Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

By Martinbt58 from London

Archives: Request: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Archived on 05/07/2009 I have bed bugs. I think a pet brought them in but who knows. Anyway I have caught a couple and have been bitten. What can I do to get rid of them? There has to be something out that I can use that is fairly safe. Timothy from Gallitzin, PA Feedback: RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I know rosemary will get rid of lice so maybe it will work on bed bugs. We make a spray of water and rosemary to spray on our hair. (11/26/2007) By curlysmith RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I've just seen a program on T.V. about bed bugs, they said there are no products on the market to get rid of them, they said you have to call in a professional (bug exterminator) or get rid of the mattress. I think it was on Oprah. Good Luck! (11/27/2007) By Connie RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs You need http://bedbugger.com (12/20/2007) By bugged RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs My wife and I ran into these nasty suckers on our honeymoon in a very upscale resort near Playa Del Carmen in Mexico. Our room had a few small bugs on the walls and ceilings (even in the day), but we didn't think anything of it, until our third night, when I smashed one on the bed and it streaked blood on the sheets. Luckily, the management moved us to a different building that wasn't invested. After we got home we left all our luggage in the car, parked away from the house and researched these things. Here's what we did to prevent those bugs from invading our home: Parked our car out in the driveway in the hot sun for three days. This was during the summer time in Arizona. The car easily got to above 120F. After the three days we opened up our luggage, and to our delight, we found half a dozen dead bed bugs next to a leaky water bottle. They must have all went for the water trying to escape the heat. Went to a laundromat and washed all of our travel clothes on hot, and dried them on hot. We used "color catchers" to prevent bright items from being dyed. Threw out clothes that couldn't be washed. Shoes, sandles, wallets, purses, etc. Even our luggage. Got our house as hot as we could just in case we brought some in on the clothing we were wearing. Set the heater in our house to the max 99F. Opened up all the blinds to let sunlight in. Turned off all the electronics in the house to prevent them from over heating, and let it sit for a day. This was summer time in Arizona. The thermometer I left in the house pegged at 120F. When we returned, there were no evidence of dead bed bugs, but every other spider, ant and fly in the house was found dead at the threshold of the front door trying to escape. For our digital cameras, we removed the batteries and baked them in the oven at about 200F (70C to 100C should do it) for about 2 hours. Note, that batteries will explode unless you remove them! Most electronic components can handle this heat so long as they are not powered. I do not recommend trying this with laptops or anything else with a hard drive. It's been 3 years, with no bugs, so it must have worked. Unfortunately, now we're paranoid and check out all hotel rooms before we bring our luggage inside. Tripadvisor.com is good for checking out if a hotel has a bed bug problem. (01/19/2008) By Joey RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I think Clorox and rubbing alcohol kills the bug without any doubt. I was told by my exterminator to spray rubbing alcohol whenever I see bed bugs. What I did was spray the entire room with Clorox and rubbing alcohol and its been 6 months I have not yet seen any or got bitten. (02/07/2008) By Sonia RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Well, I recently found that my apartment has bed bugs. I live in a place with over 100 apartments in one building so I know I'm not the only one with them. My mom told me to try rubbing alcohol and that really works, kills em dead on contact! I sprayed everything with it and man, I'm telling you, it works. Put it in a spray bottle and get spraying! (03/19/2008) By Shay RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs You really should check out thermal eradication or simply a heat treatment. www.azexthermalsolutions.com (04/09/2008) By Ron RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Try Steri-Fab for mattresses and fabric, and Sprayaway's Good Night is effective for mattresses, cracks in walls and floors, undersides of wood tables/furniture, behind picture frames, and nearly anywhere else the little buggers might be hiding. These are products that you can buy at a hardware store that are safe and effective. If you have pets, keep them out of the area while you spray, and while the products dry (they dry quickly). Also, get rid of your clutter - it's a play land and a Bat Cave for the bedbugs. A home needs to get clean and organized to get bedbug free, but cleaning and throwing out furniture alone won't do it. Neither will thyme. You need to clean, to spray, and to keep it up 2-4 times a month for at least several months. Only products that specifically list bedbugs actually affect bedbugs. Nothing that says "most insects" but doesn't list bedbugs specifically will work. Treat any pet bedding. They usually don't go after domestic dogs and cats, but can travel on them. By Kit RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs My husband and I have