Bed bugs

[samforpaul]

I sure don't like the thought of paying someone several hundred dollars to treat this problem. Is anyone aware how you can do-it-yourself? So far it looks like those little things are only in one bedroom. Any ideas on how this problem can be remedied?

In case you're wondering... I don't know the source of the problem. My best two guesses: perhaps they were brought back from an overseas trip in February or they came from my wife's place of employment.

Thanks!

 

[amy31416]

I'm not entirely sure, but I've read that really high temperatures will kill them. Until you figure it out, seal off the room as well as possible.

What a nightmare. I think I'd take everything out of the room and burn it, to start with.

 

[donnay]

Check out food grade Diatomaceous earth.

 

[Rothbardian Girl]

High temperatures will kill them, so you should wash every single piece of bedding that you have in very hot water, and then dry them on the highest setting for as long as possible. If you have a steam unit, use it in crevices where the bugs like to hide. Those steam treatments are supposedly really effective.

 

[amy31416]

High temperatures will kill them, so I'd wash every single piece of bedding that you have in very hot water, and then dry them on the highest setting for as long as possible. If you have a steam unit, use it in crevices where the bugs like to hide. Those steam treatments are supposedly really effective.

Yeah, that's what I recall. It'll probably mess up the paint and possibly even the floors (hoping he has hard floors.) I think I'd probably rip out carpeting if it's in the room. I have a steam mop that I'd use, that was reasonably inexpensive. Maybe one of those clothes-steaming units along with it for the walls, trim, etc.

 

[FloralScent]

Wrap all your mattresses in plastic and make sure to tape the seams securely. This will take care of the ones hiding out in your bedding. Put a thick layer of Vaseline on all the legs of all of your beds. This will take care of the ones that try and get at you after dark.

I read this in the comments on an article about bed bugs about a year ago. The guy said this got rid of every last one.

 

[amy31416]

Wrap all your mattresses in plastic and make sure to tape the seams securely. This will take care of the ones hiding out in your bedding. Put a thick layer of Vaseline on all the legs of all of your beds. This will take care of the ones that try and get at you after dark.

I read this in the comments on an article about bed bugs about a year ago. The guy said this got rid of every last one.

Do you recall how long you have to keep the mattress in plastic? It's rather unpleasant to sleep on that way, but I can see how it'd be effective.

I'd only add that you should strip your clothes off prior to leaving the room, put them in a plastic bag and immediately launder them to prevent spreading them around to the rest of the house (and because I know Danke will make some comment implying I'm pervy.)

 

[UtahApocalypse]

Burn the whole house down. Seriously that is what we had to do. We tried for over 3 ears everything and finally bulldozed the place and moved.

 

[Working Poor]

Check out food grade Diatomaceous earth.

You can cover your mattress with "DE" and cover it with a mattress cover then your sheet. It is non toxic to humans and no insect can become immune to it because it cuts them on a microscopic level and they loose their body fluids.

 

[Zippyjuan]

One source with some info including: http://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/others/ent-3012/

Pesticides alone are not the answer to bed bugs. Most of the commonly used pesticides today, including professional products and consumer products advertised for control of bed bugs, are at best moderately effective at controlling these pests. Pesticides must be used with care for safety and with attention to proper application to work well. Aerosol “bug bombs” or “fumigators” are also mostly ineffective in eliminating bed bugs. Aerosol insecticides mainly kill insects that are exposed, and out of their hiding places, not those hidden behind baseboards, in cracks and crevices of the bed, under carpet edging and in walls.

 

[KCIndy]

You can cover your mattress with "DE" and cover it with a mattress cover then your sheet. It is non toxic to humans and no insect can become immune to it because it cuts them on a microscopic level and they loose their body fluids.

Cuts on a microscopic level? Wouldn't that make it a pretty itchy substance to humans?

 

[kcchiefs6465]

I sure don't like the thought of paying someone several hundred dollars to treat this problem. Is anyone aware how you can do-it-yourself? So far it looks like those little things are only in one bedroom. Any ideas on how this problem can be remedied?

In case you're wondering... I don't know the source of the problem. My best two guesses: perhaps they were brought back from an overseas trip in February or they came from my wife's place of employment.

Thanks!

They are a pain in the balls to get rid of. Don't use foggers (it drives them deeper into the walls). Watch to see one, and the babies are damn near translucent (before feeding) and follow where they go. They are smart. If they see you watching them, they won't go back to the nest.

Diatomaceous earth along the cracks... watch using too much. It gets kicked up when you move around and as much as it cuts the shell it is probably along the lines of asbestos.

