OMG! Bed bugs! Again!

As I was leaving the building today to go to the Post Office, my caretaker caught me at the front door and asked if I had any bed bugs, because she got a message from the agency that they are going to spray #603 and #703 (mine!) this Thursday!   Today is Tuesday!!!

I don't have any because I've been absolutely OCD about the issue since moving from my old apartment. I bought a new bed and left the old one. I left the new bed in it's original plastic. I steamed all of my furniture, inside and outside, twice, before it went into the bedroom. I've steamed everything as I unpacked it. I ran everything cloth through the dryer, again before hanging it up or putting it into the closet; and things that couldn't go in the dryer were put into plastic bags and in my deep freezer. The plastic is still on the bed, because I'm still too freaked out to take it off! I can't afford to toss out another $2,000 bed!

Since I moved, I was vacuuming and steaming my bedroom carpet, including under the box spring, at least twice a week, and over the months I've reduced it to once a week for vacuuming, and once very 2 weeks for steaming.

Apparently the girl below me (#603) has reported not being able to sleep in her bedroom because something is bothering her.  From what the caretaker told me, the people in the apartments below her (#504 and #403) were friends and went back and forth between apartments and that 504 had quite the bed bug infestation.

So they came to spray some apartments today, including #603, but some of them weren't ready, so they are coming back on Thursday and she wanted to know if mine needed to be sprayed.

Now I'm completely freaked out again!

If the apartment below me has bedbugs, and they could travel up to my apartment!

I just can't go through that crap again!  My move was absolute H&*% and so has the unpacking because of the extra steps I've been taking to make sure I didn't bring any of the little critters with me.  I just finished unpacking the last of the boxes last week!!!!!!!!!

My apartment doesn't need to be sprayed now, because I don't have any bed bugs, but if it comes to it, I'm going to do my best to break my lease and just move from here.   Cats aren't allowed, nor is an apartment washing machine/dryer.  I'll just report myself for having 3 cats, and using a washing machine in my apartment. According to the previous property manager, both make my lease void!

And if that doesn't work, I'll take a page from my nephew's book; board my cats for a few days and borrow a big dog that barks alot! That got him out of his lease very fast!

I've never wanted to own property, but I tell you when things like this happen, I really wish I did have my own house so I wouldn't have to go through this kind of stuff!

Oh no, what a nightmare!

I'd have them spray everything, just in case. I know it's a hassle, but more of a peace of mind!

Draco said:

Oh no, what a nightmare!

I'd have them spray everything, just in case. I know it's a hassle, but more of a peace of mind!

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You have no idea what kind of a hassel! Removing everything from ALL cupboards, drawers, closets, shelves, in the entire apartment.  Pulling everything away from the walls.  Putting everything that is cloth through the dryer and into plastic bags.  Transporting by taxi and boarding 3 cats at the vets, flea baths for 3 cats (mandatory when being boarded for bug infestation).  That's about $150.00 right there. Then unpacking and putting everything away again.

The above means emptying my closets, desk, kitchen cabinets, bathroom shelving etc etc etc.  And being given 2 days notice to do it!!!  I'm not doing it. If I have to unpack my shelves and closets, the stuff is going back into boxes and onto a moving truck into a new building.

Just wondering how you are making out with this problem.  Good luck.

What an absolute nightmare! Any updates on the situation? Hopefully the bed bugs will stay far away from your apartment!

OMG OMG I would totally be freaking out - completely OH I feel so sorry for you... that is my worst nightmare. My hubby travels a lot and I always worry about him in the hotels and bringing home bedbugs. He always uses the luggage racks as I insist on that. :lol3: OH..... I really am sorry for the HUGE hassel this will cause you and the cats too if they need to spray..

Feralvr said:

OMG OMG I would totally be freaking out - completely

OH I feel so sorry for you... that is my worst nightmare. My hubby travels a lot and I always worry about him in the hotels and bringing home bedbugs. He always uses the luggage racks as I insist on that.

OH..... I really am sorry for the HUGE hassel this will cause you and the cats too if they need to spray..

