I swear to you that this will be the last time I blog about bed bugs, but the emails keep pouring in asking about these horrible creatures and how I’m managing. You deserve to know the whole ugly truth, so here it goes.
Everything that was able to fit into the washer and dryer has been contained in large garbage bags and run through on the highest heat setting. That means that everything in a dresser or closet has been emptied, and I am advised to not place anything back into the closets for another few weeks.
Here’s the breakdown of how much these blankity blank bugs have cost us so far:
Orkin (two treatments): $500
Oreck Steam Cleaner: $179.00
Hoover Steamvac and cleaner: $145.00
Hoover Type Y vacuum bags (which can only be used once when you have bed bugs): $20
BB proof mattress covers and pillow covers for entire house: $350
Nightwatch Bed Bug Trap and Monitor w/ lures: $320
CO2 bottles for Nightwatch machine: $79
Total cost: $1593.00
And of course I didn’t count the cost to replace our mattress, cleaning products, garbage bags, detergent for twenty five loads of laundry, ruining two mattress covers on high heat in the laundry, living out of garbage bags placed in my dining room, hours of lost sleep and days off of my life!
Ugh. May this never ever happen to you!
So, how am I doing? I’ve been better.
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Jen says
I remember reading your story and feeling so terrible for you Beth! It has stuck with me ever since and I’m glad it did. We had a wedding a week and a half ago and spent the night at a nice resort. On Monday morning I noticed a bug crawling on my chair in my bedroom. I thought it was a spider and went to kill it. It fell to the floor and didn’t die. I scooped it up and took a look. Right away I knew it was a bed bug. I called a bed bug expert and he came out and confirmed that day. He felt it was a lone straggler because he could find no evidence on any of our beds, bed frames, chairs, couches. He wasn’t even going to powder the bedrooms but I insisted. That night two of my kids had bumps so I then had them cover all box springs and mattresses with B.B. enclosures. Still not seeing evidence. One more of my kids has bites and I am having a different company come and treat the whole house. They will be there all day looking for evidence and treating. Everything must be removed from drawers and furniture. It’s a living walking nightmare. Your story has given me so much hope but I am so disgusted. I literally have done laundry non-stop since Monday and there’s so much more to do.
Beth says
Oh girl, I am so sorry that you are having to endure this, but you are not alone and you will come out of this on the other side soon! I promise that it will soon be a distant nightmare. I probably went overboard in my reaction to those bugs all of those years ago, but it was just so gross and violating. Stay strong!
Amy Renea says
oh my goodness I want to cry for you (even though it is two years later) — what a TERRIBLE thing!
Deanna says
I have been reading your blog a long time and never posted, but when my son returned from a mission trip last week and I saw his body covered with bites and recognized them as bed bug bites I had horrors from reading what you went through!
Sarah says
I am super paranoid about bugs especially bed bugs. My husband is leaving in a few weeks for a mission trip to Mexico. I already told him he couldn't bring his stuff into the house (luggage) and that I would take it to the laundromat to have it cleaned there including throwing the suitcase in the dryer. I can't imagine what this feels like and I hope that they are gone forever. Really makes me think twice about craigslist and garage sales.
Michelle says
Hi, I found your blog through Dayka at Life and Style. Sorry about your bed bug issue, it seems that it's not only in thrift stores. A Hollister store was closed due to a bed bug infestation. So now I'm going to have to leave new clothes sealed in a plastic bag and wash them caused I'm officially freaked out. I hope your bed bugs are now gone.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/02/new.york.retailer.bedbugs/index.html?hpt=T2
Beth@The Stories of A2Z says
Karen,
I know how horrible this is but you WILL get through this! We actually have Orkin coming AGAIN (3rd time) tomorrow to spray. No one in our family has been bitten severely. None of us have received more than a few bites at a time. In a previous post I showed some bites I received on my chest and on my wrist. This was the worst I'd ever received. What I'm scared of now is that my body has "adjusted" to the bites and I'm not reacting as severely. I found some dried blood on my arm and I'm convinced it came from a bed bug—hence having Orkin come tomorrow.
I've read great things about BB dogs and I think you're fortunate to have one in your area. In the long run, the dog will hopefully save you money by sniffing out where he infestation(s) are located. You DON'T have to throw any of your furniture out. All furniture can be treated. As far as putting everything through the dryer, it is recommended. I'm seriously just NOW getting everything put back into place several months later. We only have 2500 square feet to deal with and it's been beyond a nightmare.
