This is a home blog. I love all things home. I love to create beauty out of chaos and tell my decorating, homemaking, and crafting stories. I have no desire to be constantly blogging about bugs. But you see, a colony of terrorists have invaded my home and are holding me and my family hostage. They threaten to be anywhere and everywhere all at once. You can’t always see them and they spread like an infectious disease. They wage their attacks when you are the most physically vulnerable and violate your family in their most sacred spaces. Right now, I have no time to create, decorate, or craft, and I most certainly have no idea how to turn this chaos into something beautiful. All I do now is clean, steam, launder, cry, cuss, and pout. I’m having trouble sleeping. Perhaps it has something to do with my mattress being thrown out in the alley. Or perhaps it has something to do with the myriads of bites I keep receiving in spite of the most stringent precautionary measures. Or perhaps it’s just fear. Whatever the case, I cannot sleep so I will blog in the hopes that I can prevent just one of you from going through what I am currently enduring.
Don’t get me wrong here; I am an emotionally tough girl. I’ve been through oodles of trials, losses, and heartaches in my 35 years. But battling bed bugs is not for the faint of heart. The amount of work involved is nothing short of exhausting.
How did the bed bugs get into your home???
We have no idea how these damned things got in, but there are several suspects. I feel like I am playing the game of Bed Bug Clue with my husband everyday. Was it Colonel Bed Bug on the backpack from the preschool, or was it Ms. Plaid Throw in the bedroom from the Freecycle?
How can bed bugs be prevented?
Most people pick up bed bugs from hotels so the first piece of advice is this: If you are traveling in a hotel, keep your luggage on the luggage racks and do not put your luggage or any of your belongings on the floor. We didn’t acquire these guys from a hotel. I am guessing we most likely acquired them from something I brought into the house.
If you buy used anything, be it furniture, toys, clothing, etc. be sure you wash it, steam it, and/or douse it in rubbing alcohol. Used clothing or fabrics should be tightly bagged in plastic and immediately dumped in the wash upon returning home. Be sure to wash your items in hot water and dry at a high setting. Used furniture is trickier. Bed bugs can be living in any crack or crevice and underneath the drawers. Most of us sand, prime, and spray our furniture before placing it in our rooms but not before placing them in our cars. If you can douse the piece in rubbing alcohol, or wrap it in plastic before transport, you will be safer. If you have a steamer and are able to steam the item, all the better.
Bed bugs harbor near their food….you…so any used bedroom item be it headboard, bedding, nightstand, etc. should be treated cautiously. They also embed themselves in living room furniture near where people nap such as couches, chairs, end tables, TV stands, etc.
I honestly may never buy used anything ever again. This situation has changed me and cost us a small fortune. It is sad. But it is a reality.
**In all fairness, bed bugs can be on new items as well. But my guess is that your statistical chance of bringing one home on a brand new item, or on a curbside find are very different.***
If you have bed bugs, how do you get rid of them?
Here is what I have done to attempt eradication:
- Bought a steamer which gives off a dry steam of 212 degrees.
- Bought a steam vac which wet vacs the carpets.
- Bagged and thrown out our mattress which was infested and had bed bug fecal matter on it. (It’s 11yrs old and we needed another one anyhow.)
- Taken apart our bed and sprayed it all down w/ rubbing alcohol.
- Thrown out the old bed slats (they had eggs and bugs on them) after we dosed them in alcohol.
- Filled all screw holes on our bed with wood putty to cut down on places they can hide.
- Taken all of our clothes and the boys clothes out of the dressers and bagged them and sealed them.
- Sprayed and cleaned all sides of every nightstand, drawer, and dresser with rubbing alcohol.
- Bought bed bug proof mattress protectors and pillow protectors for all beds.
- Steamed every surface of everyTHING in both bedrooms, including the brick wall.
- Vacuumed, steamed, then steamvac’ed the entire house.
- Placed glass cups filled with diatomaceous earth (a natural mineral which cuts through bugs’ exoskeleton and makes them bleed to death) on the feet of the boys’ beds (apparently the bugs have difficulty climbing up glass).
- Washed and dried all bedding and needed clothes in hot water followed by 30 minutes of hottest setting on dryer and bagged and sealed clean clothes in separate bags.
- Steamed all items in the master hall linen closet and bagged them.
- Called Orkin and paid ahead for two spray treatments of entire house (yet to be scheduled) at a cost of $500.
- Cried.
I've heard bed bugs were pretty bad, but oh my! I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I hope you can relax soon.
I've read recently that even an Abercrombie store in the mall had to shut down due to a bed bug infestation. I think more and more international trade will bring them, too? So sorry to hear it happened to you and your family. I hope they are gone. ~Heather R.