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 I had a lengthy conversation recently with the manager of the company who does our quarterly pest control.  One of the things he said is if you stay in motels, put your luggage in the bathtub to begin with.  Then pull the sheets and everything back from the bed corners and inspect the seams of the mattress and the bedsheets.  If you see bugs or stained sheets, discreetly ask for another room.

I am sorry this person is going through this issue and hope it will get resolved.  It seems to me that spraying one or two rooms would only run them next door.

blueyedgirl5946 said:

 I had a lengthy conversation recently with the manager of the company who does our quarterly pest control.  One of the things he said is if you stay in motels, put your luggage in the bathtub to begin with.  Then pull the sheets and everything back from the bed corners and inspect the seams of the mattress and the bedsheets.  If you see bugs or stained sheets, discreetly ask for another room.
I am sorry this person is going through this issue and hope it will get resolved.  It seems to me that spraying one or two rooms would only run them next door.

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That is a GREAT suggestion - the bathtub. Will ask Larry to do that from now on. That is how paranoid I am about his traveling AND yeah - I was thinking the same thing about the pest company spraying just a few room..... they will scatter. OH BOY....

They ended up spraying my apartment!

The apartment 2 floors below me had bed bugs, but they didn't report it.  They moved and new people moved in and they were the ones to report it.  So they sprayed that apartment, the one next door to them and the one above and below them.

After they sprayed, the apartment above them (below me) continued to c/o of being itchy whenever she was in her bed. The caretaker checked but didn't see signs of bedbugs in the mattress seams, but they decided to spray again, and this time include me.

I argued with the manager and they sent someone last Friday to help me pack stuff up.

Monday I was sitting on the side of my bed petting Abby and I saw something out of the corner of my eye.  Turns out it was a small bed bug, maybe 1 or 2 mm in length. It was on the wall about 3 inches higher than my mattress.  I flushed it down the drain and pulled my bed and end tables away from the wall and checked the baseboard and the plastic on my bed. I didn't see anything further, but I did do an extra good vacuuming.

They sprayed yesterday and this weekend I'm going to use the steam mop on the carpets in my bedroom again. I can't steam the carpet in the spare room because everything is bunched in the centre.

Oh I'm so sorry...what a hassle and a mess!!  I'd be wanting a place of my own too.  Even just a tiny house or a duplex!

Natalie_ca said:

They ended up spraying my apartment!

The apartment 2 floors below me had bed bugs, but they didn't report it.  They moved and new people moved in and they were the ones to report it.  So they sprayed that apartment, the one next door to them and the one above and below them.

After they sprayed, the apartment above them (below me) continued to c/o of being itchy whenever she was in her bed. The caretaker checked but didn't see signs of bedbugs in the mattress seams, but they decided to spray again, and this time include me.

I argued with the manager and they sent someone last Friday to help me pack stuff up.

Monday I was sitting on the side of my bed petting Abby and I saw something out of the corner of my eye.  Turns out it was a small bed bug, maybe 1 or 2 mm in length. It was on the wall about 3 inches higher than my mattress.  I flushed it down the drain and pulled my bed and end tables away from the wall and checked the baseboard and the plastic on my bed. I didn't see anything further, but I did do an extra good vacuuming.

They sprayed yesterday and this weekend I'm going to use the steam mop on the carpets in my bedroom again. I can't steam the carpet in the spare room because everything is bunched in the centre.

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The man I talked to suggested putting double sided sticky tape on the bed legs.  You would then catch any trying to go up the legs of the bed.  Also he said to get some of the sticky pads from the hardware store that people use for catching roaches or mice and lay them under the edge of the bed next to the legs.  That will give you a picture of if there is any traffic around your bed a night.  He told me a mistake people make is moving out of the bed to sleep in another room and the bugs which may only be in the bedroom, follow you to the living room couch or another bed.  He said people should cover their mattresses with the bed bug proof bags.  If there are any there, they will die.  He said if a mattress is not worth saving it should be covered totally before it is moved out of the bedroom or else you are spreading eggs or bugs to another room of the house.  If you sit it by the curb for disposal don't cut it to spread the bugs, but use spray paint and paint BEDBUGS infested on it so neighbors won't tote it to their house.  He also aid don't use over the counter sprays as that scatters them, not kill them.  A precaution people can take is when you bring home new clothing, put it in the dryer on hot heat before hanging it in your closet.  I have tried to educate myself so maybe I can avoid this probem, but it is widespread.  I don't shop in thrift stores anymore LOL.

