KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 1, 2013 17:28:37 GMT -5
Okay - I need some real-world advice for right now. My plan is to call an exterminator first thing on Monday morning, while attempting to clean and contain them as best I can. Other than that, I can't just sit and do nothing about this until then. Does anyone have real-world experience with getting rid of bed bugs? I need specifics - good and bad - about what to expect. Everything I'm finding on the internet are advertisements for some product or advice to call the exterminators, but nothing about what to expect. We currently have an infestation in my girls' bedroom. I know where they came from - their mom's house (I'm step-mom - they live with us full time and see her EOW). I'm so angry at her right now it's not even funny. I'm not mad that she was infested with them - that can happen to anyone. What I'm mad about was she knew she was infested a year ago (last summer). She talked to us about what to do about treating her house. We did the internet search and told her what to do. She said she would do it all - after she told us she was currently (at the time) treating the problem with bleach. That is a poor choice of treatment methods and all of the internet searches say that - we told her that. At the time, she said she was going to bomb the house - until we told her not to do that as bug bombing will just drive them further into the crevices. She said she understood and would do the appropriate treatments. We made the kids leave all of their bags outside and only bring the items in straight to the wash per the instructions we found. We did this for 2 months straight. By the end of the two months, my kids were frustrated with me being so meticulous and insisted the problem at their mom's house was fixed. Talked to her and she said they were gone. This was last summer. When we confronted her last night with what we had discovered yesterday, her response? She moved out of the rental house in February, left everything she owned there, and didn't bring any of the bugs with her to the new rental. That she had been trying to get rid of them with no success. WTF!!??!! I'm so angry right now with how she handled this whole situation. If she had just been honest with us about everything, we/I would have been more diligent. I know better than to believe her - I really do - but I'm trying so hard not to always put her in a bad light with her kids. That's hard to do when things like this keep happening. So.....any suggestions? (Besides to quit believing her?)
|
|
mmhmm
Administrator
It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 18:13:34 GMT -5
Posts: 31,770
Today's Mood: Saddened by Events
Location: Memory Lane
Favorite Drink: Water
|
Post by mmhmm on Jun 1, 2013 17:46:06 GMT -5
Eeew, KaraBoo. I'm sorry! What an awful thing to have happen! I've not had to deal with the issue, so I have nothing. I'm just darned sorry you have to deal with it. I'm sure the exterminators will be able to solve your problem, but I'd be concerned she brought some of the little beggars with her when she moved house. I'd figure they were in everything. Then again, I detest bugs and would probably be imagining them everywhere.
|
|
Works4me
Senior Member
Someone responded to your personal ad - a German Shepherd named Tara wants to have you for dinner...
Joined: May 5, 2012 12:11:37 GMT -5
Posts: 2,553
|
Post by Works4me on Jun 1, 2013 17:49:51 GMT -5
So sorry this has happened to you. Personally I would call the exterminator NOW and not wait until Monday, the reason being that currently they appear to be confined to the girls' room. I think the extra cost of having them come in on a weekend would be more than offset by the ability to keep the infestation as confined as possible.
Again, so sorry this has happened to you. Wish I knew of a good "hit-person" to refer you to. My BP just went up ten points by reading about it.
ETA: one other thought, can this be used legally as a reason to limit visits to the other house? Or at least to limit what goes back and forth between houses? I know that the kids and ex will cry not fair BUT having to deal with bed bugs is less fair and quite disgusting too! Sending love, hugs, prayers and patient forebearance your direction!
|
|
Peace Of Mind
Senior Associate
[font color="#8f2520"]~ Drinks Well With Others ~[/font]
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:53:02 GMT -5
Posts: 15,554
Location: Paradise
|
Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 1, 2013 17:54:00 GMT -5
I'm shocked you believed her especially about something like this. Doesn't she always lie?
I remember another poster who thought she may have had bed bugs brought into her house and I googled stuff for her because her computer was acting up. I remember you have to wash everything in hot water and it takes heat to kill them. I'll see if I can find that same article for you. I'm laughing at the title saying "Easy". It sounds like a ton of work but here it is:
5 Fast & Easy Ways To Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are one of the most disturbing little buggers to ever find in your home. They rival maggots and cockroaches in the fact that once you see them the hair on the back of your neck stands on end, your stomach clenches and you think to yourself “why me!?” as you try to remember how these nasty little monsters got into your home in the first place. Luckily, no matter how large of a bed bug outbreak you find yourself having to contend with, you can get rid of bed bugs in just five simple steps.
