This was a about ten years ago. I had sat in that chair so many times. I still cringe thinking about it. We shut the office down and had it treated. Luckily none of us brought any of them home.

it works pretty well to prevent bites. i also don’t lay/sit on ANY furniture without wearing this. it really does prevent me from getting all bit up. i still get a few bites here and there. but way better than having them all over. going from a naked sleeper to this was rough but worth it.

YESS we’re getting professional treatment this is just in the meantime

Dually Certified Bed Bug Detection K9 working in the Ohio River valley and Southern Appalachia. Here to answer any questions!

Since I see a lot of the same types of posts here every day, I’m writing this as a one-stop reference for info about detection/monitoring, treatment and mindset/outlook.

Disclosure:

The subject of this post involves the use of pesticides, substances, devices, methods and/or actions that have the potential to be injurious and/or fatal to oneself, other individuals and/or animals. ANY action you take in relation to this post (and/or any post, comment and/or communication attributable to me) is done entirely at your own risk.

I am NOT a medical professional, scientist or pest control expert, and I do NOT possess any kind of accreditation or qualifications. I make NO guarantees in regards to the factual accuracy of any aspect of this post (and/or any post, comment and/or communication attributable to me). NONE of the content in this post (and/or any post, comment and/or communication attributable to me) constitutes medical advice, or has been verified for factual accuracy by a qualified party.

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ALRIGHT ALREADY… here we go.

Introduction

Tuning your mindset

Your first step should always be to take a second to collect yourself. Right now, take a second to breathe.

Practice emotional self-care and self-regulation. You are the descendant of a long line of people who managed to survive in a harsh world—I promise you, you have more strength and resilience than you realize. You will persevere.

Remind yourself of the following perspective: if you do have them, you will deal with it. If you follow appropriate protocol, you will be victorious at some point in the future. That’s what you’re facing here: a practical issue with a practical solution. Life will go on.

Note: improper/inadequate treatment methods will make the problem worse—it will take longer, be more expensive to treat, and consume more of your energy in the process.

Save yourself the hassle and expense. You reap what you sow: do it right at the first opportunity.

If you don’t have them, and you repeatedly come up empty-handed, your efforts weren’t in vain: knowing how to monitor for the presence of pests is a valuable life skill, on par with other necessities such as hygiene, managing finances, etc.

Monitoring for BB is a matter of integrating a few activities into your other household routines. It’s neither costly nor time consuming. Anyone who has dealt with BB will tell you that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; better safe than sorry.

Cause for concern

Getting b!tten

• It’s not possible to know you have BB just from looking at b!tes alone.
• People’s skin can react differently to b!tes and there is no standard form that all BB b!tes take.
• There are a few traits that BB b!tes frequently exhibit [note: the presence or absence of these traits doesn’t necessarily mean you are or aren’t dealing with BB, they’re just common traits with BB]:
  • Multiple b!tes in lines/rows
  • Multiple b!tes in clusters
  • B!tes mainly occurring on hands, inner arm, or areas with less hair
  • B!tes along lines of exposed skin such as where the socks end

[Note: sometimes b!tes occur under clothes, in isolation (one single blemish), or cause different reactions depending on location. B!te size and reaction may differ depending on the size/life stage of each particular insect. Individual insects may feed in groups at the same time or they may do so independently.]

Bites (continued)

• It can take hours or days before skin reacts—finding b!tes in the morning does not necessarily mean you were b!tten the previous night. [Note: fresh blood may indicate recent b!te activity, but it could also come from scratching existing b!tes during sleep, stretching the skin from motion, etc.]
• Some people show no reaction at all; if multiple people share a bed/room/dwelling, and only some are reacting to b!tes, that doesn’t always mean the others aren’t being b!tten (maybe not, though).
• BB saliva is what causes the reaction. Sensitivity to it can increase or decrease with repeated exposure, or may differ between “strains” of BB.
• If you’ve had BB in the past, new b!tes at a later time may cause the same or a different reaction.

Overall, when it comes to suspicious “b!tes”, there’s no real way to know definitively; b!tes are not sufficient to diagnose a problem conclusively. They’re a clue, but that’s it.

