Please help!! We have bed bugs!

**ecgsmama** · 08-30-2010, 09:57 PM

This is an extra-long story that has gone on for about 2 and 1/2 years so I'll spare you the details. I will let you know that we have burnt mattresses and furniture, tried multiple over the counter products, slept on couches for weeks, and prayed so much I feel guilty continuing to ask. They've been "gone" as long as 6 months at one time, but they ALWAYS show back up. Does anyone have any advice?

**Paws** · 08-30-2010, 10:06 PM

Today there is an article in our local paper about this exact subject.

According to the article, in the last year or so, bed bugs are making a comeback.
Fortunately, I've never faced this problem, but after reading the article this evening, and seeing your post about the issues you're having, You need to call a pest control company.
At the very least, call your local Extension office to find out facts, advice, info, and tips on how to get rid of and how to prevent re-infestations.
These insects can transmit some type diseases and the bite areas can become infected causing more problems...

I wish you the best in this situation and I'll add my prayers to yours...

**Lady_V** · 08-30-2010, 10:06 PM

Luckily we haven't had this issue, but a family in the next building over did.

Are you in a house or a complex? If you are in a shared building it may be a neighbor sharing, they will keep coming back unless everyone does it at the same time - if it's a free-standing house, bomb the heck out of it!

Ceashell and Greebo went through this nightmare with a tenant of theirs, hopefully one of them can chime in with more help.

**ruby3** · 08-30-2010, 10:26 PM

Have you tried Mother Earth D? It is the only thing that worked for us. When we got them we did the whole thing...washed all of clothes, threw things away, sprayed our apartment with nasty chemicals. It was horrible and exhausting. Then six months later they were back (or never went away)

This time we just made sure our mattress cover was secure and washed the bed sheets thoroughly. Then we put the Mother Earth D around in little coasters under the bed frame legs and made sure the bed was moved away from the wall. We also put it on the floor around the walls of the bedroom. No problem at all since then. I have had two friends that this stuff worked for too (I live in NYC and it is a HUGE problem here)

**frugalwarrior2** · 08-30-2010, 10:26 PM

I saw an article on using heat to kill them,.

**Ali Lee** · 08-30-2010, 11:29 PM

I watched 20/20 or Today on it. If you share a joining wall, they can come thru -wall meets floor- area. Your home & wall sharing neighbor must be done @ the same time. Cover all mattresses with plastic covers. And they had to use a professional exterminator. Bed bugs were found in the closets, too. I just watched on Today, last week, movie theaters in New York are infested & some had to close to fumigate. Also said bed bugs are rampant thru out USA. Good Luck (ps Hubby will be leaving for a wkend trip, staying @ a motel. So worried he will bring them home-that's all it takes..carried in innocently)

**pollypurebred39** · 08-30-2010, 11:30 PM

Here's an article that might be of interest

Finally, researchers on the efficacy of dusts | New York vs Bed Bugs

**frugalfranny** · 08-30-2010, 11:46 PM

It has been a heavily reported newsy tidbit.........they said you will need an exterminator to get rid of them and it might take multiple visits! They are making a strong comeback.......UGH!!

Oh...........makes me itch to even hear about them on the news.

I wish you the very best of luck in getting rid of them.

Years ago, I got into them in Northern England while staying at a friend of a friends...........was never so miserable in my life...too naive to know what they were!

**mamamia** · 08-31-2010, 01:34 AM

You poor girl, ecgsmama! You certainly have my sympathy! All's I know is that anytime I've had to battle bugs, I wasted my time and money going with the stuff in the stores, only to wind up calling an exterminator anyway. We have a friend who has a business, so of course we got a price break. But with everything you've already been thru, I'd just go ahead and call somebody. I know around here, they have those "do it yourself" exterminating companies. See if maybe they're in your area too.

Hoping the best for you!

Theresa

i didn't realize they are making that BIG a comeback. i do remember reading in the paper about the cruise ships being infested though.

**Dancing Lotus** · 08-31-2010, 06:54 AM

Now I want to cancel my cruise.
Im sorry for your troubles but I have not experience. It sounds like your need to call a pro for backup.

**Jellybeanz** · 08-31-2010, 10:13 AM

Now I'm going to get paranoid. My husband practically lives in different hotels throughout the year most years. ( contruction work).
I'm assuming they cause itching, I guess it's time for me to go online and find out how one would know they have bed bugs.

Strangely I was just reading the news online and had seen a small headline about bedbugs with a picture ( ugly little critters !) but I just went right past it, not thinking much about it it.