STEP ONE: IDENTIFICATION
The best offense starts simply. You need to make sure that it’s actually bed bugs you’re dealing with here and not some strange beetles that are living off cracker crumbs in your mattress. Take a hard look at your bedding and any clothing near your bed (like a dirty clothes pile). This means your sheets, pillowcases, comforters, box spring, bed frame and every piece of frilly material that’s been added to your bed. The most effective way to do this properly is to get a high powered flashlight, even a little super bright LED will work. Get down to eye level and slowly go over every inch of your bed. Start at the top and strip bedding off as you inspect it. When you strip it, place it into a black plastic bag for now. When you get to the mattress and box spring, you should have come across signs of bed bugs. This could be tiny blood specks from them biting you or from you squashing them in your sleep. You can often find exoskeletons from molting and live bugs wandering around as you’ve disturbed them with the light and movement. Once you know for sure it’s bed bugs, you know what you’re dealing with 100%
STEP TWO: CLEAN UP
Now that you know you’ve got bed bugs and your bedding is all in black bags it’s time to kill these little bed bugs. If you live somewhere hot, take those bags and set them in direct sunlight. This will only work if it’s very warm out, think 80-100 degrees F. Leave the bags out there all day. When night comes, the contents into your washer then set the dryer for a tad longer than you usually would, just in case. They can’t handle heat at all and will die. If it’s not sunny out or you live somewhere a bit colder, skip this part and go directly to the dryer. THEN wash and dry the stuff again. Make sure to dispose of the bag immediately using an outside garbage can. Your mattress and box spring can also be bagged and set outside if it’s warm enough. If not, you’ll have to rely on sprays and chemicals. Make sure these are safe for human use. If you don’t think you can handle this part, toss the whole bed. Frame and all. Mark it up real good so others don’t take it home when they see it by the curb.
STEP THREE: PREVENTION
Now you’ve got a bug free home right? Well, let’s keep it that way. Get yourself some proven bed bug preventative devices. Traps and all-natural repellent products work great by themselves but work even better when you combine them. Use both for at least a few weeks. This will chase off and kill any stragglers that may have been lurking around.
STEP FOUR: PROFESSIONAL HELP
Even after you think you’ve wiped them all out, you should still consult a professional exterminator to make sure you did a good job and possibly to set up a routine to handle them should they come back. Sometimes even the most thorough at-home approach can simply chase them next door or into the garage until they feel like coming back.
STEP FIVE: LEARN FROM MISTAKES
So you’ve dealt with bed bugs from beginning to end. You’re basically an expert now and if you did the right thing and consulted a professional about these critters, you definitely know more than the average Joe. Understanding that used items are a big no-no to drag into your house without a thorough inspection or treatment is the easiest thing to implement and should be shared with your friends and family so they don’t make the same mistake. If you’re a landlord, always keep in mind you could potentially get in some legal issues if your tenants are infesting your complex or motel so pay a lot of attention to what’s coming in and out, especially if you live in a bed bug prone area of the country. Set up a monthly inspection routine with a local exterminator and set your mind at ease. If you ever do have to get rid of bed bug infested items, place them in plastic bags that are large enough to cover the item and label it clearly as “infested with bed bugs” or toss in dirty diapers and coffee grounds to avoid further spreading by dumpster divers and such.
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 1, 2013 17:58:22 GMT -5
I know, or at least 99% positive, they're at her new place. The bugs we're currently finding in the girls room are adults. We've probably had them for months now, we're just now realizing it. She's been in the new place since February - so, even if she didn't happen to bring any with her from the old place (as she claims, I don't believe that), the kids are probably transporting them back to her in their bags during visitation.<br><br>Which means - she'll be infested again and not treat her house/rental properly like last time and we run the HUGE chance of getting reinfested - even if the exterminator comes in.<br>
|
|
Peace Of Mind
Senior Associate
[font color="#8f2520"]~ Drinks Well With Others ~[/font]
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:53:02 GMT -5
Posts: 15,554
Location: Paradise
|
Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 1, 2013 17:59:03 GMT -5
Bag and Bake
The most common method to get rid of any insects that have started hanging out in your clothes closet or drawers is to bag all the clothes up in a thick black garbage bag and leave it in the sun for a few days. This works best for your off-season clothes and things you don’t really need on a daily basis. If it’s the middle of winter this may not be terribly effective because the temperature you really want to hit is at least 120 degrees F. Use your judgment and if you know even in the sun it won’t get this hot, try something else.