had bed bugs, too. It was awful! Here in downtown SF it is quite a problem. We love our apartment but with a 100 units in the building it's impossible to control what comes in and you are very affected by your neighbors. That said, we are now bed-bug free. In SF there are department of health regulations that have certain requirements of what the landlords must legally provide for bedbugs outbreaks, and responsibilities for the tenants. I highly recommend each of you find out what is legally required in the situation if you are renting. Our apartment was sprayed twice, my husband and I packed up everything we own, washed everything and put it all in plastic bags in our kitchen and bathroom while everything that wasn't packed was sprayed. I also clean regularly with lavender, which is supposed to help - makes us feel better anyway, and we burn lavender candles often. We are still so vigilant. The bed is a couple feet from the wall and the legs have duct tape around them with the sticky side out so nothing can crawl up on the bed. It is hard because the situation needs to be a cooperative effort in apartments and it seems that isn't happening as much as it should. Several cities have successfully taken charge of the bed bug problem and I think reading what they have done is helpful. Either way, if your city has no regulations, maybe look up SF or NY regulations and try to implement them in your own apartment. Also, contact pest companies in the large areas that are more experienced with bed bugs and see what they recommend. I hope you are all successful and eliminate these terrible bugs from your lives! They are miserable! Best wishes, Lisa (05/23/2008) By Lisa RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Kleen Free works! I live in a apartment building, I never have been bitten but my daughter was several times. I think I just do not react to the bites. Believe me I tried everything, washing and sealing you name it. I tried the Kleen Free because its non toxic, you spray it all over even on the mattress, you even wash the clothes in it. It really did kill them and after a few months of constant spraying I got rid of them. Its been over one year since my daughter has been bitten. Guess what, their back! That's because there are so many people moving in and out of the building! I believe their bringing them back in. Now I will have to go through this all over again. Type in Kleen Free, its by Natural Ginesis. Good Luck! (06/16/2008) By Mel RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I am going through this as well, and I have done hours of research. I would like to share some very helpful tips, since many landlords are not very knowledgeable about bedbugs (my landlord seems to think sprinkling some type of powder on the floor will eliminate the problem, ha!) Any hoo, here's some of my tips for dealing with bedbugs: Isolate your bed. Even if you can't completely rid yourself of the bugs, at least you can sleep tight. I sit the bed legs in Tupperware cups, and sit them on top of sticky mouse traps. I caught so many species of random bugs this way, it's not even funny. Sterifab and 91% Alcohol: These are good because unlike other sprays, they dry out the bug and kill it. The con is that they have little to no residual action, but they kill on contact, and are good to spray in areas where you suspect the bugs may be. Bedlam: This is a spray that works rather well, and has some fatality rate even on the eggs. Can be used in cracks, crevices, furniture, mattresses, luggage, just be sure to use as directed on the can. Mattress Encasements: I would like to note that these keep bugs from getting out of the mattress, but they can still get in your bed, unless you use sticky traps to prevent them from crawling up. Make sure the bedframe and headboard are thoroughly inspected, because if they are living there, the mattress covers are pretty much pointless. Frequent Vacuuimg; Vacuum the couch and similar furniture, all seams and folds with the hose attachment, and give a good spraying of Sterifab or alcohol afterward. Be sure to discard the vacuum bag in a sealable bag immediately after, if not, they can get out of the vacuum cleaner and spread the infestation. Spacebags and XXL Ziploc bags: After you have washed all clothing in the hottest possible water, and dried them on the hottest possible setting, store them in airtight bags to prevent bedbugs from getting into your clothes. Search: Bedbugs don't only live in mattresses. They can live behind photos on the wall, in telephones and clock radios, sockets, anywhere! Unfortunately, I don't have the guts to go searching for them, but if you want to, it's best done with a high power flashlight, and maybe even a magnifying glass. Mattress bags: If you must throw out your mattress, please bag it in a plastic mattress bag before taking it out, otherwise, the bugs and eggs can fall from the mattress while you are moving it, and spread the problem. Here in Cincinnati, the city won't even pick up mattress unless they are in plastic. Steamers: If you can afford a steamer, this is a helpful tool. Bedbugs can't survive very high heat, I guess a hairdryer could work in the same way. I've heard people having success with steam treatments, but I've never tried this personally. Bring in the Pros: If you can't afford to have your place exterminated, at least have a consultation, they will come out and search for the bugs for free. At least this gives some insight as to where they are hiding, and if you really have