ext_128924 (
chickflick1979.livejournal.com) wrote in
davis_square2009-12-10 10:19 am
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Have bed bugs, am moving - recs or advice?
Hi, I searched through the other pest control tagged posts, but I didn't see anything related to moving out of an infested apartment.
My apartment was sprayed twice for bed bugs, though the other people in the building were not (it's my landlord and his family, and he hasn't done anything - I'm looking into getting my money back from him, too). After 2 sprays, I'm still getting bitten. Meanwhile, I decided to move out, because I thought it was all taken care of, but I wanted to get out of here.
So, does anyone know of a good way to move out of my apartment without taking the bugs with me? I've been looking for companies who will fumigate my items in a truck, or spray the furniture, et al, on my way out. If anybody knows of a good pest control company who might do something like that, please let me know. Or if you have advice on what the procedure should be while moving out, please let me know.
Thanks.
My apartment was sprayed twice for bed bugs, though the other people in the building were not (it's my landlord and his family, and he hasn't done anything - I'm looking into getting my money back from him, too). After 2 sprays, I'm still getting bitten. Meanwhile, I decided to move out, because I thought it was all taken care of, but I wanted to get out of here.
So, does anyone know of a good way to move out of my apartment without taking the bugs with me? I've been looking for companies who will fumigate my items in a truck, or spray the furniture, et al, on my way out. If anybody knows of a good pest control company who might do something like that, please let me know. Or if you have advice on what the procedure should be while moving out, please let me know.
Thanks.
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When I moved I threw my bed and pillows away and hot water washed every piece of bedding, sealing it up in bags right after washing and before putting in the truck. I know it's a big expense to have to get a new bed, but you'll really be much safer that way.
Be careful of things stored in your bedroom area like luggage, purses, etc. What you can hot water wash and dry, definitely do so just before you move it all.
Sadly I'd recommend throwing away anything like stuffed animals that were in the bedroom, as well.
Might we ask where you're living to warn our neighbors of a possible outbreak?
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Using liquid nitrogen might also be effective, but I haven't researched it much.
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Then it would work really well against bedbugs, wouldn't it? :) Clothing, at least, could probably withstand a brief dip.
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I would worry about my health....
Re: I would worry about my health....
Re: I would worry about my health....
Also, have you actually seen the things? Are you absolutely positive it's bed bugs and not something else? I was convinced I was getting bitten in bed, but it turned out to be an allergic reaction, not bed bugs.
Re: I would worry about my health....
Re: I would worry about my health....
Re: I would worry about my health....
Was that the kind of thing you were referring to? I'm not sure what else there is as far as non-chemical treatment for furniture.
As was said above, I'm not sure if it's cold enough outside for putting it outside to work??
Re: I would worry about my health....
Re: I would worry about my health....
Something to consider when moving: rather than using a truck, use a Pod, as suggested earlier. Ask the fumigation company to fumigate the pod. Wash everything in very hot water. Any textile products that you cannot wash in very hot water should probably be discarded (in such a way that curb collectors don't decide to take your old couch and continue the problem!) Possibly consider scrubbing all of your non-textile furniture with bleach, simple green and hot water. Nice wood stuff obviously should be oiled or waxed or something after. Not-so-nice wood stuff will probably survive the scrubbing nicely (veneers tend to be pretty durable).
Good luck! Let us know how this works out for you!
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I wouldn't worry terribly about your electronics or woodish furniture unless there's recesses in the furniture or places they can hide behind. Bed bugs tend to like cloth areas-- make sure you do wash your curtains too. Anything you can't wash/trash make sure to seal in plastic bags if you're dragging it with you.
There's a bed bug map here if you want to add your information: http://www.mappost.org/bedbugcity.php
As far as I can tell, however, if you've chucked your furniture and are washing all your clothes you're pretty much doing everything you can. Good luck!