Dryer Treatment
Not sunny where you live? No chance of getting your clothes to 120 or higher somehow? The dryer is a super effective way to wipe out any type of insect that’s taken up residence in anything made of cloth. It’s too bad you can’t stuff your whole bed into a dryer while you’re at it though some bed bug companies have devices that basically do this. Bag up all your clothing and one by one bags into the dryer on high for an hour. This does have the potential to ruin certain types of material so pay attention. Wool and silk probably shouldn’t go in the dryer for an hour and synthetics may not survive so you might want to bag those and set them aside.
Good Luck!!!
ETA: I'd have to get rid of the dryer after doing that. Yuck!!
|
|
Works4me
Senior Member
Someone responded to your personal ad - a German Shepherd named Tara wants to have you for dinner...
Joined: May 5, 2012 12:11:37 GMT -5
Posts: 2,553
|
Post by Works4me on Jun 1, 2013 18:04:16 GMT -5
Karaboo - I can understand why you believed the kids that the bugs are gone and please don't be too hard on yourself. I can't imagine anyone, even crazy exes wanting to live with them.
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 1, 2013 18:05:59 GMT -5
I know - I shouldn't have believe her. I know better. I do. I'm just as angry at myself right now for believing her.
I'm not going to assume they are confined to the girls room at all. I'm assuming they're also in the boys room - we just haven't seen any evidence of them at the moment. The problem is the kids beds. They are the captain beds with drawers built into the frame. Each bed has probably 10 sections (head board, foot board, side board, dresser side, dresser drawers, bed slats, plywood board and mattress) times 4 beds. I'm disassembling EVERYTHING and cleaning meticulously. I'm finding evidence of them in a lot of places, but not a lot of evidence (not like piles of bugs, but enough....ewwww!!!!). So, I'm hoping we caught it before it gets too bad.
All of their cloths are being rewashed on hot water and dried on high heat. I'm just so upset and disgusted right now.
|
|
Peace Of Mind
Senior Associate
[font color="#8f2520"]~ Drinks Well With Others ~[/font]
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:53:02 GMT -5
Posts: 15,554
Location: Paradise
|
Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 1, 2013 18:12:03 GMT -5
I know - I shouldn't have believe her. I know better. I do. I'm just as angry at myself right now for believing her. I'm not going to assume they are confined to the girls room at all. I'm assuming they're also in the boys room - we just haven't seen any evidence of them at the moment. The problem is the kids beds. They are the captain beds with drawers built into the frame. Each bed has probably 10 sections (head board, foot board, side board, dresser side, dresser drawers, bed slats, plywood board and mattress) times 4 beds. I'm disassembling EVERYTHING and cleaning meticulously. I'm finding evidence of them in a lot of places, but not a lot of evidence (not like piles of bugs, but enough....ewwww!!!!). So, I'm hoping we caught it before it gets too bad. All of their cloths are being rewashed on hot water and dried on high heat. I'm just so upset and disgusted right now. I hope the kids are seeing what you are having to do now because of these lies. What you did before, which was very smart, was nothing compared to this! I've been reading some more and be sure to vacuum all the baseboards, wipe the walls with either bleach or vinegar and where the beds back up to them and then pull the beds from the walls for a few months so they can't easily climb back on them if there are eggs left. Keep vacuuming everything over and over and include the mattress trims/piping of the mattress. I also read sprinkling salt on the floors helps but I just don't know if that is true or not. I hope you didn't do your spring cleaning already this year. (((Hugs))) and best wishes that you get it all. I still can't find the articles that I found before. I think she blogged her experience and she had great information. I'll keep trying to find it.
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 1, 2013 18:13:51 GMT -5
Sarahjese - I'm just in the initial anger stages right now. I'll get over it. I'm more mad at her for the text messages we got last night (she refused to answer the phone or come out to talk to DH when he dropped the kids off). They basically said she did what she wanted (bombed the house - after she said she wouldn't; keep using bleach, etc) and our infestation isn't her fault. At the time, we took her and the kids at her word that she was treating the house as suggested by the experts on Google ( ). Now we find out that she ignored everything we tried to help her with. And the unspoken consequences of her actions - the fact that she left everything at the old place (the kids confirm this) for the land lord to deal with. Depending on the condition of the things she left, there's no telling how many other people she may have also infected if they took her unclaimed items. That probably bothers me just as much as the fact that we got infested - how many others did she also affect? The lack of concern about how her actions are affecting others, since it's "just" us, offends me to no end.
