Bed Bug Discussion

[Soccerbuff66]

I just found out I have beg bugs in my apartment- my management company says it's $700 for the treatment and they pay for that, but they say I have to pay to wash all of my laundry. Everything has to be washed, everything in the dressers, closets, coat closet, my curtains. Once washed everything has to go in bags and stay there until both treatments are done, the second treatment is 3 weeks after the first. I'm so overwhelmed right now! The guy said I need to vacuum all of my shoes, purses, and my books and bag them too.

I have people coming to stay with me next weekend! This is so embarrassing!

Has anyone had the treatments and successfully gotten rid of them?

[daisy]

Yes, I had to go through exactly what you are experiencing in an old apartment blg of mine.  Same number of treatments, same washing of clothes, heat dryer, and bagging everything.  My lease was up and I actually took the opportunity to move, but not before making sure I was utterly rid of the bastards.  This included my throwing away a lot including the mattress, and putting all books and papers and other items they are known to hide in into vacuum sealed bags and putting them in storage for four months when I moved.  It turned out the entire blg was infested.  So they just came through the walls to my apt.

It was a nightmare but in a way, a good cleansing process for me.  I will never live in another Pistilli building again though.

[Soccerbuff66]

well that makes me feel better- I'm going out to get one of those vacuum seal things as soon as my clothes are at the laundry mat.

thank you!

[Punky]

I'm am in the middle of this too. Can i just ask, did you just put the books etc into vacuum bags and just hope after 4 months that the bedbugs were gone. Or do you do something before you store them? Sorry if this is a stupid question!

[Soccerbuff66]

the pest guy this morning said for my books to shake them out, vacuum around them and then put them in bags..... this is going to take ages, i have so many books!

[BoredTemp]

I have people coming to stay with me next weekend! This is so embarrassing!

I would recommend for their sake that you ask them to find other lodging. Last thing they want is to bring the bugs home with them, and bedbugs love to curl up in luggage, etc.

[daisy]

Well, I didn't move the books into bags until the exterminator had come his three times, so they did get doused with whatever air thing he was spraying - you have to leave your apt for 4 hours when he does it.  This way they got the dose of poison 3 times before being stuffed into vacuum sealed bags where the air was sucked out so they would suffocate and die if any were left.  I was out for blood.  Ah the irony.   My clothes were able to be washed and put in the heat dryer, so those were bagged up right away.  I literally lived out of bags for a full month before I moved.  

Just make sure that your neighbors get exterminated too.  It's a horror to go through, but I lived through it and am still in one piece.  If you're on top of it, you'll kill them all.  

[daisy]

Oh and if you do throw out your mattress, buy an air mattress until the mess is over.

[Punky]

Thanks! I have alot of work to do! My lease is up in Sept and I think I am going to move. The mgt are not exterminating the whole building, just my apt. How did you make sure your new apt building didn't have them too? This is my biggest fear!

[Hanahlly]

I would recommend for their sake that you ask them to find other lodging. Last thing they want is to bring the bugs home with them, and bedbugs love to curl up in luggage, etc.

I agree. The right thing to do is to tell your guests about the situation and suggest alternative lodging arrangements. If you don't, there's a good chance it could ruin or harm a relationship. I know I would have a very hard time forgiving someone who didn't tell me and knowingly allowed me to come and put me at risk.
Good luck!

[Hanahlly]

Thanks! I have alot of work to do! My lease is up in Sept and I think I am going to move. The mgt are not exterminating the whole building, just my apt. How did you make sure your new apt building didn't have them too? This is my biggest fear!

Go back to the building at a later date and time without the broker, landlord, super or whoever it was who showed it to you in the first place. Ask someone to grant you access to the building and ask them and the neighbors in the apartments closest to the one you will be renting what the bed bug and overall status is of the building. Are they happy? Any problems? Even if you asked them before, when you were on your tour, you might not have gotten the full story or even the truth.
Also, you can go to the HPD website
http://167.153.4.71/Hpdonline/provide_address.aspx
enter in the address information and you'll be able to see if the building has any specific problems (bed bugs and more if there are any) and also the apartment numbers of the units that are affected. Keep in mind, this information will not be 100% accurate because the info is only there if the tenant calls 311 and reports it or goes to Housing Court and files an HP Action against the landlord.
Good luck!

[Soccerbuff66]

I'm going out to get the box spring cover/protector and one for my mattress too but did anyone get the pillow covers?

If yes, how are they to sleep on?

[NYCMacUser]

I'm going out to get the box spring cover/protector and one for my mattress too but did anyone get the pillow covers?

If yes, how are they to sleep on?

They feel exactly like any allergy-sufferers pillow covers. The more expensive ones are made from soft fabrics.

[Soccerbuff66]

How many times did they come to treat your apartment? They say they need to come back twice- 3 weeks from the first appointment.

Does that sound about right?

[daisy]

How many times did they come to treat your apartment? They say they need to come back twice- 3 weeks from the first appointment.

Does that sound about right?

Yes, 3 times is correct.