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Original poster

bed bugs - YUCK

31 replies

Kelly1978 · 06/12/2005 22:00

I've jsut realised we got bed bugs. I think we must have brought them back from spain as its since then that ds has been coming up in occassional rashes, but since we moved the problem has suddenly spread and gotten much worse. Any experiences/advice?

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MerryWays · 06/12/2005 22:10

Only with cat fleas - are you sure it's bugs?

Original poster
Kelly1978 · 06/12/2005 22:10

I've seen two.

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MerryWays · 06/12/2005 22:14

I wouldn't know what they looked like! Can rentokil/council help? How would they travel - in bedding?

Nixz · 06/12/2005 22:33

what are they? are you sure its no them midgey things ? Iyswim

jellyjelly · 06/12/2005 22:36

Are they leaving bits that are in a line? Because this is what bed bugs do as they search for the veins and then get the blood from them otherwise could it be scabbies which come up in huge bites adn are really itchy.

And also have you got red blood spots on the wall? (can you tell i have travelled when i was younger?)

Callmemadam · 06/12/2005 22:37

All I know is that my nanny got them in a previous job - you could only bring them from Spain if you brought back bedding. If you have them, they multiply like aliens overnight so the problem gets out of control very quickly. Basically the heat from your body wakes them up, they feed on you and then breed (yuk). I believe all mattresses and bedding must be destroyed. Ring your local council and ask to speak to environmental health officer for advice asap!

Nixz · 06/12/2005 22:37

here this may help

Original poster
Kelly1978 · 07/12/2005 09:36

link doesn't work. From what I read it is possible they were brought back in clothes. I've hate bites in a line, and there are bloody spots all over ds bedding and soem on the walls. It only started after the holiday, I can't see how else we got them. ds's bed was actually only a few weeks old. I'm really hoping that stuff hasnt got to be destroyed. My bedspread cost £270, the mattrewss was £350, and the bed around £1100. All less than 6 months old, I can't afford to chuck them.

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Original poster
Kelly1978 · 07/12/2005 09:48

called the council and they've arranged fro pest control to come tuesday, and the officer is goign to hopefully call me to let me knwo what I have to do about it.

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sweetbean · 07/12/2005 09:51

Don't worry stay clam and do some resurch you may be able to put a bug bomb down.this is an insecterside devise that exsplodes killing everything but the down side is you have to leave your house but im not sure for how long as i said don't panic i know its gross but you won't be the first person to go through this im sure. Good luck with getting it sorted.

throckenholt · 07/12/2005 09:58

check you insurance policy - if you do need to scrap stuff it may be covered by the insurance - but be aware you premuim is likely to go up if you make a claim !

Original poster
Kelly1978 · 07/12/2005 09:59

Any idea where I go to find insecticides or anything like that? I really don't have a clue. I need to at least do soemthign to get us through til Tuesday. I can't sleep now for thinking about them. Even the council weren't sure about it at first as they haven't had a case in so long. I feel awful, ds has prob been gettign bitten for weeks and I put it down to hives and kept giving him piriton.

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Original poster
Kelly1978 · 07/12/2005 10:01

dont have insurance. been meanign to get it sorted since we moved nad haven't gotten round to it. Plus had so many other bills to pay associated with moving, we're trying to get straight.

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throckenholt · 07/12/2005 10:03
  • hope you don't need to chuck things then.
peachandpear · 07/12/2005 10:09

Oh, blood on the walls!? What do they do? Fling their prey around? Poor u.

zebratwizzler · 07/12/2005 18:58

Wash your bedding (linens, etc.) at 60 degrees. This will kill the eggs/critters. I know that's official advice, that everyone should always wash sheets/pillocases/covers at 60 to kill off bugs.

I hope that pest control can get rid of them otherwise; I thought they lived beind skirting boards, that kind of place, so you'll need to fumigate them out.

Original poster
Kelly1978 · 07/12/2005 19:57

Since pest control aren't comign til tuesday I got some spray and powder to try to kill some of the buggers off beforehand to try to limit it a bit. They were everywhere in the dkids room. I've hoovered up loads and sprayed all the crevices and powdered everything else. All the bedding is now going through 95 degree washes. I usually only wash everything at 40 so that prob hasnt helped in the past. I won't be making that mistake again.

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peachandpear · 07/12/2005 20:28

No really? Why is there blood on the walls?

twinsetandpearls · 07/12/2005 23:59

We had bed bugs years ago when I was a student, we called the council out twice and they told us to get rid of our bed and bedding. THey told us that it is almost impossible to get rid of them - we moved in the end!

maZebraltov · 08/12/2005 05:11

Apparently the blood spots are their excrement !

That page has other useful advice about dealing with them, Kelly.

Ack, having to deal with a headlouse infestation at the moment, I think I'm feeling like maybe I got off lightly.

Original poster
Kelly1978 · 08/12/2005 16:07

It really isn't an option to get rid of our bed , it's too expensive. i could scrape enough to replace the kids bed again, (that was only replaced in july) which seems to have the worst of it. I must have hoovered fifty up today, most of which seemed dead around the kids bed. I'm going to cvarry on spraying and powderigna nd hooverign until pest control comes. We found them in the corners, skirting and even in the pleats of the curtains. I'm actaulyl beginnign to wonder if they were already here as they seem rather well established in that room and we never saw anything like this when we cleaned out the old flat.

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laundrylover · 08/12/2005 17:02

We came across lots of bedbugs in Africa. If you sprinkle lavender oil on the mattress they all jump out cos they hate it! In africa it is only a problem when hotels etc don't put their mattresses out in the sun now and again. i know that this isn't much use in Dec but my point is that if a bit of sun and lavender can do the trick I'm sure you can keep your mattress!!

Original poster
Kelly1978 · 08/12/2005 17:06

ooh thanks for that, i have some lavender oil somewhere I will try that. Strangely enough, I've also been told to put it in the bath to help the spots too.

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laundrylover · 08/12/2005 17:11

It was the best travelling tip that we ever picked up and you could really see the blighters jump! By the way I only wash bedding at 40 unless it's in with the nappies at 60 so don't worry. Wash it at 60 until you sort out the bedbugs though eh?

FrostyTheGloworm · 08/12/2005 21:08

if you're going to use the lavender, try tea tree as well...all bugs/insects hate it. make sure you use pure essential oil, esp if you are adding to bath or putting on skin.