it works out : )
bugnut

senior member
Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 528
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Thu Oct 14 2010 9:47:41
#

Login to Send PM

FYI - I have heard that some companies will allow you to finance their treatment. I think I saw that Terminix does it. It might be worth looking into. If you catch it early, it is easier, athough not much cheaper, to deal with.
tallgreg233

newbite
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 14
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Thu Oct 14 2010 10:29:32
#

Login to Send PM

Bugnut is correct. I was able to get my PCO to split my cost in three payments. My cost was low enough where that was affordable. This was simply the PCO's doing and not through a finance company.

They take their last payment tomorrow and inspect on Tuesday. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I do not show signs of bites. I won't know the real verdict until I am lucky enough to have a woman who does react come over and sleep in my bed.