I also know what you mean about wanting someone to take charge and tell you exactly what to do. The problem is that it depends on the level of infestation and it depends on who you talk to :). There are several theories on the "best" way to kill these things from Hell. I do think taking a multi-level approach (steam, dryer, chemicals, heat, etc.) is the best. Please feel free to email me thestoriesofa2z@gmail.com if you want to commiserate! Good luck!
Karen says
Beth,
I am so glad that you shared your story. I want to hear more. I think we have bed bugs. I have spent 700.00 on mattress covers. Now I am paying a bed bug canine to come to my home for 700. more dollars! My home is very clean and well organized. I have just remodeled every room in my home(taken down walls gutting the kitchen, etc..) Now BED BUGS. OMG! I am just psychologically tortured. I think I must have brought them home from a European vacation. I do not know what to do next. I feel as if I should have a PhD in bed bugs because I spend every waking moment reading about them. In the end…I still do not know what to do…heat treatment…orkin….illegal chemicals…I am so incredibly confused. My home is large and I cannot imagine putting my clothes, my children's clothes, my linens, my pillows, the children's stuffed animals, ugly dolls (love those btw), dish towels..into a dryer and then into plastic bags for weeks!!!! My kids will freak out if they found out we have these pests. I look like a meth addict with bites all over my neck, face and shoulders…the 4th of July party in a swim suit was just torture. I am just begging anyone to please tell me step by step exactly what to do and what order to do it in. Thank you for your post. Your post was more helpful than Harvard University's post. : ) kudos. I feel like crying…ok…I am crying..all new furniture…all new mattress…all my new cool stuff…what if it is destroyed by heat treatment and chemicals. HELP!!!
Karen
Beth@The Stories of A to Z says
Thanks for taking the time to write Chelle! I'm so sorry that you can relate to this post though :(. I think (fingers crossed, prayers spoken) that we are now rid of the bugs. I'm still paranoid and think I might be getting bit, but I'm not at all sure. My reaction to the bites is nothing like it was initially, so I'm not sure. I hope your bugs are sent to bug hell ASAP! Good luck and many blessings!
Anonymous says
I really need to thank you for publishing this! Your blog is one of the few I read with any regularity. Because you shared your horror story, I was able to detect a new infestation of bed bugs, (spent 3 days helping a friend move from a house that had a history of them), very quickly. Less than 10 days passed between the first bite and treatment… only one nymph was ever seen. I spent the evening prior to the treatment blessing my bedroom and house and rebuking the devil bugs (i know I must have looked crazy and would take short pauses to laugh at myself… I looked like a Southern Baptist preacher verbally setting the pulpit on fire! hehe).
I was bite free for about 2.5 weeks and started getting bit again 2 nights ago. Because I was bitten by many mosquitoes on Saturday night, I couldn't be sure at first. Last night, however, I marked my existing bites with a dot from a marker. Sure enough, woke up with several small new bites – one of which was on my knee where I can clearly see 3 pronged bite marks.
I almost started crying here at work when I saw it, and thought "I should go to that blog for encouragement." And there it was was from jmrkrack. I suppose even the smallest infestations might need multiple treatments. *sigh*
Thanks for being so open about your situation, it's really helped me remove the stigma I had associated with them. Well, that and knowing you can pick these suckers up anywhere.
You're posts have been such a blessing to me. Thanks!
chelle
Pam says
Are they gone yet? Bless you heart….I am so scared to buy and bring anything in from a yard sale or Goodwill now.
Anonymous says
WOW
I am speechless and that is really saying ALOT !!!!!
All the best,
Kathy 🙂
Melanie Beth says
I just have to say… I was reading this post out loud to my husband last night (because he is oddly enough interested in this sort of thing) and he started looking up all kinds of info on bed bugs… after seeing everything he looked up, I just have to say I am SO SO SO sorry you are having to deal with this! I think my husband is slightly paranoid now… but from the sound of everything you are going through… better to be paranoid if it means we can avoid having them! I wish you the best of luck and my prayers go out to you!