How awful!! I'm so sorry! I don't think I will ever buy anything used again!! YUCKK!!I was never big on it anyway (don't know why..maybe it's the OCD in me) and now I don't think I am at all! HA!
On another note, I haven't read your blog in awhile…or any others for that mattter…but I came back today and looked around and I KNOW without a doubt that you could completely decorate my apt for me and I'm sure there wouldn't be one bit of it that I wouldn't love!!
ahhh…I'm itchy all over now after this reading this! LOL!
Take Care, Michelle
Oh, Beth, what a nightmare. I know friends whose children have brought home head lice and they had to do a lot of what you're doing – the bagging and sealing of all toys, stuffed animals, bedding etc. Bedbugs sound like 100 times the aggravation. We just discovered termites in our home a few weeks ago and that is costing me $1,000….but if it makes you feel any better, your blog will make me officially stop whining about the termites because it didn't come with nearly the headache that the bedbugs brought you. I hope the sprays work and the bedbugs GO AWAY.
Heather
oh, I went through this nightmare and you just have no idea the horror of it until it happens to you.
First casualty was my back and chest where I got over 250 bites because in the very beginning, I (and my doctor) could not figure out what it was. Second casualty was my bedding and all blankets and pillows from my bedroom and the living room. Third was my bed which I took (along with the bedding) straight to the dumpster. Then I set off two bug bombs in my bedroom and started the washing of all my clothing. And finally, my credit card took a beating because I could not deal with it and I left for the west coast for 2 weeks.
When I came home, no sign of anymore bugs. I believe I got them after leaving a knitted throw on my balcony after watching a sunrise one morning. I had several bird feeders and birds were always around. I learned from the doctor that bed bugs live on birds so that was my two and two together.
Bird feeders were burned.
My sympathies, truly.
I have been thinking about you a lot lately,and how sorry I am for your bed bug crisis. I was thankful that it wasn't me, but sorry for you! 🙁 I couldn't think of anything worse, until we found out that our daughter, who is just about to graduate from HS, has MRSA! I thought of you immediately, as I was scrubbing our house from top to bottom, with bleach, and throwing away bedding and pillows! I am so horrified for her health, and the germs that may still be lurking in my home. I will keep you in my prayers, and I would cherish yours. 🙂 We will prevail over the bugs and germs, in Jesus name.
I am SO sorry.
No, it's not cancer, but it still sucks.
Did you know the entire city of Cincinnati had a huge bed bug infestation?
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/04/nation/na-bedbugs4
Oh God, this is awful. Ever since I saw a 20/20 about bed bugs awhile ago I've been careful to keep my luggage off the bed/ground, and to bag my night clothes before putting them back in my suitcase. However I never thought about ALL OF THE FURNITURE I've bought over the last few years/months. Thanks for the tips–I'll probably be posting about this and linking to your blog this week. Let me know if you're okay with that.
Hope it gets better soon, friend!
Oh God, this is awful. Ever since I saw a 20/20 about bed bugs awhile ago I've been careful to keep my luggage off the bed/ground, and to bag my night clothes before putting them back in my suitcase. However I never thought about ALL OF THE FURNITURE I've bought over the last few years/months. Thanks for the tips–I'll probably be posting about this and linking to your blog this week. Let me know if you're okay with that.
Hope it gets better soon, friend!
Dearest Beth…..
You're probably cooped up somewhere in a hidey hole right about now. But if you read this, that means it's not too late! 😉
I had a bug problem.. well, have? Kind of. Spiders are my enemy and Griffin has $500.00 of my hard earned money trying to get rid of them. I feel your pain. We also have a tiny ant problem, they're coming up through the sink. Yuck. I wont even tell you what happened when I went to drink the juice box on the counter the other day.
Yeah I drink juice boxes still 🙂
But it involved a lot of spitting, crying, swearing, and gagging. We had Griffin come again the next day. So far so good.
Anyways after a whole comment of nothing, I feel your pain. Hope you make it safely out of that mess! 🙂
Oh Beth…so hoping that you ordeal is at an end and you showed those freak'n bugs who was boss. Hang in there.
Oh Beth, I cannot even believe this is happening to you. I'm so sorry! Now you've got me all freaked out. I guess I would know if we had bed bugs. We'd have bites or something, wouldn't we? *shudder*
I hope the treatments work and your nightmare will be over.
I truly can't imagine all the work involved -just keep remembering you really will get through this with your whole family intact.
Big hugs your way
No. No. No. No. This cannot be happening to you. This is an unimaginable nightmare. I am sooooooo sorry and praying for you. Horror!!! Speechless.
I've been thinking you don't have time to talk much with your exterminating efforts. Will you call or write when things settle down for you? We need to catch up.
Love you and I'm praying for you for so many things. Knock it off. You are exhausting me. J/K. You are worth every prayer.