them. Please remember that if you really want to rid the bugs from your home, some form of pesticide will most likely be necessary, along with some of the tips I just mentioned. Bedbugs are also resistant to many sprays on the market, I once doused one in Raid to no avail. I hope my tips are helpful to someone, isolating my bed was the best thing I could have done, because, if nothing else, I get a good worry free sleep. Thanks for reading! (06/21/2008) By Tiffany RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Sprayway Good Night took care of my bed bug problem in one usage. (12/04/2008) By Robert H. RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Get a Shark steamer. We moved into a house that we had redone and hadn't had the problem before, and all of a sudden my children were getting bitten up like crazy. They were in my couch, ahhh. I researched and found that steaming them works. I am still finding a couple but not like before. I just continue to steam every other week until the problem is gone. You really need to check good, I practically ripped my couch apart but they were there, hiding in weird little corners. Also, vacuum everyday with hose attachment on, then throw outside in a bag. I am determined and know I will rid them. (01/15/2009) By Antoinette Report Spam or Abuse Request: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Archived on 11/20/2007 I know my home has BED BUGS. Is it true that thyme will actually get rid of them? I've been trying everything since January of 2005. Even had the pest control in my home 3 times. I used bombs, sprays the whole nine yards. If you have had bed bugs and gotten rid of them with thyme let me know. I would love to hear from previous bed bug victims. Colleen RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Can I mix tea tree oil with water? Editor's Note: As a general rule, oil and water don't mix (06/26/2006) RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs If you're willing to try the Thyme and Tea Tree Oil approach, I found my Thyme in the spices section of my local supermarket. The Tea Tree Oil I found in the cosmetics section of my local health food store. Personally, I finally had Terminix come in and go over my apartment. Using a "flushing agent" like Pyrethrin, a spray that prompts the bugs to scatter and also kills on contact, the exterminator found a few bed bugs under the edges of my carpet. She then applied a residual chemical containing Cyflurthrin. It sticks around for quite awhile and kills bugs when they crawl over it. A follow-up two weeks later found just a couple more and more spraying. Then I found a few more one night around my computer console. If I'm not sleeping or at work I'm at my computer. It suddenly made sense, the bugs I found in my bed after the first application, I was probably bringing them with me from around my computer and my chair. I asked for the exterminator again since I'm still inside my 30 day warranty and he sprayed the residual again all around my computer area. Since then no bugs. (07/06/2006) By Richard05 RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs The best way I have found is extreme heat like steamers. Bed bugs can not survive in temperatures of 140 degrees, the steam machines are good for the carpets drapes and mattresses around the seams. Use comet or powder substance to place in the cracks you find in the tile and wall the powder will suffocate them including the eggs, your sheets cloths etc put in black trash bags and set them outside in the sun for 4 hours. Then wash everything at the hottest setting you are able to. From what I have read and from what I have dealt with if you can get them all you did darn good because you can go 6-7 months with out seeing one. The adults can live that long with out eating, but they say the only sure way to kill them is through heat. (07/14/2006) By Domingo RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs yes i agree with domingo but i used a hair dryer and put it in the hottest settings and blow it all over the bed. it seem to work. i been sleeping on the bed for days without one bite but i would spend 1 hour blowing it with the blowdryer in the highest settings (07/17/2006) By HN RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs No Bites! I wrote back on 06/06/2006 from 2200 Ocean Avenue and have been bite free for about a month now (I was getting bit daily) here is what what I did and my advice to those who suffer. Pull up all carpets buy a steamer (like the shark) to clean the bed frame the mattresses, the daybed frame (forget about a couch!) and the area rugs. put the legs of all beds in pyrex bowls of mineral oil and smear petroleum jelly around the non-submerged part. keep the bed off the wall keep the covers off the floor, don't let them get up on the bed! Watch every thing that goes on the bed, I found one squashed in my book! Encase the mattresses and box springs in allergen proof covers (after steaming and/or extermination). Wash everything (yes everything) in hot if you can with Clorox or Clorox 2. Throw out anything that you are not using right now (or that is not washable)along with the rugs (other than throw rugs that you can steam or wash) and the couch. You can not take this stuff with you when you go, unless you want to take the bugs, so why not make life better right now and throw out all you can. Store all your stuff in clear plastic bags and save your important stuff (the stuff you have to take with you when you leave) in sealed plastic, right now. Thyme