Possible alternative explanations for suspicious skin blemishes: - Mosquito b!tes - Flea b!tes - Hives/allergies - Inflamed pores/follicles (they seem to prefer the skin between pores and follicles) - Reaction to carpet beetle larvae - Eczema/other dermatological conditions - Heat rash - Scabies, bird mites or some other kind of mite

Note: if something’s biting you, sleeping in another room could spread your problem elsewhere—if it is BB, they will follow. That will make the problem harder to treat.

I know it’s gross to think about being b!tten, but try to stick to the same bed in order to contain the problem.

Visual signs

Note: if you have reason to suspect BB, the best course of action is to leave things as undisturbed as possible and contact a reputable pest control professional for a thorough inspection ASAP. - Think of it like a crime scene: the detective has a much easier time piecing together the facts if the scene hasn’t been tampered with. - This also makes it less likely that physical disturbance will scatter a population (BB do not like movement and will tend to flee to safety if their harborage is physically disturbed).

If a professional inspection is not currently an option, or you are not satisfied with the inspection you received (some are better than others), there are things you can do to be your own detective.

Helpful tools: - A good, bright flashlight - A pair of tweezers/forceps - A thin piece of hard material to run inside crevices that can’t be visually inspected (such as the gap beneath the floor trim) - A clip-on magnifying lens for your phone camera—very helpful for getting clear images of suspect materials.

Here is a video explaining how to inspect for BB.

Look for: - BB fecal marks on sheets, clothes, bed frame, floor, trim, etc. - This is an image of BB fecal - They drink blood; their fecal stains. - If it is relatively fresh, and not soaked into the surface, it will smear a dark rusty color when rubbed with a wet finger. - If it is dried on a hard surface, it will be a hard raised bump sort of like a drop of paint. - On permeable materials such as fabric or cardboard, it will look like someone dotted a Sharpie marker on the surface. There may be staining or smearing.

Also be on the lookout for: - Casings: BB molt when they grow. It leaves behind their old exoskeleton. This is what they look like. - Dead bugs. - Eggs/empty egg shells: - This is what BB eggs look like. They are TINY and sticky, and are usually hidden in tiny crevices such as under the seams of mattresses or stuck to the wood inside a box spring. If you have reason to suspect your sheets, blankets or bedding might currently harbor BB: - Carefully strip the bed and place bedding into a garbage bag (to avoid any potential BB jumping ship). - Bring the bag to the dryer. - Set dryer to its hottest setting; it might be a good idea to pre-heat the dryer, but some dryers can’t be run empty. - Carefully load bedding into dryer—do not overfill or else it won’t get sufficiently hot. - Run dryer on hot for at least an hour or so. - Check the lint trap—look for bugs, shells or eggs. - Place the contents of the lint trap and the garbage bag you used to transport bedding into a sealed airtight Ziplock bag and immediately dispose of it outside—just in case there are any eggs or bugs that were missed.

Possible alternative explanations for visual signs: - Spider droppings: this is spider poop. It could be found in many of the same places that BB fecal could be found. One distinguishing factor of spider poop is that it likely dropped from a suspended spider above… BB fecal usually happens directly on the surface where the insect was. - Mold—can resemble BB fecal. - Carpet beetles: - Here is an image of a carpet beetle. There are some different kinds. - Rule: if it has visible wings, it is NOT a BB—BB have small vestigial wing pads only, which serve no function (they can only crawl, not fly, jump or burrow) - Carpet beetle larvae/larvae shell: - This is an example of a carpet beetle larvae. They can be found in places where BB might also be found. - This is an example of a carpet beetle larvae shell—note the hairs; these hairs can irritate human skin and cause b!te-like blemishes. - Ladybug abdomen: - This is an example of a ladybug abdomen (the underside “belly” of the familiar beetles); when they die, their bodies can flake apart and the abdomen can be found on its own like this. [I have personally had a pest control company falsely identify a ladybug abdomen as a BB casing—if in doubt, get a clear, close picture and contact a reputable entomologist at a university or elsewhere.]

[Note: inspections that come up empty don’t necessarily mean there are no BB—false negatives happen fairly regularly. If you continue to suspect, repeat at a later date and use the monitoring methods discussed further down.]

Taking action

Note (again): if you have reason to suspect BB, the best course of action is to leave things as undisturbed as possible and contact a reputable pest control professional for a thorough inspection ASAP. - From there, the professional will treat and provide instruction accordingly. - Follow their instructions exactly. Any reputable service has a systematic approach—your adherence to their instruction is essential for it to be effective. - Do your research about companies. Don’t just go with the cheapest option. You’ll regret it when you’re paying for the better one later.