Anonymous says
I am so sorry you have to deal with those nasty things. What didorkin do? I heard hi heat works. Did they ever use any bug spray? All the best dear. Bella
Megan says
Beth,
I've wanted to stop at a thrift store near my kid's school for the Longest time, but after reading your struggles- I think I will pass!
On the upside, I bet you have the cleanest house in your entire neighborhood! 🙂
Fight on my friend!
Beth@The Stories of A to Z says
Jmrkrack, THANK YOU for some hope! We found about five live bugs in our search and a few dead ones before treatment. Viviane, these darn things go through five different life stages and look very different as babies then as adults. You can see the adults easily but the nymphs are much harder to spot. They bite in a row and at night. If you see mildew like spots or black streaks on your mattress, you might have them. So sorry to make everyone paranoid! They just are hell to deal with and I don't want ANYONE to be uninformed. Thanks so much for all the support!
Viviane says
hi beth, you are making paranoid now in my own house! LOL. were you able to see them with the naked eye? I was looking at our mattress the other day and I couldn't see anything but out of paranoia, I steam cleaned the mattress, got a mattress cover and vacuumed.
Jenny says
Oh man, those darn things are expensive! I hope you all can be bed bug free ASAP!!
jmrkrack says
I just had to chime in to say that I'm sorry you're going through this- and that it will get better. When my husband and I moved in to our current rental it had bed bugs… lots, and lots of bed bugs. The exterminator said he had never seen anything like it before. (As a reference, in a matter of three days I had over 100 bites on my right arm alone) They sprayed 5 times. (Yes, 5) But, they are all gone now. We didn't get rid of our mattress or any of our furniture (though we did steam clean the heck out of it and wrap it in plastic for 6 months) It totally disrupted our lives for three months (ours was REALLY bad, and they had to spray every two weeks based ont heir lifecycle) but they are completely gone now, and we can laugh at it (some) now, though we do call them "that which we do not speak of"
As someone who's been there, I just have to say hang in there. It feels like they will never go away (and it does take awhile) but they will. They really do go away completely. Your Orkin guy will be your absolute best friend- it really was the only thing that got rid of them completely. You can also prevent some of the bites with DEET. But breathe easily, this too shall pass.
Liz @ Sugarplum Creations says
Oh my goodness, Beth, I was hoping those darn things had moved out by now! What a nightmare!!
Miki says
Beth,
I am SO sorry you are going through all of this – yikes! Are you seeing a difference after all this, are the bugs gone? Besides the cost of everything you detailed, what is the time frame for being bug free? Is there a beach getaway in your near future – I hope for your sanity that there is! I'm praying for you re: this and all of the other possible changes you blogged about. Take care! MIKI
Cheri says
What a horrible ordeal! And I thought it was bad when one of my kids got lice at school and we had to clean EVERYTHING.
Beth@The Stories of A to Z says
Chris brings up a good point in her comment. I'm going way overboard here in the things I've purchased to rid myself of these bugs. The trap, new mattress, and carpet cleaner were all things I felt I needed. However, the average estimated cost of getting rid of bed bugs is published at $1000.
Jess @ Frugal with a Flourish says
Yikes! How stressful! Many hugs for you and your family!
My name is PJ. says
I'm so sorry you have to undergo the stress, the effort and the expense, Beth, BUT since you've done it, I am thinking you could write a very detailed article and shop it around to magazines for publication. For real.
Marianne@Songbird says
Oh Beth, I really hope you have chased the buggers away and you can start healing again. Keeping you in my thoughts!
Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com says
Oh Beth! I am so sorry. I must have missed your post about this. What a nightmare. I am so sorry you have been going through that!!
((hugs))
Jen
Susan says
I am so sorry…I think you're handling this extremely well! Good luck to you and your family.
sheiselectrifying says
AMEN! So glad that they are almost out of your life. I give you so much credit for handling this so well, even though what we readers see is only a fraction of the reality, because you're certainly making a lot of us very away of how awful it can be and what to do in case we may get them. I think you deserve a full day at the spa after this ordeal is cleared up!
Anny says
My goodness, after reading your blog the other day I was convinced I had them too. My insomniac mind didn't realize it was just dry skin 🙁
I'm sorry to hear all the trouble your family is going though.
♥ Calamity Anne ♥ says
I never knew that bedbug could end up costing that much!