is great, it freaks them out and they climb the walls but my problem was too severe, I got two more exterminations and use the Ortho Home Defense Max regularly in places I don't touch. I leave the thyme sprigs under the sheets on the sides of the bed and sprinkle it liberally under the beds and under the cushion of the one chair I had to keep (yes, it is a washable Ikea chair). I felt like Bill Murray with the gopher but by really thinking and looking I found them, in the kitchen! Yes they were coming through the bedroom walls from downstairs (patch all holes, close any unused outlets, watch those plug strips) and around the radiator and the closets (drench the floor here with Home Defense) but the major entry point was behind my kitchen cabinets (I drench back here with the Ortho Home Defense Max)! The apartment next door (on the kitchen side) has a horrible infestation and that is my main source, not the bedroom. They were biting my feet and legs as I did the dishes and worked on the computer. Vacuum at least once a day, best if you do it morning and night & change the bag often, they are in there and so are the eggs! Right now I clean all the time, but I don't get bit. They are not going away entirley, I am sure, but I am dealing with it. I just think about the fact that I will not have to hire a truck to move, it is very freeing in an odd way. PS This is a gross but good tip, don't squash them on the walls they make a terrible mess (too much blood). Keep some wide tape handy and pick the sucker up on it then squash him in between the tape. You won't have to scrub the walls at least, it will give you more time to vacuum. (07/28/2006) By this too shall pass RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs We ended up with bedbugs about 6 months ago from a used mattress I got for my son. We've had exterminators in our house 2 times and all it seemed to do was make them mad. After the first spray we all woke up the next day with literally hundreds of bites. I can't sleep and am totally frustrated. We've thrown out all our mattresses and now all the new ones are infested again. I've probably done about 200 loads of laundry. I'm not going to spend another $500 for a professional exterminator that obviously doesn't know what they are doing, plus we got reactions from the chemicals they used. I'm at my wits end. I think $500 in Thyme should work!! (08/11/2006) By Christa RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs WebMD addressed this issue yesterday. http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/121/114035.htm Jennifer Northern Virginia (08/11/2006) By ILuvDobes RE:Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I recently moved in with some friends who have been in their apartment for over 2 years now. After 3 weeks in my room, I woke up 2 or 3 nights in a row with nearly 100 bug bites, inflamed and itchy. I googled them right away and as soon as I found out what they were, I flipped my mattress and box spring, only to find the bottom of the box spring torn and covered in blood with some adult bugs running around on the frame, which had feces on it. I found that spraying live ones directly with lice spray will kill them and I taped the dead ones to a piece of paper to show the exterminator. I threw out my box spring, covered my mattress in a plastic case and duct taped the zipper and started sleeping on the couch in another room. I would go into my bedroom late at night to find them on the floor, on the walls, under pictures and in their frames. I washed everything in my room 3 times so far (put anything that cant be washed in the dryer on high, either dry clean clothes that arent too delicate and pillows/blankets that you just dont want to wash over and over again. Everything that isnt in use stays in giant black trash bags at all times. I threw out my carpet, my rollable guest mattress, most of my pillows and so far this ordeal has cost me over $1000. I tried tea tree oil, but they still came out at night. I put Vaseline on my bed legs and put the legs of my bed in bowls of water, but I read that they are crafty enough to crawl up to the ceiling and drop onto your bed. I have yet to try thyme, but since having 3 exterminator visits (its been three weeks since the first bites) I havent seen any in a week. I want to believe that theyre gone, but Ive read enough to believe that they arent. has anyone had similar results initially but found that they still return? (10/08/2006) By LauraNYC RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs thyme does not work.....put it around bed, under mattress etc....but they are still here (11/01/2006) By brody RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I am going crazy cause I initially thought I had a bad case of mosquitoes in my apartment. Then my building manager told me the 4th floor was totally infested with bedbugs and now they have traveled to the 2nd floor where I live. The building manager has had the place exterminated twice and it helped for a second but now they are back with a vengeance. What is even more frustrating is that me and my neighbor are the only native born Americans in the building, and our other neighbors are getting mad and fighting the building management. They don't want to leave when the management needs us to leave the building for 4 hours to try to exterminate on a regular basis (every two weeks to get rid of the problem). It is driving me crazy and I can't afford to move. One of my neighbors is walking around with a big bite mark to the face and neck. It looks crazy. I am covering up my arms so my friends don't know that I have bedbugs or even worse an infectious disease. I am sleeping on my small love seat with my legs hanging over the arm. I will try the hair dryer, tea tree oil, and thyme. Thanks for all of the post everyone. I hope this works. (11/05/2006) By Kevin in L.A. RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I think that I may have bed bugs, but am not certain. I haven't sen any bugs at all, but I'm getting bitten by something on my back during the night. I've slept on my sofa for the past few nights(passed out reading), and woken up with a pattern of 3 bites in several places on my back. Are they always visible? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!! (11/06/2006) By Lilly Do I have Bedbugs??!!!! Within the last two weeks I have noticed a series of bites on my body. The first one was a set of three on my back that I automatically assumed was from a spider (Creepy enough). Then a couple days later, three more on my neck...and I'm talking huge quarter sized bites(I have bad allergic reactions to everything anyway). Now, one more on my chest, and another one on my knuckle. What?! My 18 month old son has one bite on his hand, and now my sister (who is my son's full-time daycare) is getting them on her arms and hands as well. The strange thing is....my sister doesn't go near my bed at all, just my couch. Could she be getting bit while sitting on my couch? I've studied lots of pictures of bedbug bites....and it seems that most people that get bit have like 10 or 15 bites all in the same area? Is that true? I haven't spotted the bedbugs with my own eyes yet, but will be investigating when I get home today. Also....if my apartment is responsible for spreading the bedbugs, is it my managers responsibility to cover the extermination costs? Honestly I am embarrassed even talking to my landlord about the problem in the first place. So, my plan is....get some evidence that they do exist in my apartment, then go talk to the landlord. Sound like a good plan? Oh and I am also stopping at the store for some sticky tape tonight. The thing is, my mattress sits on the floor so I don't even have an option to soak the legs of my bedframe in water cause I have no legs on my bed! WHAT SHOULD I DO? Please email me at blondiegirly22 AT yahoo.com or post a response ASAP (01/05/2007) By Steffany RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Was wondering...If you live in a cold climate, could the bed bugs survive freezing? I'm thinking of closing up the house (draining the lines and everything, just like a cottage) in say... February and going away for 2 weeks. Anyone know if this would do the trick? (01/17/2007) By gh RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Me and my cousin trapped some in a jar and killed them with garlic extract. We're going to try making a spray and using that. Also had to get rid of infected furniture. If you have to do this and your strapped for money try the craigslist to replace furniture. (01/20/2007) By Annette RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs i have bed bugs and would like to know whats the best remedy to use that i could buy from stores (02/27/2007) By sandy femsah@yahoo.com Bedbugs war in Malaysia too I've been bitten for few weeks now. Kept thinking they were some breed of "silent mosquitoes". So sprayed aerosol every night. Saw 4 of the guys in a few weeks. Bathed all my guinea pigs and cats (thinking maybe the insects were ticks or fleas)...didn't work. Sleeping was starting to be a torture as the bites were super-itchy. Tonight, I'm gonna do a massive search & destroy! Gonna dig into every inch of the mattress and room, sticky tape them, squash, then vacum. Btw, it's difficult to find stuff like mattress covers, thyme, n all those solutions mentioned below. So i have no choice, but to use the conventional method of squash n vacum! Apparently being obsessive with cleanliness doesn't stop em from appearing! I didn't know Malaysia had them! (03/02/2007) By Dawn RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I sometimes feel like it is a nightmare 8 months being bitten alive. I had my home exterminated but I am still being bitten, I am going to try the thyme and constant prayer, I rarely go out I look like I have a disease bites all over my hands, (03/26/2007) By kathy RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I found a few small bites on my ankle. They have two red dots, several around my left ankle. No where else just that area and my boyfriend has no bite marks on him. Is this a sign of bed bugs? (04/04/2007) By oreo RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I too am plagued with the little monster I am trying to thyme as well. But I do have a little relief until they are all gone. It is an insect repellent from Avon. It is called Bug Guard Plus. I have used it for a week now and I have not been bitten. I however and still fighting the bugs but not itching. If you don't have an Avon lady you can order it online at www.youravon.com/tstewart1515 . It will be delivered straight to your door. Good luck. (05/12/2007) By Ms. Stewart RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs OK.....here ya go.....take everything from your living room to your bed room.....buy a $9.00 hand pump sprayer and about $100 in rubbing alcohol, at lease 70%, spray the living room and wait about an hour.....then steam the the carpet thoroughly. Before reentering the items back into the