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 1, 2013 18:21:48 GMT -5
I hope the kids are seeing what you are having to do now because of these lies. What you did before, which was very smart, was nothing compared to this!
POM - the kids are at her house right now. I actually prefer it that way - they're not getting in my way and I can make sure the cleaning is done as "right" as possible. They know to expect their rooms to be turned upside down when they get back tomorrow (or at least, not the way they left them!).
I know my SS is at the very least, embarrassed that this happened. As he was leaving yesterday, he told me, "I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. I hope your weekend gets better." From a kid that I've had issues with in the past (we're currently good), it was probably the sweetest thing he's ever said to me.
|
|
Works4me
Senior Member
Someone responded to your personal ad - a German Shepherd named Tara wants to have you for dinner...
Joined: May 5, 2012 12:11:37 GMT -5
Posts: 2,553
|
Post by Works4me on Jun 1, 2013 18:37:55 GMT -5
I have followed your story for some time and this really touches my heart. I truly think that you are handling a very difficult situation in the best way possible. I wish I could make it easier for you or at least help you vacuum. Alas I am in California - does it help that just reading this makes me itch? Again, lots of hugs, love and support to you ... along with a very large bottle of your favorite adult beverage tonight. ETA - have read in the past that rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle kills them on contact and that 20-30 seconds of a hair dryer also kills.
|
|
Pants
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 19:26:44 GMT -5
Posts: 7,579
|
Post by Pants on Jun 1, 2013 18:41:47 GMT -5
Oh god, Kara.
The only really surefire way I've heard about is heat treatment. Otherwise, they just live forever in things like books, paper, wood, everything and hide and are pretty much the worst.
This is not what you want to hear, but I need to say it - by the time you see an infestation in one room, they are probably everywhere.
My best friend had bed bugs in NY - took her 3 chemical treatments to get rid of them. Some things she told me: Anything that you wear in the bedroom stays in the bedroom - pjs, etc. All clothes should be dried on high in the dryer and put in bed-bug proof bags in the living room. Keep the bed away from the wall. Buy bed-bug proof bags for your other mattresses and pillows. (Heat-treat the pillows in the dryer first.) Pull your couch away from the wall if it isn't already. Buy and install bedbug guards for the legs of your furniture, beds, anything you can. Explain to your kids horrible mother that she probably now has them again too - since the kids got them and have been ferrying them back and forth. So she might want to move again and get a whole nother set of material possessions since that's her solution.
Good luck...
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 1, 2013 19:01:57 GMT -5
This is not what you want to hear, but I need to say it - by the time you see an infestation in one room, they are probably everywhere.BSbound - that's what I been reading too, but that they stay close to the hosts (us humans). Like I said, I'm not assuming they're only in the girls room at the moment. That's just where I'm starting because they found them there. The good new - I haven't had time to do spring cleaning - so guess that's now happening! Sarahjese - Thank you - it warmed my heart too to hear him say that. And in a small perverse way - itching from afar does at least make me feel like I'm not going through this alone...
|
|
lurkyloo
Junior Associate
“Time means nothing now,” said Toad. “It is just the thing that happens between snacks.”
Joined: Jan 8, 2011 11:26:56 GMT -5
Posts: 6,049
|
Post by lurkyloo on Jun 1, 2013 21:28:44 GMT -5
Heat is definitely the most effective way to kill them. Another method besides black plastic garbage bags in the sun is to put things in your car and park it in full sun for a couple hours while you let the greenhouse effect do its job. Would this work for the kids' bags when they come to visit? Or things that can't go in the dryer, maybe even some pieces of the beds? They sell mattress covers that are very tightly woven and sealed so that bed bugs can't get in or out once you put the cover on. It takes a long time for them to die of starvation, I believe a year...but after a year you won't have to worry any more that the mattresses are infested, and mattresses are hard to clean effectively. I've also heard of people putting the legs of beds in low cans containing oil, or maybe putting double-sided tape around them, but I'd have to google for more details. Good luck! I'm sorry you have to deal with this.
|
|
8 Bit WWBG
Administrator
Your Money admin
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 8:57:29 GMT -5
Posts: 9,322
Today's Mood: Mega
|
Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Jun 2, 2013 7:34:43 GMT -5
I've heard it takes a year for them to starve to death -- especially if there are eggs that haven't hatched yet. I've also heard that heat is the way to go, and yes you WILL have to ruin some items so you might as well just burn them.