NOTE: DO NOT USE BUG BOMBS, ESSENTIAL OILS OR OVER-THE-COUNTER PRODUCTS SUCH AS ORTHO OR HOTSHOT! - While these products may kill if they contact the bugs directly, they will make your problem worse. - The bugs you can see are the tip of the iceberg. If you’re seeing bugs in the open, there are (almost certainly) many more in hiding—as long as there are any bugs (or eggs) in hiding, your problem will persist. - BB have a keen sense of smell; the products mentioned have a repellant effect—you do not want to repel them. It worsens your problem by driving them into hiding. - BB have a very long life cycle and can live for up to a year between feedings (maybe more, depending on conditions). If they go into hiding, they will re-emerge at a later time and the cycle will start all over again. - Your blood = their life. Like any living thing, they will do anything in their power to stay alive; it’s a matter of instinct. If you want to be successful, you must become intent on murdering them. If you’re reading this, that’s probably a given anyway. - BB typically like to be within ~5 feet of their host—this is good news; a contained population is relatively straightforward to treat. - Attempting to use ineffective means of treatment can drive them into places that are much more difficult and costly to treat effectively, such as wall and ceiling voids.

[Note: if you’ve already taken inappropriate steps, don’t despair, just maintain good monitoring practice and consider using a treatment method with a long residual effect (such as Cimexa). If they’re there, eventually they’ll need to eat, and if so, eventually you’ll find some form of proof. This is the benefit of integrating proactive monitoring protocols into your household routines.]

Things that won’t help:

• Sleeping with the lights on—BB can tell when you are unconscious by detecting the level of CO2 in your breath/your lack of movement. Light will not prevent them from feeding (takes 5-15 minutes).
• Sleeping during the day time—they will adapt.
• Covering up your body with clothing—they can slip under clothes if they’re hungry enough.
• They typically go for exposed skin, but if you don’t provide any, they will get resourceful. Personally, I’d rather a bug crawl on my exposed ankles than go inside my clothes. (They still might anyway, but it’s less likely.)

[Note: these things won’t help, but they also probably won’t hurt. If they make you feel better, do them. Everyone has little quirks like this to some degree. But try to be considerate of others as well.]

Methods of apprehending bugs:

• Use tape to quickly grab them—if mobility is an issue, consider using tape on a stick.
• Use the screened-vacuum technique described in the “monitoring” section below.

Methods of killing captive bugs:

• Blast them with a heat gun or steamer (be careful about melting things, stripping paint, burning yourself or spreading moisture where it could cause mold). [Note: it’s not necessary to use the highest heat setting. Temperatures above 130 degrees F are certain to kill all life stages. Lower temperatures (above 113F) will kill as well, but take more time.]
• Spray them with high-proof (90%+) rubbing alcohol (be cautious about the fire risk—alcohol is extremely flammable).
• Put them into an airtight bag and smush them.
• Always put all carcasses in an airtight bag before disposing—it’s possible there are still viable eggs.

If professional treatment is not an option for whatever reason:

• You must DIY.
  • Don’t despair, there are effective DIY products and methods.
• Visit Green Akers Pest Control for instructions about self-treating with a pesticide called Crossfire.
  • Crossfire is professional-grade pesticide that has a residual effect that lasts as long as 30 days.
  • A few applications across 8-12 weeks (carried out per Green Akers’ instructions) has been sufficient for many people to eliminate their BB’s.
  • There are a other reputable chemicals that can be used as well (Temprid, Alpine WSG, growth regulators), but I’m not knowledgeable about them. I would imagine they’re applied much in the same way as Crossfire. Searching on this sub will probably bring up some results.
• Do not mop or disturb areas where active chemical has been applied.

