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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we can leave bed bugs here

75 replies

eco1636 · 26/08/2018 20:31

Been in a mobile home for 2 nights and last night I woke up feeling bites, now I’ve got some classic marks of bed bugs on my hip and side. About 8 bites in a row.

I spoke to the manager of the home and she had a good look around the bed etc and said there are no signs. She took me seriously but said she really didn’t think it was.

We’re leavong tomorrow, Aibu to think if these are bed bugs I can avoid taking them back with us? We are in our car and have loads of clobber, naturally. Any tips?

OP posts:
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5
Original poster
eco1636 · 26/08/2018 22:34

Not shingles I felt the biting in the night and they itch like mad

OP posts:
mumsastudent · 26/08/2018 22:34

blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/bedbug-revival-2011-what-you-need-to-know/ they mention freezing to! & using hairspray to deter the little @@@@

ivegotthisyeah · 26/08/2018 22:34

I don't think it's Bb either as I have had them twice once backpacking and once in a five star hotel in the lakes. I now have a fear of them and couldn't stay in a hotel etc for a good few years. If it's Bb you would have more bites and in straight lines very very itchy and sore. I washed and tumbled dried everything that was in the hotel heat kills them or a deep freeze. I always check now pull mattress corner down where the Seam joins they love it in there, also love wood so slat bed lift up the slats and check underneath. Hope it isn't Shock

IStillDrinkCava · 26/08/2018 22:38

Flea bites are not distinguishable from bed bug bites from the look of the bite. Fleas do bite in lines too. And in either case, I think some people react and some don't. We had an awful cat flea infestation in our student house. I had over 400 bites despite sleeping with leggings tucked into socks etc,, but my housemates were totally unaffected.

Shingles is worth considering though, if it's sensitive/tingly.

esk1mo · 26/08/2018 22:39

i do think its bed bugs. but either way whatever it is you’ll have to boil wash/freezer/fumigate just to be on the safe side Sad

they dont always bite in a line btw, they can be in random places. when i stayed in a place that had them they would bite on side of hip or ankles

Cardiganandcuppa · 26/08/2018 22:46

This thread is making me want to cry and it’s not me!
So sorry you’ve had this OP!

Wallywobbles · 26/08/2018 22:55

Put a very hot spoon on the bites to kill the toxins that make them itch. Needs to be 50c+. Tea spoon from your hot tea would be good.

Diatomaceous earth kills them too

www.diatomaceousearth.com/blogs/learning-center/diatomaceous-earth-natural-bed-bug-control

mumsastudent · 26/08/2018 22:58

I have this image of op as a Ghost (bedbug) buster complete with uniform & big flame gun (my sympathy -shudder!)

KnotsInMay · 26/08/2018 23:00

If there are bed bugs you will see them if you turn the light on in tne night and look in the sheets.

I don’t think the dead black thing is a bed bug.

Bed bugs are very small and reddy brown. A bit shiny. Like teeny round cockroaches. Younger ones are more long in shape and more transparent.

DisneyMillie · 26/08/2018 23:01

My now dh brought bed bugs back to his house from a trip abroad (he didn’t react to the bites - I did when I stayed over). They were quite obvious at his - think small black ladybird like). We hot washed everything that could be and bagged everything else in the garage for a long time - as they can live a year without eating in the correct environment.

I agree with a previous poster that the bites itched like nothing I’d known and felt like they burned in hot water.

We got his bedroom professionally treated and chucked out the bed and linen.

(He also moved in with me while it was being done and never went back! But we know the people he sold to and they’ve not had issues so I think it’s fairly easily treatable if you do get them)

PrimalLass · 26/08/2018 23:20

We had them badly years ago - from suitcases scored under the bed. We were moving house anyway and ditched the mattress and some clothes. That seemed to do the trick.

Rainbunny · 26/08/2018 23:45

This is my worst fear as someone who likes to travel. As others have suggested, a scorched earth approach now, which may seem like you're wasting money could save you much more money and annoyance in the long run.

Treat them as though you know for sure they are bedbugs and when you leave, pack your luggage and put your luggage inside a couple of large bin liners and use tape (duct tape is good) to seal the bin liners. When you get home, do not bring the luggage inside, but if possible open the luggage out on the drive and put clothes in fresh bin bags to wash on the hottest wash and tumble dry afterwards (If you have clothing items that won't survive this, in theory perhaps you could keep some delicate items in a different bin bag and get them dry cleaned as one would think the chemicals involved would kill any bugs). Inspect any other items that are in your luggage - toiletry bags etc for bugs. Next, chuck your luggage away completely at this point (still cheaper than the alternative scenario!) Lastly, get changed out of the clothes you travelled home in - probably shouldn't do this bit on your driveway... Grin and quickly throw them into the hot wash as well. Also leave any shoes that could harbour tiny hidden bugs (trainers for example) outside or place in a bag and put in the freezer. Personally I trust the hot wash method better over the freezer idea as I have a sneaking suspicion the little bastards might survive a spell in the freezer.

After all that malarkey, be vigilant and keep your fingers crossed!

FrankiesKnuckle · 27/08/2018 11:02

How's things this morning @eco1636?

ILoveAllRainbows · 27/08/2018 13:13

If you have clothing items that won't survive this, in theory perhaps you could keep some delicate items in a different bin bag and get them dry cleaned as one would think the chemicals involved would kill any bugs

Please don't take anything to the dry cleaners as you could cause an outbreak there.

Original poster
eco1636 · 27/08/2018 13:40

Hi - we’ve packed everything in bin bags and sealed for the roof box.
I’m going to unload on the drive and wash it all and also try to wash the Thule bags somehow.
The holiday co have been informed and I think some refund will be in order as we didn’t get to sleep in the bed last night.

Rep admitted they had had them in another caravan earlier in this year! But she doesn’t see how they could have moved.....

OP posts:
FrankiesKnuckle · 27/08/2018 14:01

Probably came from someone else who also used your van.

Could you steam jet the roof bags? Or freeze?

Original poster
eco1636 · 27/08/2018 14:15

I have a steamer for upright ironing so can, but I feel I’d miss bits.

Worst thing is, they knew about them but came along with high chair and baby bath / they are just going to check the next people on regardless.

OP posts:
purplelila2 · 27/08/2018 14:20

OP your pic looks like a flea bite

Spam88 · 27/08/2018 14:51

You don't feel bed bug bites, they object you with local anaesthetic as they feed so that you can't feel anything (little bastards). I wouldn't say you definitely had them OP, but probably best to err on the side of caution. Make sure you know the signs to look out for as well so if you do see any indication that you've brought them back then you can get pest control in quickly.

KnotsInMay · 27/08/2018 18:33

“Rep admitted they had had them in another caravan earlier in this year! But she doesn’t see how they could have moved.....”

Cleaners moving from van to van with bundles of laundry, dusters, swapping cushions around, loads of ways. Both vans could have been occupied by the same infested family, or friends who went from van to van.

Or maybe 2 vans with independent infestations.

KnotsInMay · 27/08/2018 18:34

However: bites do not equal bed bugs. And you haven’t really seen definite signs of bugs themselves Confused

KnotsInMay · 27/08/2018 18:36

When I had bed bug bites they didn’t come up for about 3 days.

We discovered them because DH felt them on him and biting, though.

SonnyEguen · 11/04/2022 06:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Sunbird24 · 11/04/2022 07:06

Probably a bit late as the thread is 4 years old…

TheCatterall · 11/04/2022 11:53

They look like flea bites not bed bug bites. Had both in past when travelling.

The fleas could have been brought in by previous folks staying.

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