Bed bugs!! (floor, fleas, pool, heat)

[iGlenn]

It's become apparent over the past 2 days that my place is infested with bed bugs. While researching ways to get rid of these new un-welcomed guests I've heard that some people have had success with electromagnetic pest repellents. I'd rather try one of these pest repellents first before I spend hundreds of dollars on a professional.

Is it possible that one of these electromagnetic pest repellents might actually work to get rid of bed bugs?

[Hopes]

I'm TERRIFIED of getting bed bugs. It freaks me out that they're making a come back in the states. My coworkers travel all the time and we always know when they've been in a hotel with bed bugs. They get the bites all over them. I'm afraid they're going to bring them to the office via their laptop bags and then I'll take them home via my purse. Freaks me out.

As you can well imagine, these developments at work had prompted me to research bed bugs. I HIGHLY recommend that you dont' cut corners on the housekeeping---even if you try this new product. You really need to vacume and launder everything. Keep all clutter out of the room---this includes dirty laundry. Move the bed away from the walls, and remove bedskirts from the bed. Don't let any covers touch the floor. These buggers can only climb. Put each leg of your bed into a bowl, dish, or cup of mineral oil.

Then keep vaccuming regularly. Wash your bedding constantly. Vacuum your mattress, the frame, the corners of your floor and woodwork. It's statistically proven that bed bugs infest cluttered environments more than not. When I read that, I went overboard in making sure my bedrooms were clutter free. Get all the cutter out so you can easily vacuum constantly.

Oh, every time you vacuum, finish by vacuuming up 1/4 cup of talc or cornstarch. Apparently that will make the ones in the vacuum cleaner suffocate. Then remove and SEAL the vacuum cleaner bag into a plastic bag after every vacuuming. Throw away in your outside garbage.

It seems they're very hard to get rid of. If I were you, I'd be doing the housekeeping tasks AND spending money on an exterminator. You really don't want these things to take hold in your house while you play around with various products.

[Coldjensens]

Just spread them around. They will get around anyway and the sooner everyone gets them, the sooner products will become widely available to eliminate them. Bring your sheets to work and put them in the break room.

[ayannaaaliyah]

We purchased this chemical (Suspend SC) from a pool store which was recommended to spray our lawn for insects, fleas and other pests. Well the other day i was just reading through the label and apparently it's used as a treatment for bedbugs also.

Never had bedbugs, not sure if it'll work but it sure worked for our lawn and i used it right outside of my patio door for bugs that tend to attract to the lights, however, since spraying the screen and perimeter of the patio - no bugs/insects.

[Opkl]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Just spread them around. They will get around anyway and the sooner everyone gets them, the sooner products will become widely available to eliminate them. Bring your sheets to work and put them in the break room.

Hopes would go crazy if she saw your post.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Opkl

Hopes would go crazy if she saw your post.

I saw it. There's already a chemical that kills them----DDT. It was sprayed to kill roaches, but it killed bed bugs too. As a result, bed bugs were inadvertently eradicated from the United States. However, roach motels eliminated the need to spray pesticides for roaches and increased international travel have brought bed bugs back into the US at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, DDT is really dangerous stuff. It's banned almost worldwide. I would seriously reconsider using any spray pesticides as an amature. Serious pesticides should be left to the professionals---especially if you have children and pets.

As for joking about my not wanting bed bugs, all I can say is 'wait until you get them' before you start making fun. I'm sure the OP isn't very happy dealing with them. This is the type of infestion that hurts. I see the misery my coworkers go through. They have bites all over them and they're clawing at their skin. Not only is it uncomfortable, but I'm sure it's downright embarrasing to have bed bug bites all over their faces. If you saw what people go through with a bed bug infestation, you wouldn't be making fun of people who are concerned.

[jctx]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Just spread them around. They will get around anyway and the sooner everyone gets them, the sooner products will become widely available to eliminate them. Bring your sheets to work and put them in the break room.

OMG I almost fell out of my chair laughing!!!!
...sad thing is, there is actually truth to this...