Apparently there is a product called diametaceous earth or something. You put it around things as a barrier and they'll shred themselves to death trying to cross it.
I second the question of whether the infested environment can cost the ex visitation rights, and double the "I told ya so" factor for the kids that leaving their stuff outside was 10x easier than getting nibbled on in the night.
I'd have been especially mad at the phrasing "I'm sorry you have to deal with this" because of the "you". YOU WERE dealing with it by making the kids be diligent. They got lazy and lied, and now YOU have to fix it with 10x as much work. If that were me, I'd be finding a way to make them have to work hard, and I'd be dropping phrases like "bet you wish you'd just left your stuff outside" constantly.
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 2, 2013 11:27:56 GMT -5
Rukh - I appreciate your advice! Thank you!
I have a question - what is/was the purpose of the salt around the legs? Just wondering. We have hardwood floors as well, so that helps.
Also - the kids beds are captain beds - they have all 4 complete sides that touch the floor, not just 4 legs. I assume the same concept will work with these as well - just a ton more salt will be needed. But, with the beds the way they are, there's a lot of places to put salt at that will stay put.
How long did you keep up the routine? I'm expecting this to be multiple months, but I'd like to know if that's realistic or if I'm looking at a different time frame.
As for being upset/angry - I'm more upset about the deceit of telling us it was taken care of rather than knowing there was still a problem and hiding it from us. That's what makes me angry. I'm not mad that she got them - that can happen to anyone. It's the lack of concern for others (like us) possibly getting them and then refusing to take responsibility for it that angered me so fiercely. I'm not going to waste too much energy on it, but the last two days have been very upsetting to me.
WWBG - I'm not going to waste any time being mad at the kids at all over this. First of all, they were told by their mom that she had taken care of it. The fact that they were no longer getting bit over there was enough for them to believe her that she had taken care of the problem. Frankly, the fact that *I* wouldn't want to live with them made me believe that she was telling the truth as well - what person WANTS to live with a problem like this? That's why my anger is totally directed at her. She knew she still had an issue and didn't tell us until we confronted her with it.
Kids as a general rule, do not understand the long-term consequences of certain things. This being one of them. The fact that my SS had enough realization that his mom lied to ALL of us (including them) and apologized to me for having to deal with it is HUGE. Until that moment, he had always been on his mom's side of EVERYTHING, no matter how trivial or assinine the subject matter was. This is something to mark down in the record books in my house. I will not browbeat the kids because their mom has no ethics about telling the truth.
|
|
Pants
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 19:26:44 GMT -5
Posts: 7,579
|
Post by Pants on Jun 3, 2013 7:30:31 GMT -5
Kara - can you lift the beds at all? Also, I would remove the drawers for the time being and treat them separately. Rukh - if we ever get bedbugs, I'm coming to you for advice!
|
|
Pants
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 19:26:44 GMT -5
Posts: 7,579
|
Post by Pants on Jun 3, 2013 8:38:08 GMT -5
Right, but I'm not going to remember all of that. I'm only going to remember: "bedbugs, ask Rukh."
|
|
bean29
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 22:26:57 GMT -5
Posts: 10,199
|
Post by bean29 on Jun 3, 2013 10:50:23 GMT -5
My SIL works with people who have bed bugs. She is convinced she is bringing them home with her. She has her house regularly fumigated for bed bugs. There are apparently dogs that can sniff out bed bugs. She has had them to her house 3x and the exterminators tell her she does not have bed bugs. We (BIL's and SIL's and neices and nephews and even my SIL's own husband and kids ) think my SIL is nuts and should probalby see a psychiatirst. She also strips her clothes off when she gets home and washes them and then she rubs her body down with Alchohol. Anyways in your situation I would have the extermintor and or the dogs come to the house periodically. What you need to undertake is a huge thing - lots of work. I agree that making the kids get involved might be advisable just so they don't take it lightly. I have heard of the salt treatment for fleas. The chemicals to kill the bedbugs are harsh, and I know with fleas you have to cover all food in the house and stay out of the house for like 6 hours after they treat. From what my SIL said the Bedbug treatment is the same b/c she said her DH and DD were at her Mom's with the Dog and had to go to work and needed to get clothes. So you need to plan everything out. I am not sure if I would go Rukh's method or go with the exterminator right off the bat. Good luck to you. My Dog is treated with Frontline and he has been itching. I hope doesn't have fleas. And, I do have ants. I sprayed parts of my house with a spray we have that kills ants last night. I also did Diazanon aroud the foundation on Sat Am. When I started spraying I was holding the battery activated trigger wrong and I doused myself with ant spray. Ps the label on the ant spray also kills fleas, I saw that yesterday when I was reading the directions. I am going to start using vinegar to wash my floors.
