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!

My old boss had them a few years ago. She got some spray for the bed (I think she sprayed the carpet as well), washed all the bed linen and towels and sprayed all the furniture where clothes, bedding etc were kept, and the airing cupboard.

She replaced her pillows and duvet, but apart from that she didn't have to throw anything away or strip out woodwork, and the bugs never even made it into the spare bedroom. She had the luxury of being able to use the spare bedroom for a while though, which made it a lot easier.

Having tried and failed to get rid of clothes moths for more than a decade, they scare the shit out of me. The moths impact me ymmental health sometimes, god knows what bedbugs would do.

Equally for people struggling financially who live in overcrowded places and can't afford to get pros in - not a good prospect.

@fearfuloffluff we had a has moth invasion, I used to admire turn for ages never connecting them as cloth's moths I didn't know.

It took massive operation to take all clothes outside for inspection, spraying, feromone moth traps, taking all drawers outside hoovering two years and they are gone.

This is why it impacts mental health tbh - I know if I made a huge effort and kept making it, they'd go. But I don't have time or energy for it, and the whole family is messy so I'd have to also do a lot of nagging (eg kids throwing socks under bed, piling stuff up where moths can then go underneath).

It would take a major declutter and change in the entire family's habits to get anywhere! Thinking of getting a steamer though. If we got bedbugs wed have to change habits a lot as well.

You need to take all clothes outside, inspect and hoover, feromone traps and so on

For those saying they are like wingless mosquitoes, this is absolutely not true. Bed bugs are awful and a nightmare to get rid of. We had them 3 years ago. It took a while to discover what was causing the bites, as the bites would appear suddenly midday (not in the morning). They would turn into blisters, some very large blisters, and itch like crazy. We tried all sorts of 'home' methods to get rid of them: chemical bombs, powder, constant cleaning and washing in 60 degrees, lavender and tea tree oil, steaming... Nothing worked. We had to get specialists, who sprayed the whole place 3 times, a month apart, and only after the 3rd spraying they disappeared. This cost £500. There was no need to throw away any furniture, bedding or mattresses but still the eradication process was extremely difficult. All bedding, cushions, clothes, curtains had to be washed after every spraying. The problem with bed bugs is they only come out when it's completely dark, so it's difficult to spot them and they can hide anywhere (under wallpaper, behind wardrobe, in between floor boards etc). They don't 'nest' in one place but just crawl anywhere dark in the early morning.
I'm so careful now when I stay away anywhere! I know what signs to look out for now and I also know to NEVER leave my luggage under the bed. After we've been away, we wash all clothes we brought back with us. Anything bought in a charity shop, goes straight into a freezer or washing machine. I am dreading the new type of bed bugs, which have built resistance to pesticides.

Yes, I totally understand. I am very cautious even though I have never had them.

I don't think people realise how costly and disruptive getting rid of them is.

How did you get rid of them? Did you use heat?

But what I would say is that keeping the suitcases in the kitchen will not really help because if any have smuggled themselves in to the suitcase then if they escape in the kitchen they will make their way up to the bedroom.

The best place to keep your suitcases would be in the bath as they cannot climb up the bath.

Yes. I have known about this for over 10 years. Everyone I spoke to during that time thought that I was mad.

But they are an absolute menace both financially and mentally.

It depends how bad the infestation is. This is why awareness if key.

People on here think that the media are scaremongering. They are not. But even if they were, it is a good thing. People need to know what to look for so that it can be treated early.

If you mattress is covered in bed bug poo you will have to replace it.

Seems that some are taking the bedbug situation seriously:

Frozen duvets? 🙄

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/10/bedbugs-paris-london-public-transport-what-to-do-treatments/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12617935/UK-bedbug-crisis-London-Underground-Tube.html

Done all that. Several times.

Two young children, a job, a husband not particularly given to housework and a Victorian house full of nooks and crannies. The level of effort required to eradicate them is just more than I can manage right now.

I could write an essay on moth eradication methods, I know it all in theory but don't have the time or energy.

YABU OP

They've been around a lot longer than 20 years! My mum is in her 80's and grew up in a very poor household in London. They were a regular feature in her childhood.

The Victorians used to turn and inspect mattresses regularly to keep bed bugs at bay.

I’d be surprised if these bugs haven’t been around since the dawn of time.

Chucking your mattress won’t get rid of them. They don’t just live in beds. You could waste a lot of money throwing things away (though I understand if it’s covered in bedbug shit you might not want it anymore).

they detect humans based on carbon dioxide and warmth so putting soap out isn’t going to attract them and moving to spare room risks them coming looking for you. They can live a long time without eating.

We actually had two whole house sprays done, hoovered like three times a day and just followed advice of pest control. Also the thing to do is to keep sleeping in the same room as them otherwise they come find you.

When I say they are kept in the kitchen, this is after we have sprayed the suitcases down so trust me everything will be dead. Very cautious with anything bed bug related.

@fearfuloffluff sure I was only trying to give hope.

I did it also with work and 2 small dc and dh not inclined to hw and a sick dying relative. Good luck

I've had bedbugs and it was an absolute nightmare. It took 4 trips from pest control to get rid of them at a cost of nearly £3000. There was 3 rooms infected and with a household of 7 it was not fun and I ended up having a nervous breakdown. If I ever got them again I'd set fire to the house I could not go through that again

@OhDoh sorry if you have already said and I missed it but what do you spray the cases with? I'm diligent with all the belongings when we travel (freezing/hot washing everything) but never know what to do with the suitcases as they are too big for the freezer and have so many nooks and crannies I can never be sure there's nothing in them. I would love to find a reliable spray. I tend to use fabric sports bags now as I can freeze them but it also makes it more likely to pick things up in the first place so it's tough!

Yes, I was surprised when you said about keeping them in the kitchen when you were taking so many other precautions.

Which spray do you use?

I remember talking to people about this a few years ago and they said that they never took their suitcases up to the bedroom as if that would stop an infestation.

What do you do about the clothes you are wearing when you come back from holiday. Do you take them off an put them straight in the washing machine?

I’m totally with you op. A friend of mine had them after a trip to Thailand. It cost grands and a lot of mental strain to get rid of them. I’ve also know people who have them through my work. It’s the fact they can be so hard to get rid of. As a family in a london flat, it’s terrifying. I’ve been checking rooms for years when I travel. Ultimately, there’s only so much you can do. With kids at school, husband travelling for work and the possibility of them coming through from another flat. Good to hear stories of people who’ve got rid of them with not so much blood, sweat and tears (sorry for the pun). If people are more aware now, it will help stop the spread to public places. It’s no bad thing to take it seriously. It’s comforting to read I’m not alone in my fears and if there’s any silver lining, it’s that my husband doesn’t think I’m mad anymore 😂

Oh no, that sounds awful.

That is just it. People don't realise how bad it is and just think that the media is scaremongering.

Until you have been through it, it is difficult to appreciate how bad it is.

Ha ha. Yes, my husband has also stopped making fun of me every time I mention them now too.

Yes, public awareness is key.

@MustTryHarderAndHarder @Bedbugfearz spray by zero in or nope. Both available on Amazon. I've tried a few different ones when we had them and there two worked best for us.

They hate the smell of lavender too.