To be shitting bricks about this bed bug invasion?

[KnackeredMami]

I know it's probably alarmist media but I'm terrified it's true or if it's going to become true! We'll pick them up on public transport, but if we don't go on public transport they'll still get us in hotels, or from other people who do go to hotels, or from our kids in school. I'm reading they sneak in clothes and bags, hide in wardrobes, beds, behind photo frames, in the carpet, in the sofa, I mean basically everywhere? So how the fuckety fuck would you check if there are any? Check every inch of my house everyday? How would I get rid of them if they did arrive? If they could literally be anywhere and everywhere.

This actually makes my blood run cold!

Bed bugs are not a new thing.

Yanbu. I'm very worried. A good friend of mine brought them back from a holiday in New York a few years ago - and it took a long time and a huge amount of really dedicated effort to get rid of them.

Ha ha. @MrsTerryPratchett one on left arm, one on right arm, one on left thigh.

All after sleeping.

Really wish I hasn't read this post whilst laying in bed.....

I’m right behind you on the ‘don’t go OTT on the fear’. But in fairness to the more worried posters, bed bugs are more than just irritating.

I experienced them many years ago. Eradication took a look time, woodwork had to be stripped out, wardrobes treated/chucked out, wooden bed frames junked, mattresses disposed of. Whenever we thought we’d done enough, back they came. It wasn’t cheap.

That said, maybe the professionals are much better at treating them now.

Hmm. Bedbugs like the torso but arms I've seen a lot. Also not feet/ankles which is mosquitos and their flea friends.

Maybe. Sorry.

I've sent too much time in bedbug places!

Mutant bed bugs lol

The media are making out that it's a new thing. They have been around in London for years. I have known several people who have had them and it is indeed an expensive nightmare to deal with.

Having been driven to near insanity by fleas which never died the thought of bed bugs infesting the house is horrifying.

Look I've had them and yea it was an utter pain to get rid of them but just take precautions. No clothes come into my house without being washed. We spray our bed, spare bed and DS bed monthly. Hoover every little nook you find. They like head boards, seams, zips, holes in skirtings. Trust me you will know if you have them. Our bed had blood stains and DP was bit loads. I had the odd bite. DS thankfully avoided them x

I’ve had them three times, living in London and once in an Airbnb abroad. It’s possible to deal with especially if the infestation is NEW meaning only a small amount of bugs (first time, I moved into a house share that already had a bad infestation 🤮). They’re not pleasant but you can deal with them, they won’t kill you. You might need to boil wash sheets and if they’re bedded in (excuse the pun) get a new bed. As long as you have a good hoover to capture the eggs you’ll be fine.

😁

There was a man on the radio the other day from a ‘bed bug elimination company’ he spoke for 15 minutes about it, about staying calm, having a plan, and NOTHING about how to actually get rid of the bastards!!!

I remember people saying when head-lice was in the school ‘oh don’t use chemicals‘, I was thinking I would use ANYTHING that worked. Then I watched the Shawshank Redemption and they were throwing this burning powder on the new prisoners to kill any lice, and all I was thinking was where can I some of that??

These resilient type creatures have survived hundreds of years and I will do whatever it takes to get rid of them, if I knew what that was!
Turned out with the head lice it was endless combing for weeks but everyone needs to be doing the same thing.

Yes.

I have been worried about bed bugs for over 10 years since I read about them and how much is costs to get rid of them and the effort it takes.

I have been checking for them every time I stay away from home and I don't sit down on public transport.

My husband used to think I was mad and found it funny. He doesn't find it so funny now.

The best thing you can do is be aware of them. There are good guides on how to spot bedbugs on mattresses etc so make sure you check when you change your bedsheets.

If you catch them early then it is much easier to deal with them.

Being aware is key.

That’s what the guy on the radio kept saying. But what do you actually do if you are ‘aware of them’???

Is there a nutty gritty mattress comb? Hedrin once (Bedrin?)

Mayonnaise?

It isn't just annoying. It can cost thousands to get rid of them because you will need to buy new mattresses, beds etc.

You might need to replace your carpets and then there is the cost of the pest controller which can be hundreds or thousands.

People need to be aware and catch them early.

I'm a bit concerned, and checked the mattresses in the air BnB we stayed in at the weekend which I wouldn't usually do.

Earlier this year we thought we had woodworm and that was stressful af, I don't think bedbugs would be quite as bad. (We actually had carpet beetles 🤢).

You have to call a pest controller. They will heat your house up to kill them.

I’m going to Paris in half term and am vaguely worried about it..:. am planning to buy spray and spray everything before we come home and hope for the best 😬

Great so heat kills them? Now we are getting somewhere!

You do all this still even though you have got rid of them?

What do you mean that no unwashed clothes come in to your house?

You don't have to get rid of furniture and carpets, you just need to treat everything. It's actually possible to do it yourself (I did) by repeatedly cleaning and hoovering, but you have to do it every day to catch them at different stages of the lifecycle and it's bloody knackering - especially if you aren't sleeping properly because you keep thinking you can feel them biting you!

Bedding and towels always get washed at 60