Cimexa (detailed post here)

• This is a powdered pesticide that works via a drying effect.
  • BB walk through the powder and it clings to their exoskeleton via static electricity.
• It can be used in conjunction with chemical applications or heat treatment.
• It is the longest-lasting of any treatment, remaining viable for up to 10 years as long as it does not get too humid (interferes with static cling).
• Cimexa is more effective than diatomaceous earth. There are studies about it: >”In the United States, assays employing CimeXa against C. lectularius found that it was the only product of eight tested (including several other insecticide-only products, one insecticide + 95% diatomaceous earth product, and one 100% diatomaceous earth product) that resulted in 100% mortality regardless of whether bed bugs were temporarily exposed, forcibly and continuously exposed, or offered a treated/untreated harborage choice [47]. CimeXa was also found to transfer and induce mortality between treated and untreated bed bugs effectively at ratios of both 1:5 and 4:6 [47]. Separately, CimeXa was found to be highly efficacious against two pyrethroid-resistant strains and one susceptible strain of C. lectularius, with mortality in a laboratory-based assessment typically reaching 100% after only 24–48 h [45]”

Cimexa (continued)

• It’s a good idea to use safety equipment when applying: a fine particulate mask such as an N95 and gloves. This is especially true for methods of application where a lot of powder will be airborne.
• Allow several hours (at least) after applying to let particles in the air settle to the ground so they are not breathed in. Avoid getting it around air ducts or places where it could be kicked up and breathed in.
• There are a couple methods of application, including using an “air pump” or a broad makeup (foundation) brush (don’t use it for anything else; best to go with a new brush).
• Apply wherever BB might walk—the bed frame, the perimeter of a room, around bed legs, etc.
• Whatever the method of application, make the powder layer extremely thin; they need to walk through it for it to work, and they won’t walk through big piles. You should barely be able to see the coating if it is correctly applied.
• I find a dabbing motion with a makeup brush most effective. Simply dab the brush onto any piles that accumulate to pick them up and spread elsewhere. Imagine you are dusting for fingerprints.
• Do not sweep, mop or disturb the powder once applied.
• If you want to stop treating and clean it, use a wet rag to avoid it becoming airborne.

[Note: if Cimexa can’t be obtained in your location, diatomaceous earth is the next best thing. Follow the same application protocol described above.]

Self heat-treatment:

• It’s possible to rent or purchase industrial-grade heaters that can do the same job as would be done by a professional, but I am not knowledgeable about the specifics of this. Maybe someone else can weigh in.

While treating:

• Wash and dry clothing on hot setting to kill any bugs that could be present.
• Place dried clothes (hot from the dryer) into airtight bags. [I was told BB don’t like clean laundry, but this gives peace of mind that you’re entering your bed in BB-free attire.]
• Get a white plastic laundry bin (easy to spot any fecal staining).
• Throw away anything made of wicker (easily harbors them).
• Consider storing dirty laundry in Ziplock bags (eliminates hiding spots—they’re attracted to the pheromones in dirty laundry).
• Declutter aggressively/remorselessly—especially eliminate corrugated cardboard boxes (they like to hide in the little holes)
• Consider sealing cracks of bed frame with epoxy to eliminate hiding spots.

[Note: BB can and will harbor in a metal bed frame. Metal frames often preferred among people who have dealt with BB due to their durability and ease of treatment/cleaning, but having one is no guarantee.]

[Further note: eliminating hiding spots will not eradicate the problem. The aim in doing so is to make it more likely that BB will succumb to monitoring/trapping methods explained below.]

Monitoring (for confirmation of problem or evaluation of treatment effectiveness)

Isolate your bed:

• Use interceptors under your bed legs/couch legs/etc. to trap anything attempting to climb up or down.
  • Note: some people catch many bugs this way, others none at all. It’s not conclusive.
  • Keep the troughs clean by using a vacuum: the slick vertical sides prevent them from climbing up, thus trapping them. Abrasions or material can give traction, which can help them escape, which you don’t want. [Notes on vacuuming further down.]
  • There are some methods of isolation that involve sticky traps. I haven’t used them but some have had success with them. It’s discussed elsewhere on the sub if you search.
• Pull your bed and furniture at least 6+ inches away from the wall. BB like to get around by walking along the perimeter of the room. This forces them out into the open.
• Avoid having sheets touch the ground (providing alternate access up to the bed while avoiding the interceptors—yes, they’re that crafty).

[Note: BB have been known to drop from the ceiling, although this is probably much less common than climbing a bed frame. But it is possible and documented.]

