r/Bedbugadvice

I want to apologize initially because I know this is going to be a highly emotionally written post, I truly just feel incredibly desperate and I don’t know what to do anymore.

I was first exposed to bedbugs in my home about three years ago. I invited somebody over my house for the first time, and after they left, I was bitten by a bedbug. I didn’t know what it was at first, I thought that my cats had fleas the next night, I had another bite, did my research, and realized my situation.

I have a considerable amount of clothing. I have historically been really into fashion, especially layering, which means I just have an abominable amount of miscellaneous clothing. It took several thousand dollars, daily trips to the laundromat, and the majority of the fabric in my clothing being bound in sealed bags after heat treatment for a year before I felt like I could return back to “normal” activity in my home.

The situation was traumatizing. I apologize for the dramatics, but this happened in my first apartment that I ever had by myself within two months of moving in. I was very young, and had no support system so I was driving myself crazy. I barely slept for the first few weeks, could barely eat anything, and was psychologically diagnosed with paranoia. I felt them all over my skin every single, second of every single day for months. In this whole situation, my apartment was treated three times for a severe infestation, and I had only ever seen three bugs in this process. I wanted to do the absolute most to ensure this would never happen again.

Last night, I was torn up by a bedbug. I suspect it was at least two. I got off of a late night bartending shift around two in the morning, and truly only had the energy to put my sheets and bedding into sealed bags. This morning, I went to put the rest of my fabric items into sealed bags, and absolutely saw another running around a backpack. I had hanging up on my wall in my bedroom.

I don’t know how to get this to stop. I don’t know what more I could do. I got rid of over half of my clothing, I plan on throwing away all of my furniture.
aside from quite literally throwing away every single item that I own, which I am genuinely entertaining at this point, I have an exterminator coming out to do a round of treatments, as aggressive as possible again. Last time, I kept my cats isolated in a bathroom while the remainder of my apartment was treated, and I’m going to house them somewhere else so I can use a much more aggressive treatment.

I genuinely can’t live like this. At this point, the paranoia mixing with my reality has put me in a disturbingly dark mental place. I really don’t know what to do. Any advice, words of affirmation, or thoughts would be so helpful at this point. I appreciate anyone who’s taking the time to read this post.

Everywhere I read it says you should always do atleast two sprays w an exterminator. Well, ours will only do one. He will do just the bedroom to come back for another $200 but seems weirdly reluctant. Says times on our side and the chemicals he laid will work for 6 months and to slowly move our stuff in.

Okay, all fine and dandy but this has been fucking hell moving everything out of our house and now we want to move everything back in I want to make sure all these fuckers are dead. We also have a new bed and mattress coming this week. I am terrified of having this issue again… thoughts?

We and him only found bugs in the master bed room. We have a three bedroom semi w laundry in basement. Baby and toddler in other rooms.

Hi guys, so I'm in a really bad situation currently. When I moved in last year into my dads apartment I discovered that he had a moderate infestation of bedbugs. We did treatments beforehand and then an exterminator came and treated TWICE including other tenants apartments next to us. My dad also tried DIY crossfire and he ended up doing it incorrectly for several months. He stopped doing treatments when winter came because we made progress and he stopped getting bites, but I still did.

Now he refuses to do treatment or update the landlord on our situation, I can't tell her because I'm not supposed to be here (I have no choice). Ive been treating my room with Crossfire for the past two months, I spray EVERYTHING, I vaccum, my bed is isolated, everything is bagged up or in airtight sealed totes. I have interceptors. I haven't seen a single bug in 7 months, nor any evidence desoite possible fecal spots on the sheets, But im still getting bites (its hard to tell atp). My boxspring is open at the bottom, and my foam mattress has rips in the fabric. Should I get encasements?

For the record I'm really depressed from a lot of difficult things rn, im trying the best I can until I can afford to move out. I'm sorry. If anyone can offer any advice id appreciate it!

Does it really work for bedbugs and if so how long does it take for it to completely end an infestation? Please if you have used it before share your experience with it

So I help my neighbor out and got bed bugs from their house. My house isn’t dirty but I have a ton of stuff. The service they(my neighbors who are paying for it since it’s their fault)wanna use the guy is kind of a jerk. I was wondering what are some tips and thinks for getting by. So far a have a bag for my weekly clothes and one for my kid so we don’t open 50 garbage bags looking for stuff. Also what about books and like curio knock knacks!! I mean this has been hell. I messed up and put my mattress in a wrapper before it got fumigated(I guess I’ll just sleep on it for two years just in case. I found some only couch and the pest people told me to not throw it away that they can definitely save it. I do have a pretty good steamer as I car detail. So I’ve been vacuuming and steaming constantly I haven’t seen many since I started my maintenance but I know they are there. Also I have collectables that I keep the boxes in the top of my closet are those ok to stay? How are they gonna rid my couch 100% of bugs? I feel like there’s so many nooks and cranny’s. Just any tips would be great! Thanks in advance!!

I believe I have bed bugs from a recent thrifting trip. On the first day I noticed two bites, then 5 scattered bites on my arm. It has been 3 days. I will randomly get bites on my arms or chest, not as many as the first day but still noticeable. I checked my place for BB and I could not find any, I am putting everything in the dryer on high heat anyway. I vacuumed as well.

Although I did not find any, I feel it is safe to assume I have them and I need to know how long I have to quarantine and what to look for to assume they are gone? How do people stop their every day lives when they have bed bugs, do they not go to work?