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In this Discussion
- Amgr1992 March 2018
- Ammit March 2018
- CircleSRanch March 2018
- ConfluenceFarms March 2018
- FallenShadows714 March 2018
- Haltanny March 2018
- JheydaStables March 2018
- squeakerblue March 2018
- supersarah March 2018
- Xceptional March 2018
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Completely Paranoid Rant
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I have to rant about this somewhere.
So, the past few weeks I have noticed that, whenever I am on the futon in my living room, (and most days of the week, that's where I sleep.) I keep getting bit by something; my arms, hips, and ankles are under attack. At times, I swear I feel like something is crawling across me. I know for a while we had a flea problem with the cat, but I don't think it's fleas.
This only happens on the one futon. Nowhere else in the entire house.
I've done research and, of course, I am horrified to read that it seems to match up with the dreaded bed bugs. The problem is that I have searched thoroughly for signs of them and cannot find anything at all, other than the bites on me.
I want to call in some exterminator to see if I have them, but of course that'll get expensive and I can't exactly go somewhere for a few days to use a fogger.
So I'm at my wit's end here, tired of being bitten and tired of itching. I'm completely paranoid about what it is and what I can do, or can afford to do.
Ugh, I don't handle stress too well. -
Is it winter with freezing temps where you live? Drag the whole thing outside and let it freeze as much as possible.
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Need to contact me? Read this first.
http://www.huntandjump.com/forum/discussion/3/how-to-get-help-from-an-administrator -
Sadly, it's spring with temps that keep rising. I think the coldest it's been recently is 35 or so
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Unfortunately cold does not kill bed bugs, it makes them go dorment. Heat does. Alcohol does. Chemicals do. They are extremely hard to get rid of, but you can keep them at bay until you can afford an exterminator. Get rid of any infected furniture. High % rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Spray the baseboards, around outlets, in corners, around vents. Any and all cracks and crevices. After it dries, vacuum everything and dump in a bag and throw out. Repeat every few weeks or as needed.
Raid has a spay that works for a bit. Do the same thing as I said with the alcohol with the spray. You can cut down on them enough to not be itching while you try to save up for an exterminator.
But the best bet is get rid of any infected furniture ASAP and get an exterminator.#28036 -
Good deep freeze does kill them. But only a good strong freeze, not just cold. We have lots of Scandinavian and Canadian members who have the temps to do it.
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Need to contact me? Read this first.
http://www.huntandjump.com/forum/discussion/3/how-to-get-help-from-an-administratorThanked by 1RubyJoFarm -
@Haltanny, I'll have to try those options. I'm looking to replace this futon in the first place so now is as good a time as any.
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If it's hives, it's unusual for me. It's not impossible, though. If I knew how to upload an image from the phone I would to give an idea.
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Jheydastables, I would be freaking out too :(, I think maybe if I had tried all the above advice, I would try to video it, so I knew it wasn't hives and if it is a critter I could get the best extermination tactic for that bug. It's maybe ants.ID #21047
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@supersarah, until I get paid tomorrow, I read something about tea tree oil in with water in a spray bottle can help so you can bet I'm trying that, too, until I have enough to try the next step of affordable stuff
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Ok, bed bug bites will be in groups of 2 or 3 and itch like a son of a gun. Foggers won’t do a darn thing either, best bet is go to Walmart and in their area where raid and such is there should be a yellow spray can (they also have powder and other assorted things) that work pretty well. I can’t remember the name of the product, but it’s yellow and black. A friend in college somehow got them in her apartment, it was awful. Wash everything that touched the futon in hot hot water and dry as hot as you can for at least an hour, two is better. Anything that can’t be washed, get it out of the house.
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It’s odd if it was bed bugs they haven’t spread, they will cling to your clothes/blankets and travel to other areas of the house. Also if the futon is on carpet they are most likely in the carpet.
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Ok just some cheering up but my papa always told me "Don't let the bed bugs bite.. If they do, bite them back. Errr" lol idk I think it's funny and cuteGoal: Twins that paper Star and Gold
ID: 38544 -
Well, update. I did a very thorough inspection of the futon, reaching places I couldn't before. I found two in a very hard to reach crevice. I vacuumed up , dumped out, and removed the trash bag from the house. I then hauled the futon outside and away. I've moved everything that touched the futon into hot water for now. Once it soaks, I'll be tossing it all in the dryer. After that, I'm just plain washing everything I can.