I wonder why they are all of the sudden making a huge comeback.... really weird.

After having a snake in the house and a swarm of yellow jackets that made a huge nest in a wall and found a way inside to swarm/attack us, I honestly would not be surprised at the "next thing"... I told my hubby it was like the house of plagues around here lol

Good luck to those of you having this issue, I really hope you get it resolved .. and soon!

**Greebo** · 08-31-2010, 10:23 AM

Greebo and Ceashels are STILL going through this. Our next step is calling in a professional.

**Momto5RN** · 08-31-2010, 12:37 PM

check out msn.com one of the top stories that will flash on top ( may have to wait for it ) is about bed bugs

**Ceashels** · 08-31-2010, 01:31 PM

I hate bed bugs.

Some of this is redundant, some of it you've probably already tried but here is some information from the professional consultant we got the estimate from.

The professional would be using a dust that is shot into the walls (via socket/outlet access). The dust "dehydrates" and kills the bugs via contact and can last up to 6 months. He recommended an initial treatment (2-3 visits I think) followed by quarterly inspections and possible treatments if needed.

The initial treatment would also include steaming the mattress, box spring, and other cloth furniture to kill the bugs as they do not survive in temperatures over 113F or 135F (I can't remember which). They would also inspect any furniture that was brought into the house to prevent a reinfestation. A mattress should be covered AFTER it is steamed, foggers and some sprays will not penetrate the foam and linings to kill the ones inside. He also recommended getting the mattress OFF the floor.

Bedbugs will travel up walls and from rowhome to rowhome so as we fog we chase them to the surrounding neighbors and when they exterminate they chase them back to us. So it looks like the dust may make the most sense as a means of extermination.

I don't think this is going to be an easy problem to fix. The little buggers can live up to 18 months without a blood meal, they can hide in cracks that the thickness of a piece of paper can fit into, and they have multiple life stages between egg and adult.

They bite but don't tend to carry diseases like fleas or mosquitos, thank goodness, but they can cause itchiness if someone is sensitive/allergic to them, and an allergic reaction can develop over time. So some people my have had bed bug problems for months but not really notice the biting until one day they wake up itchy.

Foggers (Hot Shot) recommended fogging every 2 weeks but we found that didn't break the egg cycle well enough so we began fogging weekly. It made a tremendous difference in the comfort of our tenants and they also bagged their clothing, vacuumed more frequently, used mattress covers and kept things off the floor. These good people still get the occasional bite and I found living bugs as we pulled up the carpet and baseboards after 3 months of fogging weekly. These bugs are a menace to sanity!

Oh, I really hate bed bugs.

**Ceashels** · 08-31-2010, 01:31 PM

I hate bed bugs.

Some of this is redundant, some of it you've probably already tried but here is some information from the professional consultant we got the estimate from.

The professional would be using a dust that is shot into the walls (via socket/outlet access). The dust "dehydrates" and kills the bugs via contact and can last up to 6 months. He recommended an initial treatment (2-3 visits I think) followed by quarterly inspections and possible treatments if needed.

The initial treatment would also include steaming the mattress, box spring, and other cloth furniture to kill the bugs as they do not survive in temperatures over 113F or 135F (I can't remember which). They would also inspect any furniture that was brought into the house to prevent a reinfestation. A mattress should be covered AFTER it is steamed, foggers and some sprays will not penetrate the foam and linings to kill the ones inside. He also recommended getting the mattress OFF the floor.

Bedbugs will travel up walls and from rowhome to rowhome so as we fog we chase them to the surrounding neighbors and when they exterminate they chase them back to us. So it looks like the dust may make the most sense as a means of extermination.

I don't think this is going to be an easy problem to fix. The little buggers can live up to 18 months without a blood meal, they can hide in cracks that the thickness of a piece of paper can fit into, and they have multiple life stages between egg and adult.

They bite but don't tend to carry diseases like fleas or mosquitos, thank goodness, but they can cause itchiness if someone is sensitive/allergic to them, and an allergic reaction can develop over time. So some people my have had bed bug problems for months but not really notice the biting until one day they wake up itchy.

Foggers (Hot Shot) recommended fogging every 2 weeks but we found that didn't break the egg cycle well enough so we began fogging weekly. It made a tremendous difference in the comfort of our tenants and they also bagged their clothing, vacuumed more frequently, used mattress covers and kept things off the floor. These good people still get the occasional bite and I found living bugs as we pulled up the carpet and baseboards after 3 months of fogging weekly. These bugs are a menace to sanity!

Oh, I really hate bed bugs.