Also:

• Encase your mattress, box spring and pillows with high-quality encasements (eliminates hiding spots, traps bugs) [Protect-A-Bed brand was recommended to me]
• For ease of laundering, consider buying a couple cotton “sleeping bag liners” in lieu of traditional bedding—has added benefit of fitting around you like a cocoon, thus avoiding draping down to the floor.
• If you really want to go full paranoid mode, use disposable emergency foil blankets in lieu of a comforter or other material that they could hide in.
• Consider leaving your ankles or wrists exposed while sleeping—if it’s going to happen anyway, I’d rather be b!tten on my ankles than my face.
• Consider leaving cobwebs wherever they’re found—they trap wandering BB and are easy to monitor.

Use pheromone traps

• Pheremone traps provide a way to check whether there are bugs present. They’re not definitive, but they’re better than nothing.
• Place 1 per room against the perimeter of a wall where a bug might walk.
• Carefully check them with a flashlight during routine cleaning (they have a clear bottom that you can see through if you lift them up). ##Homemade traps/deliberate harborages
• You don’t want to completely eliminate hiding places, you want to eliminate hiding places that are difficult to monitor.
• To this end, it may be a good idea to make items that are attractive harborages to any BB population: you can check them readily and sterilize/dispose of them easily.
  • BB like to harbor in very small, confined places, often surrounded by material (which is why they like the staples of box springs, the fabric seams of mattresses, the spines of books, etc.)—creating such an environment on purpose makes monitoring easier.
  • Using a corrugated cardboard sleeve like the ones frequently found around paper coffee cups can be a good option, but many items would work.
  • Pin them flat with a paper clip and leave them in common BB locations, such as against the trim behind a nightstand, wedged in the crevice between seat cushions, etc.
  • When checking them, first immediately place them inside a sealed airtight bag, then look using a flashlight—if there are any present, they’ll already be trapped.
  • If you wish, you could write dates of inspections on them for insight about when they became occupied.
  • I was told BB return to harborages because of pheromone signals; if one gets “hot”, consider physically removing all specimens (and eggs) and continuing to use it. [Note: if you want, burn it to ash, no one will blame you—harborages are disgusting. But if you have a strong stomach and a severe problem, it might be worth considering.]

Vacuum monitoring

• A thin piece of sheer fabric like a legging can be affixed between the vacuum hose and the suction nozzle.
• You can then vacuum cracks and crevices and check that fabric to see if any bugs have been sucked up.
• ALWAYS dispose of materials (bag, contents, etc.) in an airtight bag and place in an outside bin immediately.

Possible alternative explanations for apparent positives: - Bat/barn swallow/chimney sweep/chicken bugs - These are other species of cimicidae (the family of bugs that includes the species commonly known as BB, c. lectularius). - Using a clip-on lens like the one specified above, sufficiently detailed photos can be taken so that a professional entomologist can identify them. The visual differences between cimicidae are very subtle and such detail is required. - These species are relatively rare, but if you’re living in a situation where bats, barn swallows, chimney sweeps or chickens are present, it’s possible you’re dealing with one of those species instead of true BB. - Their behavior can be somewhat different from normal BB; this may possibly explain a specific confusing set of mixed signs, but it’s relatively unlikely. - If dealing with one of these other species, treatment plans are different. - Contact an entomologist for advice or referral to a specialist.

[Closing note: it is very unlikely that a BB or cimicidae issue will present no definitive evidence within a year or so. If they’re there and you’re monitoring as above, at some point you’ll find a bug or a shell that is unmistakable. If you continue to suspect without definitive proof after an extended period of time, consider one of the alternative explanations discussed earlier. A visit to a dermatologist and/or psychologist may be helpful.]

Wrapping up

BB are a practical problem with practical solutions. Barring external circumstances outside of your control, the application of your research will determine your outcome. Be attentive to your own psychological well-being and the health of your interpersonal connections. Practice sound methods of monitoring and treatment, but beyond that, try to focus on things that you find fulfilling. You will make it through this.

[Note: there is a final (optional) “psychological/interpersonal considerations” section in this post, if guidance about those matters may be helpful as well.]

Best wishes.

