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!

I had them years ago in a rental.

Yes they are a pain to get rid of but I did it myself with a couple of bug bombs, spray and a steamer - no professionals involved. I remember when I was searching online to find out what was biting me (typical 3-in-a-row bites) I was horrified when I realised it was BB. I phoned my mum in a complete panic. Info online makes them sound indestructible, like little armoured ninjas - in hindsight they weren't that bad to get rid of, no worse than fleas really - just a lot of washing and panic cleaning which is always a pain!

Don't worry, like most things, if it happens you will cope 🤷🏻‍♀️

everywhere!

I was bitten by bed bugs years ago on a London bus in the Harrow area. They’ve been around for ages gross little blighters. The bites are very itchy incidentally.

I don't think its alarmist if you use London / London bound public transport.

They're reputedly incredibly difficult to get rid of.

Bed bugs are much bigger than specks of dust - like a previous poster said, they're more of a small woodlouse size, or a ladybird. If you seen one you would know.

They're also very unlikely to latch onto you on public transport - they come out at night, and are attracted to the carbon dioxide as you breathe. I had a proper infestation and could only see them when I inspected the skirting boards, and bed frames - they certainly aren't swaggering about through the day. They're quite clever little critters really!

I'm sorry you're feeling so anxious about this; as someone who has had them I can say wholeheartedly they are more of an annoyance (because of the cleaning) than anything else; certainly not something to be feared as the media stories make out.

Thank you @lemmein that's really kind. I also appreciate your first post "Don't worry, like most things, if it happens you will cope 🤷🏻‍♀️" . This is really the source of all anxieties, not the problem itself but the belief that you wouldn't cope. So that's really what I need to work on.

I sometimes think I may be best off getting them so once I've dealt with them once it won't seem as bad. Absolutely not tempting fate, touching wood and all that though!!!

But trying to prevent it is ruling my life at the moment, it's not enjoyable and im exhausted!

I’ve used it to scare my dc into tidying their rooms this weekend but they thought is hideous, nits have been bad enough with 3 dds with long hair.

They're not new, they've been around for centuries. We had them in my hall of residence at university in the 1980s and the university had to destroy loads of beds and fumigate loads of rooms but the infestation was eradicated. It wasn't a particularly warm part of the country (midlands). It's one of many reasons I'm not a fan of wooden or fabric beds (yes you can still get them if your bed frame is metal but there are slightly fewer places for the little sods to hide). My thick northern blood and my blood type (least that's my theory) means insects love me. All insects. I've learned to love Indorex, steamers and hot washes and am hoping those nasty bedbug critters don't find me if there really is an invasion and it isn't just the media with their usual batty diversionary tactics to make sure we don't see some of the stuff really going on with governments and others....!

I sometimes think I may be best off getting them so once I've dealt with them once it won't seem as bad

@Bedbugfearz yeah, I totally understand that - it's the 'what if' that fuels the anxiety. If you've ever had any sort of pests in your home - if your pets have had fleas, or your kids have had nits, or you've had mice invading your kitchen, whatever....you'll know that they're a nuisance, but can be sorted out fairly easily. Exactly the same with bed bugs.

I don't know why online resources make out they're really difficult to get rid of, that certainly wasn't my experience. In fact, I had mice a few years ago when a neighbour got her overgrown garden cleared and they were harder to get on top of - id much prefer bedbugs and I hate anything crawly

Add cheap disinfectant to every laundry load (yep you can do this, it even gives instructions for laundry on the back. There's no need for expensive Dettol laundry disinfectant!!)
Also vacuum your mattress once a week and sprinkle a very light layer of bicarbonate of soda on it before you put any mattress toppers or sheets on. If you do use a mattress topper, vacuum that too!

I mean, if I buy anything from vented for example it goes directly from packaging to the wash. If we go on holiday, the suitcases do not leave the kitchen until all is washed.

it cost me just over £1000 to get rid of them so we are cautious. It takes 5 minutes to spray beds once a month and it's now just a build in habit.

vinted*

They can be awful if you are allergic to their bites. The wounds and sores can flare up and become infected. Sorry...don't mean to scare anyone.

Having said that, like others have said, they probably won't latch onto you from public transport as they hide in nooks and crannies in the walls and come out in the dark. And the allergy thing is rare.

Some signs are tiny flecks of blood on bedding, and a row of very itchy bites rather than single bites. They can be seen with the naked eye. Spraying everything with peppermint and tea tree oil also helps.

It's probably the same conditions that have lead fleas to go mental this year. It's been horrible. Getting colder now. Bed bugs do seem a special sort of hell though.

And yet here in the southern hemisphere we merrily wash everthing in cold water straight from the tap, and manage to have clean bedding and towels. I've never seen a bed bug in my entire 64 years.

@OhDoh what are you spraying beds with please

Either something called Zero in or NOPE. Both the most useful we found and both easy enough to get on Amazon.

Only ever encountered the buggers while backpacking 25 years ago. Our hostel in KL would put the mattresses on the roof in the blazing sun. The owner said it was a constant battle but she was all about containment because the nature of her business meant elimination was a pipe dream.

Behind photo frames

YANBU it’s been on sky news.

There is a bed bug hotel register 🤣 I can confirm Premier Inns are rife. DH travels a lot for work.

You’re meant to check bags, seams, clothes. Wash on high temperatures.

They cost thousands to get rid of- go check out the bed bug threads on mn.

What am I missing here?

I have had bed bugs in my house!

I bought a flat, I thought the previous owners were kind to leave a sofa bed as I didn't yet have a bed. Woke up feeling a bit itchy, thought it was just sleeping in a new place. Then saw a bug and realised what it was. And then realised the underneath of the sofa bed was full of the things.

Had bite all over my face, backs, legs. Looked great at work. Pretended they were mosquito bites despite being in Central London in February.

Spent a fortune on an exterminator, bought powder from Robert Dyas (this killed them the best), and spent way too long on google reading ridiculous horror stories.

In all.honest? Not that bad. You can kill them all without bleaching your skin, boiling the curtains, disposing of all your possessions, and burning your house down.

Sorry not RTFT but saw a bed bug guy on tv yesterday. He says
Don't put bags etc on beds as they'll crawl off if on your luggage etc
Weekly hoover of your mattress, both sides and the bed frame too
They've been here 20 years so it's not new
Sit on plastic chairs in public transport