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I already bought a new bed and couch, it's all being delivered straight to the new place. Clothes, et al are being washed or heat treated with this ridiculous contraption called a Packtite (dude, Dr. Oz says it works! :)
I'm most worried about my wood(ish) furniture, odds and ends, and electronics. And the car (I was on a loooooong road trip this summer, so the car is highly suspect). I'd like to see if I can have everything, including the car, fumigated or treated in some way before I move.
Suggestions?
Thank you, this community has been helpful on many fronts!
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You can have a company come and heat treat your moving van with propane heaters to take care of everything in it. This is a hassle and some things can't be treated this way, but I think this is considered a reliable way to solve the problem. (Bed Bug Pros is one company that comes up when I try to search, but I'm not sure which one she used)
I don't know about cars, though.
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Now I'm going to be super paranoid about bed bugs in the area. I never want to relive that.
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I've gotten rid of all the upholstered stuff, except for one chair that is wood with a pad (arm chair from Ikea). I think I may replace the padded part.
Just concerned about the rest of my stuff (desk, table, TV, etc.) though it sounds from people's experiences like it may be unnecessary to be so concerned.
I'm in the process of seeing if I can have all the stuff either heat treated or fumigated in a van or truck. I was just wondering if anyone had had any experience with the companies around here who do such things.
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We brought our dressers, tv stands and other such items without bringing the bed bugs with us. I was just very sad to have to throw out my awesome mattress/boxspring that was less than 5 years old and very very comfy.
Even though it's been 4 years since living with the bed bugs, I still have my occasional bouts of 'OMG I FELT SOMETHING, ARE THEY BACK' while lying in bed and frantically search my mattress for signs, but thankfully find nothing. It was a little traumatic for me because for a few months it seemed like I was the only one getting bit and no one else in the apartment believed there was anything going on until the infestation got really bad. We all just really learned our lesson about curb shopping, especially in Allston.
I really wish you luck and I hope you don't even have to deal with bed bugs again.
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1) The Bed Bugger Forum (http://bedbugger.com/forum/) is the hands-down most useful site out there. It has access to tons of veteran ex-buggers, scientists, and PCOs (exterminators). They're great about being reassuring and helpful. They're also great about killing off myths, e.g., freezing bugs will get rid of them (rarely), RAID and other sprays will get rid of them (not really), bugs occur because you're dirty (nope).
2) The washing, laundering, and bagging can be a very effective way to control the infestation, but it won't work alone. If you need to do this more or less cheaply and non-toxically, combining that with diatomecious earth and vacuuming can eventually take care of your problem if you're REALLY careful. It's an interesting process, but I haven't experienced it personally.
3) Moving itself: I used the thermal treatment method of bed bug extermination via Pure Heat (http://www.pureheat.com/). Pure Heat uses propane and high temperature (170 degrees) to kill bugs. They'll either do it in your apartment/house or in a moving truck. The latter is the option I chose.
Let's talk logistics: The basics are you rent a truck, pack all your stuff into it, and they attach a tube and a tank of propane, then heat it for 4 hours or so. They can do this at their site, which is cheaper but out in Cape Cod. They can also come to your location. However, you need to get the propane permitting. Somerville is much harder to get permits for than even Boston. Pure Heat can help you, but it's a pain in Somerville from what I've heard.
The advantage of Pure Heat is that it's nontoxic and it's damn effective. We did not move a single bug, as confirmed by both inspection and a bed bug dog. Plus, if you follow their exact instructions,if stuff does get damaged, it'll get replaced. Everything we put in the truck survived except a picture I dropped. Some unfinished wood leaked sap and one drawer on a chest of drawers cracked...not big enough to care about. Pure Heat won't cover electronics and stuff, but two tower computers, a DVD player, the microwave, radios, VCR, etc. all made it through unscathed.
It is expensive. The heat treatment cost $600, not including the cost of the permit and the truck. However, a new bed, rugs, furniture, etc. would have cost a LOT more. They can tent-heat your car, though bugs tend not to live in cars. We solved the potential bug-car problem by sitting the car in the July/August sun...dark interior was enough to cook any bugs.
You can message me off-list and I'll tell you more if you want.
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