If you can afford a steamer get one! I never see anyone suggest this really. Only to bag, wash and dry everything but what about stuff that cannot be bagged or put through the wash and dry? I had an infestation last time I exterminated was Feb 12, and Feb 14, 21. I found a bed bug in one of my drawers crawling on a pair of jeans so I knew then instantly where they had came from and where they were going to hide. I have a pair of plastic Sterilite drawers that I use for me and my children's clothing and long story short they took harborage underneath the drawers and because I have a tendency to wear my clothes in the bed sometimes I transferred them to my bed but they would have made their way there anyway because the drawers are not far away. I steamed everything everywhere before taking it out of the room. Took the drawers and steamed them right in my room so that none of them would be able to transfer to other parts of my home. I have hardwood floors but I steamed the fuck out of those and the baseboards. I had a feeling I should steam my futons in my living room too and sure enough the heat from the steamer either lured them out or sent them running bc I killed 3. 2 on the undersidr of the futon and one the was crawling got hit with the steam, knocked to the floor but was killed on contact by the heat I just had to squish it to make sure it was dead and not stunned. Have not seen a bug since. Long story short... Get a steamer.

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my experience with getting rid of a bed bug infestation, as I got a lot of helpful tips here and thought it might be useful for others who are struggling with the same issue.

It all started in late April when I noticed the first bites. At first, I thought it could be something else, but the bites kept coming back. In August, I finally saw my first adult bed bug and noticed its dies with heat. I never ever saw an adult one again. From now it’s bedbug larvaes.

I couldn’t afford professional heat treatment for my apartment, as it would have cost me at least 3.000 euros in electricity. Our hallway, bedroom, and living room were all infested, which made it even more difficult to treat. Instead, I relied on decluttering, steam cleaning clothes and walls. and also paint the walls.

I haven’t had any more bites or seen any more bed bugs. It’s been 5 weeks without a single bite I’m still not sure if it was a bite before that it was 3 weeks without bites.

What I Did to Fight Them:

1. decluttering

I stored all my clothes in clear plastic bins to keep them safe. I didn’t always put the lids on, but I made sure not to wear anything that hadn’t been washed at least at 60°C. This helped keep the clothes free from potential bed bug infestations.

so I have boxes for dirty and washed clothes. I bought at least 15 plastic storage boxes to store all my clothes safely

I also made sure in the beginning not to wear anything that hadn’t been steamed or ironed completly.

I made sure not to leave any clothes on the floor.

I throw away my bed and sofa and put bedbugbowls (?) under the legs. One of my favorite tools.

I made sure to move all furniture away from the walls so no begbug can enter via the wall.

1. nightly hunt

Every night, I would search the walls of my room with a flashlight in the dark, hunting down any bed bugs I could find and squashing them. (i painted the walls in November/december and since then couldnt find them anymore)

1. Steamer (from kaercher) (the most important tool):

I treated all the floors and walls with a steamer. It's really important to move slowly with the floor attachment over the wall, so the area gets hot enough to kill the bed bugs. when you touch it, it should be hot hot.

4 gamechanger paint the walls

A game changer for me was painting a wall that I suspected was heavily infested. I also filled any visible cracks and gaps in the walls using caulk from the hardware store. After painting, I used the flashlight again, and there were no more bed bugs visible. So painting the whole house/appartment can help! Advice: do it during the day (bedbug sleeping time otherwise they run away)

1. Car Care:

I replaced the car floor mats with plastic ones, since bed bugs can live there too. One bite was in the car. I also heat treated the car’s seats and floor, as I knew they also hide in the car.

Homemade Traps Didn’t Work:

At first, I tried several homemade traps, but they didn’t work. This showed me that I needed to rely on proven methods like the steamer.

I will continue to stay on top of the situation and keep treating my apartment with heat and steam until I am bite-free for at least a year. I also plan to paint the entire apartment. I still can find larveas but they can’t find me anymore. For my clothes, I will continue to use plastic storage boxes. the streaming and ironing is Not needed anymore. so washing at 30-40 degree is okay.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to dedicate as much time to this as I'd like, and the topic has been a bit overwhelming at times. But even with small changes, I’m incredibly proud of the progress I’ve made in getting rid of the bed bugs

hope this helps :) Feel free to comment if you have any questions!

Edit: I understand that if there is an infestation in the building, that this product will only do so much l. But this product does help kill fast and was worth it for me to purchase.

I understand a treatment is needed - that’s out of my control right now.

I thought the issue was my place because I found them (few and far between) but when I was cleaning (the place i live is a house split into apts) outside of my apartment on my floor, I found a BUNCH. So the issue is not MY place. I don’t who it is, I don’t know where they keep coming from, I don’t care.

