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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bed bug experts??? Help

36 replies

jsweetpea1234 · 23/08/2021 20:08

Posted here for traffic

A few weeks ago I noticed itchy spots on my legs and didn't think anything of it however since then I have loads of them everywhere and I am convinced it's bed bugs.

I've spent hours researching what to do and how to find them but can't see anything!!
I have pest control come to spray a treatment all through house on the floors mainly as it's all I could afford.

I have washed bedding several times on 60 including the actual duvet and pillows etc. I took the mattress off and all the slats in my bed, steamed everywhere, steamed mattress, chucked the suitcases from underneath my bed, used a spray on everything, emptied my drawers, bagged everything up to wash. Dusted DE everywhere. Smoke bombed all rooms and left for 20 hours.

I have since had bites and I am exhausted from not sleeping

Has anybody any advise I am going crazy over this????? Im also scared my DD will start getting bites that will terrify me. I cannot afford for professional treatment it's so expensive.

Deeply regretting my one night stay in a hotel in The city it has turned my life upside down!!!!!

HELP

OP posts:
dontjudgeabook · 23/08/2021 20:18

Sorry if I sound stupid but why are you convinced it's bed bugs if you haven't actually seen/got evidence that it is?

You could be allergic to something, or could it be fleas?

inigomontoyahwillcox · 23/08/2021 20:19

Are they just on your legs? Is so it may suggest fleas rather than bed bugs.

Aprilx · 23/08/2021 20:20

What has a one night stay in a hotel in the city got to do with it? Confused

Original poster
JSweetpea1234 · 23/08/2021 20:21

@dontjudgeabook

Sorry if I sound stupid but why are you convinced it's bed bugs if you haven't actually seen/got evidence that it is?

You could be allergic to something, or could it be fleas?

I'm convinced because the bites I have look exactly like them online. They are in twos and threes sometimes more which is apparently the tell tale sign! I don't have any pets and apparently you can see fleas jumping and I've seen zilch!!! X
OP posts:
tootiredtobother · 23/08/2021 20:22

bed bugs live in hotels too ! and re quite happy to come home with you

Original poster
JSweetpea1234 · 23/08/2021 20:23

@Aprilx

What has a one night stay in a hotel in the city got to do with it? Confused
It's the only place I can think of where I would have got them. They don't just randomly appear they come through travel and that's the only place I've travelled
OP posts:
SearchingTheSkies · 23/08/2021 20:24

When I suspected bed bugs, I asked a local pest control guy to visit the house to see if I was right and to quote for treatment. He thoroughly inspected the bedrooms and said there was no sign at all and it was probably fleas. He did not charge me anything for this visit, so it might be worth asking for just an inspection first so you know exactly what you're dealing with.

54321nought · 23/08/2021 20:24

IF you are sure its bed bugs...

contact the council and ask for advice

Washing bedclothes doesn't make any difference - chuck it all out, and replace with cheap, temporary stuff, and be prepared to chuck all that out later as well.

Iron all bed linen with a hot iron, especially seems

Throw away clutter

Throw away anything in draws under the bed

Throw away any books on cases or shelves near the bed

In a severe infestation, you will have to throw away carpet and wall paper - but yours can't be tha bad, or you would be seeing them

They are slow, and clumsy, you can feel them bite, its like a tickle. Not like fleas and mozzies, which you can't feel bite you

You can catch them on cellotape if you throw back the covers and switch the light on with cellotape in your hand the moment you feel them bite - then you will know for sure.

But it has to be pest control. Nothing sold to the public will shift them

gamerchick · 23/08/2021 20:25

Can you take a photo? Just on the legs say fleas to me. You can pick those buggers up anywhere as well.

LadyFannyButton · 23/08/2021 20:26

I was bitten by bed bugs when I stayed in a hostel.
They bite in a line, mine were on my torso, another girl had them on her arms. If they aren’t in a line, my understanding is, they won’t be bed bugs.

If you were at a hotel, what did you do with the bag you took your clothes in? Presumably they could have been carried back in that so could still be there?

The only bites I’ve had lots of on my legs were flea bites (infested student house)

You could see if your local council do a pest control service
www.gov.uk/pest-control

54321nought · 23/08/2021 20:27

I'm convinced because the bites I have look exactly like them online. They are in twos and threes sometimes more which is apparently the tell tale sign!
I don't have any pets and apparently you can see fleas jumping and I've seen zilch!!! X

fleas bite in lines and clumps too, and bed bugs are easier to see than fleas

It really might just be fleas

Parky04 · 23/08/2021 20:28

If it is bed bugs you will find their faeces on the bed sheets. You will also notice blood on the sheets as you would have killed them during the night after they have fed on you. If it is bed bugs, they are a nightmare to get rid of.

purpletrains · 23/08/2021 20:28

Ok. I had them years ago. This is what I remember

They leave black spots on the bedding. Inky spots. Also blood stains.

