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I am totally freaked out now...

My building had an outbreak of bedbugs in Queens NY. We don't know where they came from but it took my family (when I lived with my parents) the whole summer to get rid of them with the sealing and storing clothes that have been washed and washed again. It is one of the worst annoyances and can be extremely frustrating. I had to wear long sleeved shirts and pants to cover up the numerous bites on my body - in the summer!! The scars eventually healed but it took about 6 months to fully dissappear.

Please be careful with what you buy on craigslist or what you find on the street. Alot of the furniture in our building that was infected had to be thrown out immediately.

That's it. I'm going into my bomb shleter and never coming out again!

My skin is crawling!! OMG!! Thanks for the info!

Wait until your clean little preschooler comes home with a letter warning you about a lice outbreak at school or your child's playmate informs you that her sister has lice.

I am itching as I read this. Eww!

I freak out everytime I have to travel and end up washing every single item of clothing that I had packed. I was in NYC for work last week, and now I'm wondering if I shouldn't have just thrown all my clothes and bags away. I never ever want bed bugs.

"And they are honestly the worst thing that's ever happened to me (not to dramatize) so I just want to help other people with this however I can..."

Oh dear I know you are not dramatizing! This is far worse than lice or any pest I know by orders of magnitude!. It's now about a year that we had them. At the end we throwed almost everything and ended with a tape-fenced matress in a bare floor for months. We even found them hiding in books in the next room! (Could they have come from the public library?)
We started from scratch: the other day we were just commenting how great is to have a bedroom back again.
We think we picked them at a hotel but we are not sure, of course.

I have heard that they can crawl under your door and into your apartment. Is there some way of sealing a threshold to keep this from happening?

A friend of mine just went through having bedbugs. It sounded like a complete nightmare. (does homeowner's insurance cover it?)

Although this may sound crazy - please don't over-react everyone! I had bedbugs about a year and a half ago - and it was horrible, demoralizing, frustrating, and paranoia-inducing.
Once you read on the Internet how easily, quickly, and almost permanently you can "catch" bedbugs - you may freak out, never go out, sit down or be able to be in the proximity of another human being again.
But - take a deep breath and think - it really can't be that horrible and yes - they can be gotten rid of...because if they couldn't be controlled, the world would be completely infested with them and you'd probably "catch" them anywhere and everywhere you would go - and people DON'T.
You have to do all the things all the helpful posters mentioned, have professional spraying with toxic chemicals repeatedly, and - for us anyhow - we resorted to a whole bunch of "organic remedies" such as African marigold powder, Vaseline on legs of furniture and beds, plastic encased mattresses, etc., We've been bug free since - but keep our fingers crossed....

pod's, I really want to put this in perspective.... but your post actually didn't help me chill on this at all!

just wanted to add that there is an excellent, non-toxic product called Steri-Fab. you can get it at hardware stores.

it kills adult bedbugs on contact, and i spray it on my bags and shoes whenever i come home.

after travel, vacuum all your suitcases thoroughly before bringing into the house, and then spray them with Steri-Fab. an ounce of prevention...

Hey guys, I wrote the letter and I'll do my best to answer some of these questions. If you really want the best source of info, it's bedbugger.com. Check out the FAQs.

Jessica, sorry to freak you out! Bedbugs are freaky, yes. But they are also a huge social stigma, and that's not fair either. So again, I'm sorry to freak you (and everyone!) out - but try to be kind if you meet anyone who's had them. They're not dirty people, I promise. And it's not their fault.

Lizz, good call. Used mattresses are a big no-no. Stuff you found on the street is also a pretty bad idea, at least in the city.

Itching while reading about bedbugs is VERY common. My exterminator starts itching whenever we talk. It's just your mind playing tricks on you. Again, sorry!!

Sark, I know they seem similar, but lice are a walk in the park compared to bedbugs. Lice require detailed nit-picking and expensive shampoos, but really, their eradication is understood and there are clear protocols. There are no easy solutions for bedbugs, at least not at this time.

Jen, washing your clothes when you come home from travel is a good idea. When doing laundry, you want to wash things on hot and dry on hot. Heat will kill both bugs and eggs. But don't start throwing everything away, just for prevention! Chances are, you are fine.