living room inspect well.Spray the furniture as well, rubbing alcohol does not leave residue. Instead of moving infected items to the living room....move bedroom A into bedroom B lather, rinse, repeat. I am still not sure on the effect of the RA on the eggs. I did the same routine for about 2 weeks.....so far we have been clear for about a year. (05/14/2007) By No Longer A Problem RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs USE tea tree oil. We used it at a camp I was working at last year, just put it on the edge of the mattress and I put some on the tip of my socks. It worked like a miracle... no more bites... (05/21/2007) By Tori RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs My 2 year old daughter has been waking up almost every morning with massive welts. We have issues with spiders so I assumed that was the problem and have had pest control out here every 3 weeks but she's still waking up with these bites. I searched online and found pictures of bed bug bites and they are an exact of what she has. The question I have though, is that I don't see any evidence of bed bugs anywhere in her room. Her sheets are always clean, her mattress (which is a crib mattress) has the plastic cover on it and there aren't any tears or holes in it anywhere. But I don't see any fecal matter or blood anywhere on her mattress. Is it or isn't it bed bugs? I'm doing everything I've read for cleaning anyway (washables in the washer or dryer for an excess of 120 degrees, steam cleaning the carpets, vasoline on the bed legs and I'm getting some dematious earth to put along the base boards. I've also heard using a lavender scented soap can help whord them off; is that true? (06/10/2007) By RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs YES I HAVE THEM TOO. CLEMENS PLACE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING. GOT ANY ADVICE FOR ME. (06/18/2007) By SHERIANN RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs squash and vacuuming has to be the best way guys (06/21/2007) By RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs The only way to truly get rid of bed bugs is to have a professional exterminator come and spray for the bugs. In the US, when DDT was used in the 1960s the bugs were basically killed off. Now that DDT is not available, the pests are back. The ONLY proven pesticide that can effectively kill bed bugs is available to those exterminators who are certified to use it. Also, bed bugs are not only in the bed. They are everywhere. They do not jump, but they crawl. You will find them in your carpet, lampshades, in the drawers on your dresser, your sofa, etc. The entire apartment or house should be treated. (06/26/2007) By Guest RE: Dealing with the bites in the meantime Make a paste of activated charcoal(you can get this at healthfood stores) and water and if you want you can add some golden seal(also at healthfood stores-) put it on a bandage and cover your bites. You may need a lot of bandages. This is an inexpensive way to manage the itchiness. the charcoal draws out toxins that cause the itch and the golden seal is an herb that acts as a natural anti-biotic. Fabric bandages allow for movement and stick better and are less likely to allow the charcoal to make a mess once it dries under the bandage. Leave the bandages on overnight. The swelling should reduce dramatically. If they're still very itchy, do this again for the next night/day. But you want to change them daily. This should make the swelling gone and the redness. I hope this will help someone. (07/03/2007) By RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Lots of info here. www.bugspray.com (07/11/2007) By Angel RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs If you don't find a bunch of dead ones around--it's an old wives tale so don't waste your time or money. By sheer accident because I wanted to wash my floor before the exterminators came I found out that Murphy's oil soap kills them on contact. I have lung probs so I just wanted a strong soap that wouldn't cause difficulty for me when sleeping that night. So I mopped up the bedroom floor with 1/2 cup in a gallon of water [after vacuuming] and [gross!] when I rinsed the mop there were DOZENS of bb's in it--even though I hadn't been bitten for about two weeks since I began to vacuum regularly with high power shop vac and sealed all my clothes. Then I soaked down the baseboards with a scrub brush which flushed out more of them from the cracks and killed them. Oil soap may only kill them on contact but it definitely kills them as does hot water/heat. For those of you advocating *against* exterminators--if you haven't lived with these horrid pests you are in no position to give advice. No one's body can heal when one is woken up constantly from these little bloodsucking vampires. I've been chronically exhausted from lack of sleep and that's more damaging than a week of pesticides! (07/17/2007) By RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I did some research on bedbugs and found that rubbing alcohol works a lot better than some commercial stuff. It does help to get rid of the items infested, never mind the cost. Better a good nights sleep than having to live with things. I can live with house mice, roaches, and sometimes a few flies, but dang if I can live with bed bugs! Richard Tymes (09/08/2007) By ricHard Tymes RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I had a serious infestation and searched the web. I found Thwart bed bug spray works and it was shipped overnight. kills