I think you have cured me of buying used as well. Just not worth it!! I will be thinking of you and hoping the Orkin treatment will take care of things for you! Hopefully things will back to normal very soon!!!
Thanks! Now I feel like I have bugs crawling on me. I've only had 1 encounter with bed bugs & it was in a hotel in Vegas. I still bare the scars. Luckily none of them hitch hiked home with us. But I did get scabies once from my step son who brought them home from school. That is almost as bad. Good luck on getting rid of the buggers. At least you get a new mattress out of this.
No time to read. But thank you for helping me break the thrifting habit. I am not very good at it anyway, I will not be missing out on anything.
The Little Sister in me wants to make some kind of joke, but the Fellow Mom and Homemaker shudders and can only empathize with you during this nightmare! Praying this "pestilence that stalks in darkness" passes quickly. Want me to come and read the verse?
I am so sorry to hear this. I would be so upset, and disturbed that It would take a long time for me to get over it. That just plain sucks! So sorry!
Bless your heart. What a nightmare. I am thinking of you and praying for you. This too shall pass… Hang in their girlfriend!
Wise words for those of us who love summer garage saleing!!! I will be vigilant in all I bring it- not sure I could handle bed bugs….. You're doing an amazing job holding things together!
Oh good grief. I thought this post was a joke…until I kept reading. My skin is crawling in sympathy right now and my scalp itches.
You are a stronger person than me. I would be curled up on the floor..um, concrete, in a fetal position with a straw in the Absolute.
My prayers are for you today, my friend.
XOXO
Beth, I am so sorry you have been infected by these little monsters!! I do, however, feel that you are on the right path to get rid of them!! If they survive all of this, then we are in trouble!!
Good luck!!
Lou Cinda 🙂
Know you are being prayed for thru this current trial. And thank you for sharing this as it helps others to keep an eye out in our homes as well!
I am SO sorry this happened! It makes you feel like your home is invaded and not safe for you to be comfortable in anymore. We've never had bed bugs but we have had other infestations (we live on a farm). I wanted to mention that on the Rachael Ray Talk Show (on NBC in our area) they did a whole segment on bed bugs and how to get rid of them a few weeks ago. It sounds like you are doing everything right but in case you wanted to double check I'm sure you could find it on her website rachaelray.com, click on the tv show link. Good luck and prayers for you and your family. What a horrible thing to go through. Here's praying that the orkin spraying works and that is the last you have to see of these little nasties!
I feel for you Beth! I hope this all comes to an end for you soon.
Thanks for your post – apart from making me really itchy it has really making me think about what I've brought into our home and may even change my thrifty ways.
Hugs to you! Hang in there.
I can't even imagine! Best of luck to you all! Couldn't help but chuckle at the "Terminix" ad on the side of your page. Wasn't sure if that was there before, or just perfect timing. Good luck!!
i am so sorry, i am reminded of when my daughter, much to my horror, got lice! we had to clean everything and deal with them in her hair. it is so disgusting and you feel like you are a good, clean person, how could this happen?! good luck!!
my son loves thrift shopping for vintage clothes, i have told him of your horror and will wash everything in hot water from now on!!
Beth, my heart is honestly breaking for you. 🙁 I can't imagine the stress you must be feeling. I hope that Orkin is able to take care of your problems!!! Your readers will still be here when you are through with this problem and can return to life as normal.
You have made me REALLY reconsider doing any more yard saling…especially with kids' clothes. :s
Oh my dear, Beth! I'm exhausted reading your list! I'm exhausted just reading 1/4 of your list! I'm also sorry I don't live closer, or I'd offer to take the kids to the park or something while you're working so diligently tackling your house. Of course you're always tackling your house – but this is soooo very different!
I'm curious, do you see Galdalf scratching too? Is there like a "bed bug collar" for him to keep them off him? With all his hair, that'd be a nightmare!
Praying for you, I'm so sorry! 🙁
Oh I am SO sorry. How awful!!! A good friend of mine went through this. They had their 6 month old sons cradle in their bedroom… Yep, infested! The poor little guy had hundreds of bites on him. Heart wrenching… I hope everything improves, quickly, for you!
I'll be praying for you! It is such a LOT of work to get rid of them but on the bright side your house will be cleaner than it has ever been. 🙂
I'm so sorry you had to go through this…I thought it was bad when one of my kiddos brought home head lice from school. Bed bugs are my greatest fear…I don't like to sleep in hotels anymore after hearing the horror stories. Guess that means we need to get an RV :-).
I am sending you good thoughts that this will all be over soon!!
**HUGS**
I'm so sorry this is happening to you! I cannot imagine what you're going through, but I know I'd be crying too! I can't stand ONE bug in the house, let alone several elusive ones. I hope this nightmare will be over for you SOON!! I'll keep you in my prayers!