The best piece of prevention advice is when you travel, don't put your suitcase on the bed. Keep it far away from the bed. (I keep mine in the bathroom).

You can also check tripadvisor - they post reviews of hotels and some reviewers mention bedbugs. Try to stay at hotels that don't. (duh)

Olarizu, I'm so sorry you've had them for so long. I urge you to visit bedbugger, there are lots of people willing to help with advice and support. We are all sorta in this together, I guess.

Eliza, sure, they can crawl under your door - they are as flat as a credit card and can come in through many routes. Electrical outlets and pipe chases are a couple ways they can move through multi-unit buildings. I don't think sealing your door's threshold would do much. Better to just take preventative measures when you travel. There's more on this on bedbugger, too.

My renter's insurance does not cover "pests." However, in Chicago landlords are required to pay for pest extermination, so I got my landlord to pay for some of our treatments. The expenses I incurred were more from buying things like mattress covers, XL ziploc bags, a steamer, lots of laundry and drycleaning, and renting a storage facility.

Pods, it does make you feel paranoid, huh? But actually, you don't become paranoid - I've talked to a counselor about this - you become hypervigilant. Taking every action you know of, to the point of obsession, and always being careful. We also had Vaseline on our bed legs. :) Congrats on being bug-free!

Also, Maxwell, I find it hilarious that you managed to find a photo of bedbugs on such a lovely wooden bed frame. Only AT...

I am never, ever buying anything at the flea market again.

This is pretty scary stuff.

I think I've read--perhaps on AT?--that there's some kind of spray you can use on furniture/suspected bedbug sites and it will make them come out and be visible. Does this really exist and does anyone know the name of it?

OMG i'm becoming a nudist and sleeping on a stone. end of story.

S. in Chicago (and Maxwell),
Thank you for all of the info and for sharing your experiences. I (knock on wood) have never had bedbugs, but am certainly a more educated and cautious traveler because of the info you provided.

Sea, you can chill by knowing that the chances of getting them are probably still small. I can't tell you that having them is easy, but hey - every day we leave our houses, something bad could happen to us. Bedbugs have taught me that, sadly, my life isn't entirely in my control - but have I moved to the suburbs and stopped traveling? No way dude. I'm just more informed now about the possible risks, and what to do if I ever got them again.

I do hear Steri-Fab is a good contact killer. Another one is called Kleen Free - I ordered mine on Amazon. I mean, Raid will kill them too - I just didn't want to spray it into my shoes and have them smell like Raid. These other products are a little lighter on the senses.

And spraying your suitcase down after you travel is a good idea. But remember that contact killers are not The Answer - the problem with bedbugs, once they are in your house, is that you can't find them, therefore you can't just spray them and be done with it. Hence, we use residual chemicals which cover our baseboards, bed frame, electrical outlets, furniture, etc., and last for weeks or months.

Cassis, yeah, bedbugs are pretty scary - amazing how a tiny bug can induce such irrational fear. (I know it's irrational, and yet I can't help feeling scared of them). The bites are damn itchy too. I think not buying things at flea markets is a good idea. But also, hey - be glad you don't have them, and inform yourself so you never will. :) I'll repeat: don't put your suitcase on the bed when you travel! And check tripadvisor before you book!

I have researched this topic for months, and I have never heard of a spray that makes them "come out and be visible." They typically just sit in their hiding places all day. Something that inexperienced exterminators do is release "bug bombs," similar to those used for fleas. These will not kill the bedbugs - only cause them to spread. Say no to "bombs!"

However, if there was a place you thought was infested (say, a dresser) you could spray it down with Raid, or Kleen Free, or Steri-Fab, and that might help. But you don't want to start spraying chemicals willy nilly, in the hopes that they will come out.

If you thought you had them, you would want to call an experienced pest control professional (ask them specifically about their experience WITH BEDBUGS). They would inspect and treat the places bedbugs are most likely to be, such as your mattress, box spring, headboard, dresser, night stand, or the walls and floor nearest your bed.

Okay, well, nobody wants bedbugs, but if they are the worst thing that ever happened to you, you are one lucky, lucky girl!