I did not have bite marks. No itching

You can see them. Theyre quite big. Bigger than ants

If you have them, you would definitely know

Original poster
JSweetpea1234 · 23/08/2021 20:28

@54321nought

IF you are sure its bed bugs...

contact the council and ask for advice

Washing bedclothes doesn't make any difference - chuck it all out, and replace with cheap, temporary stuff, and be prepared to chuck all that out later as well.

Iron all bed linen with a hot iron, especially seems

Throw away clutter

Throw away anything in draws under the bed

Throw away any books on cases or shelves near the bed

In a severe infestation, you will have to throw away carpet and wall paper - but yours can't be tha bad, or you would be seeing them

They are slow, and clumsy, you can feel them bite, its like a tickle. Not like fleas and mozzies, which you can't feel bite you

You can catch them on cellotape if you throw back the covers and switch the light on with cellotape in your hand the moment you feel them bite - then you will know for sure.

But it has to be pest control. Nothing sold to the public will shift them

Thank you. Didn't think I would need to throw away bedding and books but I will try anything.

I did call the council pest control department when i first suspected but due to covid they are only dealing with rodents not bugs etc!

I used another company who came and he looked at bed and couldn't see anything but he didn't do a proper look I wasn't convinced.

Maybe I should put sellotape around the bed legs too

OP posts:
nonevernotever · 23/08/2021 20:30

Have you checked any seams on the mattress (they apparently like to hide in the folded bit) and on any upholstered furniture? I think you've tried most of the self help things possible, and it will be no consolation to you hear that this is part of a global resurgence. www.independent.co.uk/life-style/how-spot-bedbugs-and-get-rid-them-a8124251.html The only other thing I can suggest is asking your local council environmental health department for help.

dontjudgeabook · 23/08/2021 20:30

When i was a lot younger, a friend of mine lived with several cats and she always had flea bites in 3s on her ankles mainly.
Maybe you have hedgehogs or cats come into your garden and they're in your grass and bitten you when you've been outside? Or have you been to anyone's houses with pets? Clutching at straws I know, but I don't think it's very safe to be spraying and smoke bombing your house with children when you're not certain!

Original poster
JSweetpea1234 · 23/08/2021 20:36

Picture attached of bites. I have them everywhere apart from face

I am also pregnant but very early. Part of me is wanting to believe its 'pruigo of pregnancy' but I would have been 4 weeks when they started to appear so that is just wishful thinking Sad

Bed bug experts??? Help
OP posts:
jewel1968 · 23/08/2021 20:48

I had pest control treat two rooms and they came back. Pest control refused to do a return visit. So we bought a steamer and steamed everything. It worked. But I think the combination of pesticides and steam is what did it. We were meticulous with the steam - every square inch.

GreatBritishBummertime · 23/08/2021 21:06

Don't spray until you have evidence. Bites could be anything, and spraying isn't always the best treatment anyway. Pest control can look for signs, but no decent company would treat without evidence.

Try and keep your room clutter free and wash clothes at 60, but otherwise change nothing

Look in between bed slats for feaces, it looks like little black biro marks.

You can buy passive monitors which bedbugs love to harbour in for peace of mind

www.bed-bugs.co.uk/product/passive-bed-bug-monitors/

GreatBritishBummertime · 23/08/2021 21:10

Didn't think I would need to throw away bedding and books but I will try anything.

Do not to this, it's not needed. If you have them you'll need pest control and they will not ask you to bin a thing

GreatBritishBummertime · 23/08/2021 21:11

If you did want to DIY treat it get Cimexa.

I'm stepping away now Grin

Looubylou · 23/08/2021 21:26

Do you actually have bites in rows, or blood and black marks on sheets/ mattress/ base of bed? Or are you just convinced because you have bites? I would stop all treatments and observe for this evidence, before doing anything else. Stop reading about bedbugs, more reading won't help. Don't get the same pest control company back - they shouldn't have done anything if they found no evidence. The experts do find the evidence if they are there. Could you be getting bitten outside? Do you or anyone you visit have pets?

AntiSocialDistancer · 23/08/2021 21:33

Pics of your bites? Where are they?

Fleas bite lower legs. Eggs can lay dormant for months.

You can leave bowls of water out for fleas I think? See if they jump in?

Bedbugs - have you found any tiny red spots on the bedding, a tell tale sign.

jewel1968 · 23/08/2021 23:07

Would also suggest using plain white bedding as you will see their telltale marks way easier.

spacecadet · 23/08/2021 23:24

Easiest way to check for fleas is to spray your mattress with white vinegar - they jump up straight away. If it's bed bugs you've got a tougher job on your hands to get rid of them but meticulously binbagging everything in the room, including the clothes you're wearing right now and all objects in the room so you have a totally clear surface ready for the fumigation team is the way to go. I've had to deal with them a few times now - the worst was when one got into my tights and was biting my foot - so don't even take a risk with shoes. But I lived to tell the tale!