Chris says
Do you HAVE to get new mattresses? What about the bug trap and monitor? Those are a must to? I'm not trying to doubt you…I would have purchased everything and more. Just wondering if those are things you have to get. I'm going to bed right now, and I'm going to pray to the bed bug gods that they leave you alone. You've had enough.
Tricia says
Gosh I am so sorry!! What a nightmare! 🙁
melissa * 320 Sycamore says
Beth! I am so, so sorry you are having to go through this blasted bug ordeal. You have seriously made me think about ever bringing any yard sale treasures into my house again without bagging them up or washing right away…hang in there!
Sew Fun! says
good grief!
your poor little family…hope you get back to normal soon..and NEVER have to go through this again!
…yuck!
xo
Tricia says
Oh Beth. I don't even know what to say. I will definitely say an extra little prayer for you guys tonight.
Sarah @ Picture Window says
Unbelievable. I hope the end is near for you! At least we all have a go-to expert now for how to deal with bed bugs 😉
Carmen says
Hi Beth!
I hope this is all coming to an end soon for you. What a nightmare it's been!!
I don't think anyone minds you sharing about it. It certainly comes as a warning to all of us, which is a good thing. No one wants to go through what you've had to go through. Thank you for sharing it and not sweeping it under the rug where none would have been the wiser!!
Wendy says
Oh Beth,
I am glad that this nightmare is coming to an end. Hopefully never to return again!
Take care,
Wendy
kelly says
my husband had several little bites on him and casually says, "i think we have bed bugs", i pray NOT!!! all i could think of was your mattress, i am afraid to look!! so sorry this is costing you a fortune and such a nightmare!!!
Blonde Steel Magnolia says
Good luck! Hope you conquer them soon!
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
Oh Beth, I'm so sorry you've had to go through dealing with this and the expense of it, too! I hope the end is near on this for you and you can get back to your life.
McCarthy Designs says
Oh Beth you poor thing. I am horrified that the bed bugs are that bad. I will never look at thrifty finds the same and I wil definately make sure I do what I can to never experience those nasty creatures. xx
Nancy Jacobs Basketmaster says
Bless Your Heart. I'm just shaking my head and that's all I can say. Bless Your Heart.
Hugs,
Nancy
Lorie says
Beth,
I am so SO sorry that this happened to you!
I hope it is over and you can get back to normal soon!
Anonymous says
I am so sorry you are having to go through this nightmare! You have made me think twice about bringing certain items into my house. I hope all those nasty little buggers are gone ASAP!!
Nouveau Stitch says
I am so sorry for your trouble but I just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! I had been feeling a tad bit left out with all the redo projects I read about in blog land…my house just doesn't need anymore furniture! But this convinced me I'm not missing out and there isn't a thing wrong with not running out and doing something "just because all the cool kids in blog land are!" Truth be told, used stuff gives me the heebie jeebies (hence, I have only lived in four brand new homes over the 30 years of my marriage) so thanks.
I hope you can someday look back and smile just a little. I wish someone would pick up on this and have you write a magazine article. This is far too expensive a lesson to be forgotten!!
Ellen
Melissa Miller says
Beth I am so sorry. 🙁 Bummer is not even the right word. Sigh.
I'm praying for you. ~Melissa
Magic Brush says
OMGosh…. I am just so, so sorry for you. What a nightmare. This too shall pass, right?????????? Ug! I don't even sound encouraging to myself!
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
Wow! I had no idea it would cost you that much!! And new mattresses (good ones) are pricey. I am so sorry. 🙁 Hope things turn around soon and those buggers are dead and gone!
Aimee says
WOW that sucks. One of my friends had bed bugs and she told me how horrible it is. I am knockking on wood and crossing every possible thing that I never get these.
And I wish you all the luck and hopefully all of this will be done soon.
🙁
Debbie says
What a flipping nightmare Beth….we can always look at it, that there are worse trials and tribulations in life…this was just a major, costly one! sounds like it is coming to an end though! Take care Beth.
Beth says
I am soooo sorry you are going through all this!!!! i have been keeping up with your posts, and I just want to say, you post about it as much as you need to! If it helps you get it off your chest, go for it! No telling how many people you may have helped by your posts!
Love the Decor! says
Oh you poor thing.. Icky darn bugs anyway!!
Hang in there someday I am sure you can laugh about this when all the work fads into a memory