Thanks Palousian. I know, and I agree.

Thanks for all the info, guys. It's good to be a little more informed.

I wonder whether diatomaceous earth would work to kill bed bugs. Has anyone looked into it? It is an amazing natural way to control unwanted insects (ants, fleas and roaches are included). It is made of fossilizied diatomes that puncture the exoskeletons of insects and cause them to dry up and die. It is better than poison because they cannot build up a resistance to it. It is also non-toxic to humans and animals. They even use it as an anticaking agent in many dried foods. It can be sprinkled inside or outside a house, however it is rendered useless once it has become wet.

Sounds a lot like fleas. They were a nightmare. I basically had to move out, fumigate three times, and toss out all of my linens, curtains, clothing, and rugs.

My daughter mentioned she had bedbug bites last summer while studying in Sicily... I freaked... She took all her linens and clothing to the laundramat, washed them on hot then said the problem was done. I was glad when she left the primative furnished apartment she and 4 other girls shared for their study abroad. As far as I know, no bedbugs here.

Headlice are another whole topic I hate to face. The worst experience was the one batting helmet all the girls on the softball team shared... the next week...every girl had her very own NEW helmet and strict instructions NOT TO SHARE!

We all survived.

Hi All,

Thanks for S for mentioning Bedbugger and to Maxwell for printing S's letter and linking to us (I run the Bedbugger.com site--and S is right, we have quite a community.)

Alice, I am glad your daughter did not bring them home!

There are FAQs at Bedbugger.com/faqs that answer almost all of the questions above--including how to avoid bed bugs while traveling, how to get a PCO who knows what they're doing, and what Diatomaceous Earth can do. I hope you'll check them out.

While pods is right that you shouldn't freak out, it's also important to realize that bed bugs are--at the minimum--going to inconvenience someone (seriously) for weeks. According to one study I read about, only 2% of cases need one treatment, and only 26% need two. The vast majority need 3-4 or more professional treatments at 2 week intervals. So minimally, you're looking at a month or two of having all your clothes in sealed plastic bags, not having people over, and taking extreme steps to avoid spreading them to friends, workplaces, cars, and significant others' homes.

And while most people, like pods, are only inconvenienced for a short time, some people take much longer. If you live in a large building, and every infested unit is not simultaneously located and properly treated (treat repeat, repeat..), they will keep coming back over and over, or will never leave.

Every day we hear at the site from people who move, often giving up nearly all their possessions, and who still, somehow manage to move the bugs. This is the minority, but as large buildings get infested, it's increasing.

The best response is not panic, but awareness. And if you notice a friend seems a bit off, a bit frumpy, and a bit itchy, this may be why. The worst thing about having bed bugs is that people either recoil like you have the plague, or they tell you "it's not a big deal." Somewhere in between the two extremes is probably about right.

Hey AT:NY -- can you please post this on ALL city sites?

It seems like there are a lot of us that travel between these cities, which means a lot of potentially infested suitcases, etc. are being brought into our homes.

Good luck, everyone!

Jem's good a good idea-- bed bugs are in LA, SF, Chicago, NY and in all 50 states.

Yup. Had bedbugs. They seem to be gone now, but since they came through the wall from the next door neighbor's apartment, we keep an eye out for any signs of their return. I'm guessing they ventured to our house because the neighbors were out of town for a few months. And that they picked them up because they travel a lot.

I think it also makes a big difference how sensitive you are to the bites. My husband is super sensitive and gets big marks from any bug bite, apparently including bedbugs. So we knew before they'd taken up residence in the bed or bedding (you'll find them by the black stains).

We're not in our apartment for several months anyway because we're renovating, but when we move back in, we'll probably put down diatomaceous earth, keep the mattresses in waterproof bags (what you use for kids who wet the bed, and we have a 3 year old who sometimes climbs in our bed too, so it's not really a change for us), and keep the beds on metal frames in cups of water. Then we'll just keep an eye out. I'm really not sure how much good it does to do professional spraying of just one apartment in a large building. They'll just go elsewhere, it seems. So unless the whole building is going to do something, we've decided not to do professional treatments.