I think I caught it early, at least. I'm still trying to figure out how they got here but honestly, I couldn't even begin to guess. -
@FallenShadows714, I'll have to look for the yellow can of stuff tomorrow.
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@JheydaStables A friend of mine used Ortho Home Defense. It comes in a gallon jug with a spray nozzle attached. It doesn't say it is for Bedbugs, but she said that was all the store had at the time. She sprayed all the base boards, the seams of the mattress and box spring, the bed frame, and all the nooks and cranny's. They washed all the bedding and vacuumed everything they could.
It has been I think over a year and they haven't had any more problems. Ortho now makes a spray for Bedbugs. She thinks they got theirs from the Laundromat when their washer was broke. -
Mix Canning/pickling salt with baking soda (1 to 1 mix) and put it all over your carpets, and brush it in with a broom. Make sure it's well covered in the mix. Let it sit for 3 days and vacuum. It will dry out and cut up any bugs in the carpet. Repeat at least once. Diatomaceous earth does the same thing, but keep your pets away from it.
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Thank you guys. You not only put me more at ease about the situation, since I have never had to deal with bed bugs at all before. But you also gave me plenty of avenues to try to get rid of them. I seriously appreciate it!
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Steam. I can't stress this enough. Steam clean everything you can. All furniture. And get into places you wouldn't normally get. Holes in your walls? Pack them with spackle.Thanked by 1Ammit
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If you or a family member have been at a hotel or traveling via rented car/bus in the last few months, they likely came from there. It would be a good idea to call that location, and give them the room number/car/bus you were on so they can attack them there.
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@Amgr1992, have any advice on the multitude of stuffed animals my kids have? Should I wash them, or at least the ones I can? I'm not entirely certain how to go about that part.
@squeakerblue, we don't get out much at all. In the past few weeks, I have only gone to two friends' houses and my parents' place. I have had one family stop by my house to inquire about daycare services.
Other than that, I drop a preschooler off at his school and the significant other goes to his job -
The stuffed animals: all the ones that can be washed need to be washed just like everything else. Any that can’t, and this sounds rough for the kids but it’s the only way, put them in a trash bag, seal off the bag, and put it in a big tote like you get at Walmart or target. Store the tote for at least 8 months, preferably a year. They can go dormant and survive without feeding for up to 6 months, and if any laid eggs that’s what the extra 6 months is for.
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You can literally pick them up anywhere right now, I remember a story on the news about a year ago that they are getting worse. They had a photo of one on a shirt in target or a similar store. They cling to peoples clothes when they leave their house and just kinda drop wherever.
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@FallenShadows714
They have more than enough toys that they won't notice if some are gone for a while. -
@JheydaStables Perfect, then that’s the route I recommend going. I wish you all the luck getting rid of them :)
Edit to add: get rid of the bugs, not the toys -
@FallenShadows714,
Lol to be fair, if some of the toys *do* disappear forever it's no big loss xD
I just got back from the store. Picked up spray to use in the cracks of everything, detector/traps to put out as well. Tomorrow I'll be putting the salt/baking soda mix down as well. I figured spacing it out slightly might not be a bad idea.
I'm going all out in the hopes I don't have to go the exterminator route -
I'd bag them all, because unless you can set them in REALLY high heat, it will not kill them. Personally I'd get those vacuum seal bags, throw them in there, suck all the air out and store for a year. Then wash.
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My friend was able to get rid of them without needing an exterminator. It took more work, but wound up cheaper in the long run. Best of luck to you, feel free to PM me anytime and I’ll offer any other advice I remember
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@Amgr1992, well, considering a short while ago, I found out my dryer won't run, that is the route I'll be going now. I swear my luck has bad timing lol
@FallenShadows714, I'll definitely keep you in mind in case I come up with any more advice! You've (and everyone else, for that matter) been incredibly helpful already -
I am so sorry this is happening to you. I've been there, we threw out the couch, one of the beads which is where they came from, I stupidly put my bedding on the bed and they transferred to the couch, all the bedding that came in contact with both and did exactly as I suggested for the stuffed animals as none of my collection can be dried. Good luck!
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Thank you again!
I ended up with six trashbags of stuffed animals lol