I'm itchy just thinking about it and reaaaaaaly hope you get rid of them for good.
Oh Beth! I've never had bed bugs (knock on wood) but I can just imagine how stressing this must be! Especially with trying to figure out whether you are moving or not too! 🙁 I read somewhere that you can also place your furniture legs in drinking glasses with some water in the bottom (should be left a year- so probably not good for wood furniture) and pull everything away from the wall a few inches (so they can't climb the wall then get on the bed-thereby avoiding the legs) and also to seal your baseboards completely with caulk around all seams. I guess a lot of people assume they only live in the beds/couches but they usually live behind baseboards/trim??
Anyway I love ya and I'm thinking about you! Good luck and take a break if you need it! Go somewhere fun just to breathe!
I feel your pain, I really do. We got bed bugs somehow 3 years ago and it was THE WORST experience of my life. I was a nut case. It really is horrible. I know you don't know me, but I follow your blog and wanted you to know you aren't alone. Hang in there!
I have to ask. Can you 'feel' them? Or do they bite only at night when there's no other activity around?
Guess I should read up on it.
Donna
Oh my GOSH. What Melissa said. This sounds exhausting to the extreme! After the exterminator visits, do you still have to steam and wash everything daily? That sounds crazy! Praying for you.
I'll second guess that 'itch' now. I have so many used things and I never gave any of this a 2nd thought.
And I always meant to properly seal the mattress and pillows when new and never did.
Thanks for the wake up call!
Donna
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
Oh my gosh Beth! I am cringing over your list. How exhausting! I am praying hard for peace to come quickly to you and your family.
I have never been able to shop for used items due to severe sinus issues and allergies. Little did I know I was also not bringing bed bugs home. Whew!
Hang in there sweet friend.
~Melissa
Beth, I worry about these things, and can't believe it happened to you! What a nightmare (truly)!
Come visit for some inspiration!
Karena
Art by Karena
Wow-I had no idea! Thanks so much for the tips and good luck to you! {{hugs}}
I am so sorry to hear that! My parents had the same problem long time ago and it is not fun at all. Be patient it will be better.
Wish you luck,
Sara
Oh girl, here's a hug. Hang in there and I hope this problem goes away asap! You work so hard to make your home a beautiful, welcoming, safe haven and when this turns on you it must be unbelievably upsetting.
If we have to move, this is forcing me to go through everything at an incredibly fast pace. If they all die, the house will be organized and show ready in no time. I guess that could be a blessing?
There is one bright side. Your house will be completely sanitized and clean when this is over.
Though, it is a horrible thing you have to deal with.
Oh, Beth. I'm so sorry. Bless you as you soldier through this, trying to hang on to your sanity, not to mention your creative, hopeful attitude. May you be back to fun projects again soon!
How did you find out you had them?
I want a new bed, maybe I can freecycle a throw too:) JK.
Sorry you have to deal with this. I hope things slow down for you soon!
Kelly
Thanks Debbie. I actually already read wikpedia's page on bed bugs. I've spent countless hours reading about them. And although you can get them from new items, they are much more likely to be on used. Sort of like lice. You can get them anywhere and they don't discriminate. However, they are inevitably going to be me more prevalent in homes that don't have the education, financial means, or energy to do what is necessary to completely be rid of them. Plus, I have put several things by the curb already to be in bulk pickup. I've placed signs on it that say "bed bugs" but how many people would bother to do this? They are a nightmare.
What a nightmare. This is an aspect of buying used things that never occurred to me. I hope you're successful at getting rid of the bugs soon.
OMG Beth, I can't even imagine going through something like this and I thought head lice on my daughter was a nightmare. I never ever knew that bed bugs could create such havoc. I am so sorry to read that you are going through all of this.
You certainly have perked up my ears about anything I purchase "used" in the future.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page and look up bed bugs.
This has to be an absolute nightmare Beth, and so sorry you are going through this. Bed bugs can also be transferred in new furniture and through our pets as well….I have included a link of facts for people to go and read. As it is, these creatures are so tricky to be pinpointed there are MANY sources in which they can come and perhaps we all need to be properly educated on them.
Thats Horrible Beth! Hope you get some rest and all those pesky bugs go away soon.
Oh you poor thing:o(
Please tell me the symptoms of bed bugs aren't itching and scratching…gulp, pleeeeze.
Angex
I can't imagine all the energy involved in that workload, Beth!
I'm glad you're blogging about it because it will help someone out there to diagnose and treat the same problem.
We miss you too! You're in my prayers.
Hang in there Beth…I know it's tough! When this nightmare is over, you'll be back to revampin' stuff in no time!!