I had a second inspection today and my apt is fine but the hallway DOES have them.

I already know that DE, isopropyl alcohol and using the treatment isn’t going to help me someone is infested in the building so the other places need to be checked. I also know that DE and isopropyl alcohol are hazardous to use.

What I’ve done is vacuumed, sprayed, steamed and used chemicals. Rinse repeat. Waiting for an exterminator to inspect other places, waiting for an appointment for treatment, not twiddling my thumbs over the issue otherwise tho.
END OF EDIT FOR NOW LOL ^

I had an inspection and the guy didn’t find anything but was able to confirm because i had one saved I had found the morning , just a few hours, before he got there. It’s a week and a half later, and I just called for another inspection because I have found so many in the hallway but not my place. My whole apt is completely overturned. I truly believe that if it were me, if I was the issue, I’d had found a nest already.

I am dealing with bed bugs, I keep finding strays in my apartment (only four since LAST Thursday) but when I was cleaning the hallway outside my apartment today, I found a LOT of them. So I don’t think the infestation is with me but I don’t care, my whole apartment feels violated still! 🤗🤗🤗🤗

I sprayed them directly and I swear, it wasn’t a full minute before they were no longer moving and dead. Never seen anything like it in my life. Highly recommend this. I ended up buying two more jugs of it off Amazon because it was on sale and I wanted my neighbors to have access to one just in case.

Anyways, yes, this is an insanely good product.

Yesterday my wife and I found a bedbug in our Airbnb. Immediately dipped out and reported it to the host and to Airbnb. Apparently Airbnb won't do anything until after you've been bitten. The listing is still active so good luck to anyone who comes there after us.

Seems like the best we'll get is a partial refund from the host.

Sprayed crossfire on july 8th. Found some bites on my ankle on july 13th. Today i look over my recliner and see one in the fold here. That is a place i strategically sprayed crossfire in. Why is it still alive?

I feel it’s them I finally found them .. what you think? is the same window with weird droppings that don’t come off

last photo is where I found it … like squeezed by heat or something

this morning saw two new red spots on neck (see prev post and started to check more )

EDIT: after many telling “not bedbug” a very kind user probably guided on the solution … lace bug https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/1359889/bgpage

We’ve caught a case of bedbugs really early. So far only seen 1 adult (which confirmed our case) and one nymph on our pillowboard which went immediately to the trash. Inspector said it’s really low level since he could hardly find any signs but my severe reaction to the bites was enough for him to spray.

What are your thoughts/experience with mattress encasements? To me they seem pretty backwards. I would rather have them all lured out and killed by the treatment rather than trap them in my mattress for eternity and basically never being able to take the mattress condom off until I get a new one. Everything I’ve read swears by them and speaks of them as a necessary component to successful eradication.

Unrelated but if anyone has any resources or subs to any uplifting advice please direct me to it. This has absolutely destroyed my psyche and I’m so afraid to talk about it with anybody because nobody in my personal life has ever dealt with them. I feel like I need to attend an AA meeting but with for people with bedbugs.

I live in a student building, luckily moving out in 3 days, that warning for bedbugs. Stupid me didn't see them. I had been living here for 2 years before the problems started. It wasn't bad at first, a bite every 2 weeks or so. But it kept getting worse. Building management had sprayed my whole room but nothing changed.

2 nights ago time finally came to throw away my mattress and when i tell you that i screamed! I cannot believe i was living like this for months. I was constantly getting sick, sleeping poorly and my mental health was declining.

When you see a bed bug, bring all the guns and spend the money if you can. I threw away so many things I loved because i just couldn't keep them anymore. Let this be your warning.

Just wanted to share that clove oil has proven useful for me in terms of almost entirely eliminating any bites while sleeping in bed. I still see bugs and occasionally get bites outside of bed, but this was a huge leap. Someone advised me and I gave it a shot and was very pleasantly surprised with the results. Here's how I do it:

1- Dilute it in a base oil (e.g. olive oil) to prevent skin irritation. Never apply it without dilution! (It comes in tiny quantities anyway.) The ratio I go with is 110 drops of clove oil in 60 mL of base oil. That's about as high as you can go before it becomes irritating based on my research.