Cassis,

I read about that herbal spray, too, but can't remember the name. It was in some magazine or newspaper article talking about how you could use this spray on flea market finds. I remember wondering if it could really work.

i have def gotten bit by bedbugs in hotels. the last place i remember getting bitten was at a westin - which goes to show that name brand hotels don't necessarily protect you from bedbugs!

you can tell that you got bit by bedbugs when you seem to have a pattern of bites that go up your legs or your body (ex, like ankles> thighs> stomach> arms).

in addition to not putting your suitcase near the bed, i also try not to put my clothes in the hotel room's drawers. i live out of my suitcase and all of my used laundry i put in a plastic bag and then in my suitcase. i immediately wash all the clothes i brought on the trip with me when i get home, used or not.

on the flipside, my girlfriend is a consultant and lives in hotels and out of her suitcase. for the last 6 years she's been doing this and has never once had experienced bedbugs. so, don't feel like it's a given just b/c you stay at hotels!

I am totally. freaked. out. I leave Friday for a 3-week work trip...perhaps I'll quarantine myself when I get home.

mplsjacob,

this wonderful CBC (Canadian Broadcasting) video shows in detail how to search a hotel room for bed bugs:
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/marketplace/bed_eggs.wmv

we have more tips for travelers in the Bedbugger FAQs.

Also, it's important to realize that many frequent travelers don't have a bed bug story. But the problem is increasing quickly. And many people also don't realize that lots of people are bitten and suffer no allergic reaction (swelling, welts, bites that look like pimples) from the bites. In other words, they may be bitten and assume they have not been. It's still important not to take the bed bugs home.

I'm going through this right now and it's horrible. I've never had any reaction from the bites -- the first indication I had that my apartment was infested was by seeing the actual bugs. I'd read the trend pieces in the Times, etc. so I knew what they were. Talk about a sick feeling. The bugs started coming out in the evening, when I would enter the infested room. I don't think I'll ever get over the sight of a big (relatively speaking) blood-swollen bug crawling across my bed. And no, I don't travel or even have guests. I think the bugs came in from the apartment below.

One more try -- can you PLEASE post this on the other city sites?

Hello,

My name is Sean and I am a former pest control technician and now a Quality Assurance Manager and Technical Advisor for one of North America’s largest pest control companies.

I have spent the better part of the past five years studying and researching bed bugs. It has literally become a hobby.

I have created a website geared toward providing the public with a place to go to get unbiased information and allow industry professionals to communicate with each other on this issue.

The site is called The Bed Bug Resource (www.thebedbugresource.com). At the top of the page there is a Forum button that will take you to the message boards.

If you find this to be a useful resource please feel free to post a link to it, or pass the information on to colleagues and the general public.

If you reference the site or use any of its material I ask that a copy of the article be sent to me.

Sincerely,

Sean
Entomologist / Pest Professional
www.thebedbugresource.com

Hey Jem, it looks like AT: Chicago posted this yesterday. Cool. Thanks Chicago!

Kurtck, I urge you to visit Bedbugger.com (as well as The Bed Bug Resource, another great source of information and advice). There are lots of people who have gone through what you are dealing with. And your case is really the worst kind; when people don't react to the bites, the bugs can grow and spread literally undetected.

I'm sorry for your plight, but hey, at least you're not mad itchy like some people.

Check out a freelance article I wrote last fall for THIS OLD HOUSE entitled "Bed Bugs!" Lots of good suggestions from experts on the subject.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/interiors/gallery/0,25895,1548781,00.html

-D

My husband recently joined the public library at 9th street and 2nd ave in the East Village. Should I be worried about getting bed bugs from books? I have asked him not to check out books but he thinks I'm being crazy. Am I?

I have been totally freaked out by these bugs for a long time (after someone I knew had them and I started googling it). I live in the E Village and saw a mattress covered in bed bugs laying the street the other day. I looked down the street and saw a suitcase and pillows as well. I'm sure it was just a matter of time before something snatched those up and are now infested. This situation is disgusting and I am pretty sure that the city is trying to cover up the problem when they should actually be educating new yorkers on what to look for and how to prevent them.