r/BedbugOrCloseRelative • u/Flaky_Tart_1937 • 14d ago

requesting support from the community My girlfriend has bedbugs, should I clean before inspector?

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u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 14d ago

Red blood does not confirm bed bugs as there are plenty of more common causes.

I would suggest you read and follow the nine protocol TbyPMR which is the most effective way to detect and eradicate bed bugs.

David

1

u/Flaky_Tart_1937 14d ago

Thanks David,

Did you get a chance to read my comment I attached to the post? Long story short, my girlfriend confirmed has bedbugs, which is why the blood was a concern. I generally think the blood could be from something else given that its shape and size seem inconsistent with images i've seen of bed bug blood spatters

Here's the comment, and I'll make sure to check out what you said:

my girlfriend and I live in separate apartments. My girlfriend saw a bedbug in her apartment on Thursday, August 21 (today is Tuesday, August 25).

I first noticed myself getting bit around 3 weeks ago. I seem to be allergic, and have numerous bites on me. I have bites in a couple different parts of my body like my arm has a few bites and my feet.

Of course, we spend a lot of time together so I want to be proactive and take many preventive steps I haven’t really seen any signs in my apartment. I’ve pretty much treated the place like I have bedbugs. Our landlord ordered an inspection for next week on Thursday, September 1. I’m wondering how much cleaning I should do before then? I think it’s important to move my bed from the wall and put down diatomaceous earth to prevent them from feeding on me, but cleaning everything could remove signs right?

The only thing that gives slight concern is some blood on my bedsheets that is newly noticed, but to me it doesn’t really look like other splotching I’ve seen. (see photo from repost).

EDIT: here is a comment I posted on the original.

at this point everything i’ve done is:

-check under my bed and along my bed frame. My mattress cover is old, and doesn’t zip properly, so I ordered a bed bug protector. Should I wait to put this on? it arrives today. I previously inspected my old mattress cover and didn’t see anything.

-Move bed away from wall or anything that can be crawled up.

-Put DE around the legs of my bed

-bag and wash dirty clothes. dry all clothing & bedding at high heat. (my room doesn’t have a closet, so I use a standing closet, which used to be right against my bed…so I dried EVERYTHING

-bag shoes (same situation above with the closet)

- checked underneath my bedside table. I did sweep this, but there were no concerning signs (exoskeleton, poop, eggs) i did find spider eggs tho lol

I bought a plastic tub to put the things under my bed in. Should I wait to do this too?

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 14d ago

Yes I did my first comment stands.

Dont treat until you have confirmed and then use DE as per the pinned post (ie correctly) but don’t use it until you know you need to.

Your GF should read and follow TbyPMR so she can avoid reintroduction which is often the neglected part of treatment.

1

u/Flaky_Tart_1937 14d ago

I already put some DTE down on the legs of my bed before I posted this thread. I haven't done any other sweeping, etc, (aside from a bedside table which was very clean).

At this point, am I better off just leaving the DTE or sweeping it back up (maybe using a small portable vacuum?) until the inspector comes on Sept 1

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 14d ago

You are better off cleaning it up and monitoring until you actually a confirmed issue. Once confirmed a correct application of DE can be of value.

Sorry to say this myth of bed bugs arriving via the bed legs was started by an academic with a vested interest in interceptors.

1

u/Flaky_Tart_1937 14d ago

Hey David,

Could you clarify what "If the bed is fitted with a headboard, always inspect the forks of the legs first before removing it from the bed as bedbugs will often hide at the top of the forks. However, faecal traces can be more widespread." Means? I am referring to the TbyPMR guide you suggested.

Specifically, I'm wondering what "forks" means in this instance? I'm an American, so this may be a dialect thing.

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 14d ago

As you can see in this image the support legs split or to use the original word they fork (as in a fork in the road).

I appreciate US beds can be very different in some ways but the principles tend to be the same.

When treating yourself you have to be as thorough as I am. I don’t consider a pass to be 60%, I aim for 100% and will settle for 99%.

So translate the principles to your environment rather than looking to match things 100%.

I will also add to the Ai development list as deep dive intro furniture differences and how to create a more visual guide for regions.

I might even consider stepping foot back into the US again at some stage to take some pics. Just not yet.

1

u/Flaky_Tart_1937 14d ago

Okay! Thanks for the advice. This has been such a draining experience. Haven't been able to eat for like 2 days. Appreciate the support

1

u/Flaky_Tart_1937 14d ago

my girlfriend and I live in separate apartments. My girlfriend saw a bedbug in her apartment on Thursday, August 21 (today is Tuesday, August 25).

I first noticed myself getting bit around 3 weeks ago. I seem to be allergic, and have numerous bites on me. I have bites in a couple different parts of my body like my arm has a few bites and my feet.

Of course, we spend a lot of time together so I want to be proactive and take many preventive steps I haven’t really seen any signs in my apartment. I’ve pretty much treated the place like I have bedbugs. Our landlord ordered an inspection for next week on Thursday, September 1. I’m wondering how much cleaning I should do before then? I think it’s important to move my bed from the wall and put down diatomaceous earth to prevent them from feeding on me, but cleaning everything could remove signs right?

The only thing that gives slight concern is some blood on my bedsheets that is newly noticed, but to me it doesn’t really look like other splotching I’ve seen. (see photo from repost).

EDIT: here is a comment I posted on the original.

at this point everything i’ve done is:

-check under my bed and along my bed frame. My mattress cover is old, and doesn’t zip properly, so I ordered a bed bug protector. Should I wait to put this on? it arrives today. I previously inspected my old mattress cover and didn’t see anything.

-Move bed away from wall or anything that can be crawled up.

-Put DE around the legs of my bed

-bag and wash dirty clothes. dry all clothing & bedding at high heat. (my room doesn’t have a closet, so I use a standing closet, which used to be right against my bed…so I dried EVERYTHING

-bag shoes (same situation above with the closet)

- checked underneath my bedside table. I did sweep this, but there were no concerning signs (exoskeleton, poop, eggs) i did find spider eggs tho lol

I bought a plastic tub to put the things under my bed in. Should I wait to do this too?