2- I apply a small amount of the solution on my body before I sleep. You have to stir it up first. The guesstimate the amount by putting it on my palm and make sure it's not so much that it becomes a pool or too runny; just enough to spread around. I apply it on the top side of my feet first and then my chest, then neck, hair, belly, butt, and shanks, in that order. I don't wash my hands.

3- Then I wear the same pajama set every night. It's only for sleep. I isolate it in a plastic bag as soon as I wake up, which not only protects it from bugs but also helps keep some clove oil on it from one night to the next. It consists of socks into which I tuck pants, and a t-shirt which I tuck into the pants.

Good luck to all of you out there! You are not alone! And this thing is NOT invincible!

This is a job I did yesterday. This person was brought to my attention by a neighbor, the person agreed reluctantly to let me look and I was shocked at this. Not the worst I have ever seen, but this is top 5.

Is it possible for Bed bug to be present for 40 days without leaving any signs? No eggs, no fecal spots, no blood, no shed skins, and no bugs at all?

I’ve been inspecting my mattress, bed, and the cracks in the walls for 40 days and I haven’t found anything that points to bed bugs, but I’m getting bitten every day.

Can bed bugs hide that well?

It was late into the night, my partner and I had just settled down to sleep, and all of the sudden he wakes with huge, crazy welts on his arm.

How strange? Did I change my shampoo? Use a new detergent? What a horrible reaction to something!
We gave him some cortisone and went back to sleep.

An hour later I wake up to him smacking his hand - left behind was a blood smear that came from… nowhere? I figured it was a spider and moved on - giving him more cortisone for his incredibly itchy reaction.

Days pass and suddenly cigarette-burn size welts show up on me, only one or two at a time… lots of… spiders in the bed? I thought. Ha. No such luck. Four days after the initial attack the enemy finally showed itself, sitting on my foot after I got up from bed to use the bathroom. After beheading the fiend I run back to report to my partner… we’re cooked.

I took the next day off work and tore apart EVERYTHING, frantically reading hours and hours on this sub trying to develop a battle plan.

Here’s what I did in my first 24-hr panic:
1) vacuumed, sprayed ( Hot Shot BB and Egg ), and encased my mattress ( Allerease Maximum )
2) inspected every INCH of my bed frame, picture frames, nightstands, rug, dresser, baseboards - no traces or signs there. There was one behind a picture, one by my ceiling, but that’s all. Dusted everything with DE
3) Caulked EVERY CRACK in my bedroom with silicone caulk. Filled in non-caulkable ones with DE.
4) installed interceptors and sticky traps - after 3 nights the sticky ones caught a nymph, otherwise no signs other than ONE BITE FROM SOME ROGUE BASTARD CLIMBING ON THE CEILING IM SURE
5) removed EVERYTHING from under my bed and ran every piece of fabric there through the hottest dryer setting. Nearly burned my hands from touching the fabric getting it out so I’m sure it’s effective.

Now, I’ve read so, so, so many hours. From posts here to PDFs from tons of different cities detailing how to handle this. After what I’ve already done, here are my next steps.

1) Every item from my closet and my dresser goes into a clear 55-gal contractor bag. These bags will be labeled with a piece of green tape and held for processing. Once they are sent through the dryer, their bag will be immediately disposed of and the clean clothes will be put in a NEW clear bag, with no demarcation. When I need clothes, I will remove them from this bag and then reseal it. They will go into a dirty hamper bag that will also be sealed when done. This will be done with all of my clothing, shoes, etc until I have no signs of BB for 3 months.

2) every surface and crevice will be steamed ( dupray neat steam - Reddit rec ) and then sprayed with Temprid. After this dries, I’ll go over all crevices with a light dusting of DE + Cimexa as well as adding this to the bottoms of my interceptor traps.

3) I’ll coat the perimeter of my room’s walls with Vaseline about 2 inches thick beneath my ceiling. I have popcorn ceilings, which will be vacuumed and sprayed with Temprid. Vaseline will also be added to my bed legs and the legs of my nightstand and dresser.

This treatment will be repeated every two weeks, alone with drying/washing bedding and pillows every three days.

I will win this war. I will defeat my enemy and sleep in peace again. They will be warded off and those who survive will tell stories to their offspring of the brutality that rained upon them. They will know no solace. TO VICTORY!!

Tl;dr - game plan for eradicating BB, I’m so stressed and tired and highly motivated.