on contact I was amazed. I was a little skeptic. They also have a money back guarantee but so far this spray really works. you won't be sorry! I still cant believe how well it works. I thought it was one of those products that are falsely advertised this is the real thing. It is also very safe. I think the main ingredient is tea tree oil (10/10/2007) By Ann RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs I just joined and am not sure how to post a reply, so will give it a try. Cathy asked whether she could have bed bugs and not see them. Yes, you could have these horror bugs, and not see them. If you have been bitten then you may not swell from the bites, not see any bites, and you may not know you have them until there are "tons". I just recently got my house infected---a friend gave me a pocket book and a few weeks later I found a dead bed bug in the book. She already had bed bugs and did not know it. (her apartment now has been fumigated) So I started looking, saw not one thing. three weeks later I had a few bites, was extremely shocked, and have done hours and hours of reading on the internet. I took my bed apart, my bureaus apart, my closet apart, my everything washable into very hot water, and hot dryer. Saw nothing for the longest time. I threw out loads of stuff. I put plastic around my mattress, and sealed it. I bought a hand held steamer, and steam everything possible. I am spraying with rubbing alcohol. Then last week I found two young ones, nymphs. they were extremely small, and colorless, and I would not have seen them in a million years if I had not been cleaning and looking for them carefully. They move very very fast, just zoom, but I managed to squash them both. After much reading and research I am thoroughly convinced that these bugs, especially the nymphs can be carried from home to home quite easily. they usually are active only at night, but if you disturb them they will run away very quickly, and perhaps even hide in a seam in your shoe. They hide in very very small spaces, such as cracks in wood, and seams in linens, quilts, etc. the nymphs being colorless would be very difficult to see. I have just bought some food grade diatomaceous earth and am placing that all over. I understand that they just love hardwood floors (there are usually some tiny tiny cracks in wood floors, and they hide there and lay eggs there. and I have old oak floors all over except in the kitchen. I am placing the diatomaceous earth all over the floor, it is like a fine flour, and it does seep in the cracks. I am very upset as I had a recent heart attack and cannot do much work in cleaning, washing. even worrying. Bed bugs are on the upswing all over, it doesn't matter how clean you are. there still seems to be some shame attached. How can that be, for crying out loud. These things will even hide in radios, telephones, etc. Try and get rid of that, right? You can bring some home from traveling, from a bus, from a second hand store. Be warned. PS: After all the cleaning I got a bite last night!!!!! (10/25/2007) By Lambkin3 RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Forgot to say: Marley asked how long does it take for bed bugs to suffocate once they are sealed in plastic bags. Hundreds of web sites from University entomology departments state that an adult bed bug can live for a year without a meal. (10/25/2007) By Lambkin3 RE: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs OK. - Seal up any cracks or holes that the bed bugs may come or leave through - Everything that you can, wash and dry it on "High". - After the clothes, linens, etc.. are washed, put them into garbage bags and seal them tightly. Keep a couple weeks of clothes in some separate bags, so you will have clothes to wear. Wash those often. The rest, put them in storage or somewhere away from your bug problem. - Everything else you can't wash, place in garbage bags and, just before sealing the bags, spray a bunch of Raid or another powerful bug spray into it. Seal immediately after spraying. - Put those bags away from the infestation. - Pay an exterminator to get rid of them. Despite what you try, you will not completely get rid of bed bugs on your own. When you are looking for an exterminator, get one who will continue to come back every couple of weeks until the problem is gone. This could take months. In other words...They should guarantee their work. - The exterminator should be willing to turn over every piece of furniture to inspect and spray it thoroughly. If they say they don't need to do that, they are wrong! - After your bed has been sprayed, cover the mattress and box spring with those mattress covers. You don't need to throw away your bed! - Take some bowls that can handle lots of weight in them. Fill the inside with very sticky, double sided tape. Place each leg of your bed and couch inside a bowl. Wrap fly paper around each leg of your bed and couch. This should help keep them from climbing up from the floor. - Place your pillows and sheets in the dryer for a half-an-hour or so before going to bed each night. - Don't let your sheets or blankets touch the floor at any time. - Move your bed and couch away from the wall and any night or end tables that they may usually touch. - Make sure the exterminator continues to come several times even after you think there are no bugs left. - Only after several weeks of knowing that your place is bug free, you can start taking the items from the garbage bags and put them back. (11/12/2007) By Martin Report Spam or Abuse