[jctx]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I saw it. There's already a chemical that kills them----DDT. It was sprayed to kill roaches, but it killed bed bugs too. As a result, bed bugs were inadvertently eradicated from the United States. However, roach motels eliminated the need to spray pesticides for roaches and increased international travel have brought bed bugs back into the US at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, DDT is really dangerous stuff. It's banned almost worldwide. I would seriously reconsider using any spray pesticides as an amature. Serious pesticides should be left to the professionals---especially if you have children and pets.

As for joking about my not wanting bed bugs, all I can say is 'wait until you get them' before you start making fun. I'm sure the OP isn't very happy dealing with them. This is the type of infestion that hurts. I see the misery my coworkers go through. They have bites all over them and they're clawing at their skin. Not only is it uncomfortable, but I'm sure it's downright embarrasing to have bed bug bites all over their faces. If you saw what people go through with a bed bug infestation, you wouldn't be making fun of people who are concerned.

I hear you hopes. I dont think that poster meant any harm. I am getting itchy just thinking of this and images of what I'd do are racing through my mind. I think I would flee my home, have a contents sale, and re-establish somewhere else! You mentioned clutter and while I think there is some measure of order to my bedroom, I would guess the bugs would love it in there. I am very casual about changing the bedding, no rush or fear. Now? I want to strip the bed and do all of the things you've mentioned and we dont even have a problem. I'm really grossed out reading about this...Your co-workers might get relief from Calamine lotion, and from sprinkling baking soda into bathwater soaks. Bugs? Bug professionals, I say.

[iGlenn]

I couldn't even fall asleep last night till 4 am. Spent the whole night cleaning and I even killed a few of those buggers. I'm going to buy a electromagnetic pest repellent today, and clean everything again. Fortunately they haven't started gnawing on my face and only got my arms and legs so far.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by jctx

I think I would flee my home, have a contents sale, and re-establish somewhere else!

The expense freaks me out too. Home contents can't be sold because that would spread the bed bugs elsewhere. Some difficult infestations have caused people to throw out all of their mattresses, sometimes suffed furniture, and on occassion people need to get rid of even their wood furniture. I know I can't afford that!

An entire neighborhood can become infested too. There was a story in the local newspaper about an entire block of row houses having all of their mattresses out for the garbage on the same garbage day. An entire block!

You should see the instructions given to people who work in homes as social workers and repairmen: wear disposable booties and overalls --- take everything off and seal in plastic bag for disposal --- check entire body and kill any visible bed bugs --- change clothing prior to entering own home with prior clothing sealed in bag --- take bag directly to the laundry.

The way to avoid bringing them home from a hotel is to not put your luggage on the floor, bed, or any furniture. Your supposed to hang it up on the shower curtain rod. They apparently travel from place to place by hiding inside baggage, purses, laptop bags, etc. Seal everything in plastic before returning home and wash all clothing immediately. Leave suit case outside and vacuum thoroughly, then put in the truck of car so the heat from the sun can kill any remaining bugs.

It's just madness. Apparently they are very difficult to eliminate.

Originally Posted by iGlenn

I couldn't even fall asleep last night till 4 am. Spent the whole night cleaning and I even killed a few of those buggers. I'm going to buy a electromagnetic pest repellent today, and clean everything again. Fortunately they haven't started gnawing on my face and only got my arms and legs so far.

I don't know how bad your infestation is---if it's in the early stages or not. I've read articles where the bed was described as appearing to be moving. That's how many bedbugs a person can have. It doesn't sound like yours are that bad yet. I know when infestions are bad, people need to pull the drawers out of their furniture and vacuum the inside and outside of the drawers and the actual furniture too. If I were faced with my first realization that I had bed bugs, I'd be doing that from the start too. I'd take all the clean clothes out of the drawers and throw them into the dryer too.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I know you want to save money and buy electromagnetic pest repellent to avoid professional expense, but the expense of having to replace all of your furniture is far greater. I can't imagine a REPELLENT doing the job. A repellent doesn't kill. It just repels. And your problem isn't over if they just move to the neighbor's house. You want to KILL these buggers, not move them down the street.