Wash all fabrics in hot water and bleach. Bag up what you don't use. Vacuum daily and bag up the bags. Throw them out immediately. They will crawl out from the vacuum cleaner.

Caulk up every seam. Buy a seamless mattress cover.

If you are in an apartment complex, they are damn near impossible to get rid of. If you have them in a room, they are everywhere. Shoelaces, the insides of shirts. Bed bugs are a fucking demon bug. A large part of the current infestation problem is troops coming home from overseas and DDT not being used. I tell you what though, you live in a place with them and you'll be taking Permethrin baths before long. Heating the apartment doesn't necessarily work (they hide inside the walls and can tolerate extremes of temperatures). Best of luck.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

Burn the whole house down. Seriously that is what we had to do. We tried for over 3 ears everything and finally bulldozed the place and moved.

View attachment 2682

They will drive you insane.

A fucking demon bug.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

Do you recall how long you have to keep the mattress in plastic? It's rather unpleasant to sleep on that way, but I can see how it'd be effective.

I'd only add that you should strip your clothes off prior to leaving the room, put them in a plastic bag and immediately launder them to prevent spreading them around to the rest of the house (and because I know Danke will make some comment implying I'm pervy.)

Bed bugs will live in freezing temperatures for six months or more without feeding. Heat a little less.

They get onto your shoelaces, along your collar etc., and will eventually infest everyone around you.

We resorted to boiling bleach water and throwing around the seams of the apartment complex. That and impaling them.

 

[Victor Grey]

If ever a creature needed to go extinct, it would be the bedbug.

 

[amy31416]

Bed bugs will live in freezing temperatures for six months or more without feeding. Heat a little less.

They get onto your shoelaces, along your collar etc., and will eventually infest everyone around you.

We resorted to boiling bleach water and throwing around the seams of the apartment complex. That and impaling them.

I am honestly scared shitless about getting an infestation of these little bastards. I just read a local article that they're being transferred via library books. It's been about two years since I stayed in a hotel, but I'm actually worried about my kid staying with the great grandparents, since they have lots of guests. I can't throw boiling bleach water on people...well, unless their last name is "Cheney."

 

[FloralScent]

Do you recall how long you have to keep the mattress in plastic?.

I don't remember, but kcchiefs' answer sounds about right.

 

[Dr.3D]

Wrap all your mattresses in plastic and make sure to tape the seams securely. This will take care of the ones hiding out in your bedding. Put a thick layer of Vaseline on all the legs of all of your beds. This will take care of the ones that try and get at you after dark.

I read this in the comments on an article about bed bugs about a year ago. The guy said this got rid of every last one.

We had bug problems when I was living in Mexico. One thing to remember if you have taken the precaution of using Vaseline on the legs of the bed is to also make sure you never let the bedding hang out of the bed and touch the floor, walls or anything else the bugs can crawl on. Even after that, we found out they were falling out of the thatched ceiling of our bedroom so we had to use a canopy on the bed to fix the problem. As an added bonus, it also kept other debris from falling in the bed.

I found out the hard way about leaving the bedding touching the floor when I found a scorpion in my bed one night.

Now everybody can have a nice sleep trying not to itch all night from the thoughts of bugs being in their beds. (been there done that)

 

[presence]

+1 donnay

Diatoms are badass, get yourself a 50lb bag of food grade online; should be < $100; put handfuls in front of a fan and let it disburse. Use a mask so you don't inhale. Dust and vacuum, dust and vacuum.... repeat ad nausem, every day... weeks and weeks and weeks.

also check out this:

7000 mg/h Shock Treatment Bare Bones Ozone Generator



http://www.amazon.com/Shock-Treatme...id=1403405631&sr=8-8&keywords=ozone+generator

You want to fill the room with ozone and leave it running with noone in there for like 24 hours.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

We had bug problems when I was living in Mexico. One thing to remember if you have taken the precaution of using Vaseline on the legs of the bed is to also make sure you never let the bedding hang out of the bed and touch the floor, walls or anything else the bugs can crawl on. Even after that, we found out they were falling out of the thatched ceiling of our bedroom so we had to use a canopy on the bed to fix the problem. As an added bonus, it also kept other debris from falling in the bed.

I found out the hard way about leaving the bedding touching the floor when I found a scorpion in my bed one night.

Now everybody can have a nice sleep trying not to itch all night from the thoughts of bugs being in their beds. (been there done that)

Smartest bug I've ever seen.