   I am so sorry! And you have already moved from a previous bed bug infestation?! Bed bugs are very difficult to exterminate because they are flat and easily hide in every crack and crevice ( I'm sure you already know). Hate to say it but I would either get out of that building or pack up all your stuff and prepare for a several months to a year extermination treatment. They are never gone in one treatment, and the fact that there was a previous problem in that building means it was never fixed. Once bed bugs are present in an apartment, all surrounding apartments have to be treated as well.

blueyedgirl5946 said:

The man I talked to suggested putting double sided sticky tape on the bed legs.  You would then catch any trying to go up the legs of the bed.  Also he said to get some of the sticky pads from the hardware store that people use for catching roaches or mice and lay them under the edge of the bed next to the legs.  That will give you a picture of if there is any traffic around your bed a night.  He told me a mistake people make is moving out of the bed to sleep in another room and the bugs which may only be in the bedroom, follow you to the living room couch or another bed.  He said people should cover their mattresses with the bed bug proof bags.  If there are any there, they will die.  He said if a mattress is not worth saving it should be covered totally before it is moved out of the bedroom or else you are spreading eggs or bugs to another room of the house.  If you sit it by the curb for disposal don't cut it to spread the bugs, but use spray paint and paint BEDBUGS infested on it so neighbors won't tote it to their house.  He also aid don't use over the counter sprays as that scatters them, not kill them.  A precaution people can take is when you bring home new clothing, put it in the dryer on hot heat before hanging it in your closet.  I have tried to educate myself so maybe I can avoid this probem, but it is widespread.  I don't shop in thrift stores anymore LOL.

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That is excellent advice about the sticky tape. :nod: and of course, your other suggestions as well.

Natalie - so sorry about this and I do hope that this will be the end of the bed bug issue :cross: I get the heebies just thinking about it...

We had them. Goodness, it was emotionally draining. I got them because I work in homeless outreach and well, that should explain it.

We tried sprays, sticky tape, covers... everything. The only thing that has completely cured us was a $1,200 heat treatment followed by a canine dog 3 weeks later to sniff to make sure there was "no new evidence". We had to stay in a hotel room with our 2 cats during this process for 2 days. We had to purchase new mattress covers, bedding, all of that. The heat treatment was used in our apartment for 4 hours at the temperature of 190° for 5 hours. We spent a good $50 on laundering all of our towels, bedding, clothing, stuffed animals, etc. We probably spent $2,000 total on getting rid of them. But they are gone... for good.

Best of luck to anyone dealing with this... I completely understand.

SubconsciousMe said:

We had them. Goodness, it was emotionally draining. I got them because I work in homeless outreach and well, that should explain it.

We tried sprays, sticky tape, covers... everything. The only thing that has completely cured us was a $1,200 heat treatment followed by a canine dog 3 weeks later to sniff to make sure there was "no new evidence". We had to stay in a hotel room with our 2 cats during this process for 2 days. We had to purchase new mattress covers, bedding, all of that. The heat treatment was used in our apartment for 4 hours at the temperature of 190° for 5 hours. We spent a good $50 on laundering all of our towels, bedding, clothing, stuffed animals, etc. We probably spent $2,000 total on getting rid of them. But they are gone... for good.

Best of luck to anyone dealing with this... I completely understand.

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 My goodness.  I am glad you gor rid of yours.  It makes a person wonder just how widespread this problem is.  If the government would release DDt, would you let them use it in your house to kill them. 

blueyedgirl5946 said:

 If the government would release DDt, would you let them use it in your house to kill them. 

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Yep! Sure would!

I would too Natalie, in a heartbeat.

blueyedgirl5946 said:

I would too Natalie, in a heartbeat.

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Yeah - DDT will kill everything. I think it was used years and years ago. Hope the problem has been terminated!!!!!!! :cross: