I have bedbugs, I'm terrified.

[YourDenimWriter]

I'm terrified. I'm a new parent and I share this house with several others. I know they're bed bugs because of the bites, and then a few days ago I saw the rascals crawling over the bed.

Last few days I've been steaming and using diatomaceous earth in my bedroom, particularly around the bed frame (it's an ottoman bed) and on the corner of the mattress where I found the black mould looking stuff.

I've called a few exterminators but they've not called back.

Has anyone experienced using exterminators? How much prep would I have to do beforehand? I can't see how I can remove every single piece of clothing and clutter from the room, where would I store them? Are treatments safe, is heat treatment the only option?

Get some cheap alcohol, dilute it in a spray bottle and spray everywhere like carpet, mattress, skirtings, crevices and cracks. Wear masks & gloves. The mouldy stuff is their poop. Scrub the mattress in white vinegar or dilute bleach + fairy liquid & rinse where the black stuff is or chuck out & replace. Order a mattress protector with a security tag for the zip that keep the zips together. Pull the bed away from the wall if it's near one and clean & dust well behind it. Vacuum like mad & throw the bag out or empty into a bag & tie up & then dispose of it. What are the bed feet like? I never used pest control, we got rid of them but it was like a military maneuver. Diatomaceous earth is excellent!

Sorry is an ottoman bed one of those ones that lifts up for storage?

Yes it is.

Thanks for the tips. Where did you use the Diatomaceous earth btw?

DE after the alcohol evaporates, a puffer is good to puff it into the cracks, skirtings, carpets, under furniture, rugs, mattress seams, under the mattress. Wear a mask and goggles, it's very very drying & you might feel very thirsty afterwards. Food grade DE is better. I had a small spritzer of dilute alcohol to zap the night nippers that tried to crawl on me. I started getting phantom crawling sensations I was in such a state! I'm assuming the bed is quite low to the floor with small legs? Need a photo! They crawl up the legs & obviously they are in the mattress. Just thought you'll need to use the alcohol and de in the bed storage area because they're likely to have got in there. Chests of drawers too I'm afraid.