|
|
sheilaincali
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 17:55:24 GMT -5
Posts: 4,131
|
Post by sheilaincali on Jun 3, 2013 13:53:07 GMT -5
Rukh- Thanks for sharing the tip about the ants. We get a small infestation of them every summer it seems like. We can usually get rid of them in a couple of days and are good for the year. But I don't know what's going on this year. Every couple of days I find 2 or 3 in the same basic area so I'm going to wash the whole area with a water/vinegar mixture tonight when I get home.
|
|
Pants
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 19:26:44 GMT -5
Posts: 7,579
|
Post by Pants on Jun 3, 2013 14:03:15 GMT -5
Have I mentioned how much I love vinegar? That shit is good for everything.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on Jun 3, 2013 14:11:11 GMT -5
Have I mentioned how much I love vinegar? That shit is good for everything. Salad dressing, killing bugs, washing windows, and makes your hair shiny. What more can you ask for?
|
|
sheilaincali
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 17:55:24 GMT -5
Posts: 4,131
|
Post by sheilaincali on Jun 3, 2013 14:39:47 GMT -5
Rukh- It's not a sensitive surface- just the walls and the countertop so I will use it straight. Thanks for the advice.
|
|
Pants
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 19:26:44 GMT -5
Posts: 7,579
|
Post by Pants on Jun 3, 2013 14:42:07 GMT -5
Have I mentioned how much I love vinegar? That shit is good for everything. Salad dressing, killing bugs, washing windows, and makes your hair shiny. What more can you ask for? A pony?
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 48,069
|
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 3, 2013 15:04:17 GMT -5
So my life could be worse. Bed bugs suck more than lice. Urgh.
Make sure to toss/wash your curtains and shades. They mentioned on Billy the Exterminator that bed bugs like to hide in your curtains/shades.
I'd buy the bags for the mattresses. I'd toss the pillows, buy new pillows and then get those specialized pillow cases. I got one the last time Gwen had lice from Target. Cost me $10 for an average pillow case size.
Bed bugs can't get in and can't come out if everything is sealed. It'll starve/smother anything that hatches in the mattress/pillows, giving you time to stamp out the current infestation.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on Jun 3, 2013 15:08:18 GMT -5
If I had a bed bug infestation, I think I'd burn the house down.
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 48,069
|
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 3, 2013 15:33:56 GMT -5
I just remembered another tip from that episode of Billy. Make sure you are using a vaccum with a sealable bag. DO NOT use a vaccuum where you the contents into the trash. You can disperse eggs all over that way.
|
|
Peace Of Mind
Senior Associate
[font color="#8f2520"]~ Drinks Well With Others ~[/font]
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:53:02 GMT -5
Posts: 15,554
Location: Paradise
|
Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 3, 2013 15:37:06 GMT -5
I just washed my sheets 4 days ago but I'm doing them again in very hot water. I've never had lice or bed bugs but just the thought of having to do all of that work reminded me to tell DH to leave his luggage in the garage and strip down if he has to stay out of town any time soon. And I'll remind him to set his luggage on a rack away from walls and bedding.
Thanks for the reminder!
|
|
KaraBoo
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 17:14:51 GMT -5
Posts: 3,076
|
Post by KaraBoo on Jun 4, 2013 7:34:12 GMT -5
I appreciate everyone's help! Especially you Rukh. And I love the analogy to an STD - that's a wonderful example for my kids (they're all teenagers, so they'll understand fine). Although, I do wonder how much they'll actually "accept" the analogy since the infestation came from their mom's house. I'm going to use it anyway because it is fitting.
For everyone else - sorry the situation is giving you the heebie-geebies. I'd burn the house down too if I thought it would actually help....alas, I'm sure I'd get in trouble for some reason or another...
|
|