Help - Bed Bugs!!

[Smowball]

2 months ago my son kept waking up with bites all over his feet. Just couldn't work out what they were. Having never seen a bedbug in my life it didn't even occur to me. It was only when someone suggested it that I stripped his bed, couldn't see a thing. Then I pulled out the spare mattress underneath the bed and there they were! I was mortified as Ive always associated it with dirt, which im assured it isn't. Rang pest control who were brilliant. Said son has most probably brought them in from outside on a school bag or something. Sprayed entire room and floor below which is my bedroom ( he has loft conversion). unfortunately within days I was also woken up covered in bites and actually found 2 on my mattress. Very upset. Pest control have to leave 2 weeks inbetween sprays so they came back and did all rooms, infact they soaked them. To cut to the chase, they have now been FIVE times and are completely baffled as to why the treatment hasnt worked. My sons room seems to be free now as he no longer has any bites and they couldn't find a thing in his room. But im still getting bitten to death everynight even though I cant actually see any bugs anymore - theyre clearly a couple hidden somewhere. Its making my life a totally misery, im so sore. they've bitten my face, my neck, my arms lastnight and im so unhappy. I don't know what to do. Pest control say they've used the strongest treatmen possible. Help : (

[Canary42]

Sorry Snow, it must be awful for you - hope you get it sorted soon.

Instead of a steamer, I wonder if a heat gun (as sold by DIY stores) carefully used would be any better (what do other ABers think ?).

e.g. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_8?url=search-alias%3Ddiy&field-keywords=heat+gun&sprefix=heat+gun%2Caps%2C136

[Smowball]

I'll try anything....

[RATTER15]

Sammy, bedbugs, generally infest many fixtures and fittings, disposing the furniture is very unlikely to sort the problem.

[RATTER15]

Smow, the best thing you can do is just be patient, using a heat gun on an area that has been treated could cause problems, the chemical could ignite or give off toxic gasses. Just ensure your pest controller is doing his job properly.

[ladybirder]

Smow if you and your husband are sleeping in the same room I would guess he is being bitten but his body isn't reacting to them.
What a nightmare for you.

[Smowball]

It is a nightmare, and to know that every night when I go to bed im going to get bitten is just awful, but pest control say that you have to sleep in the same room as its something to do with your breath that draws them out. ( maybe hubbie has bad breath!!) But seriously I showed the pest guy on Thursday and he said they are definitely bed bug bites. Oddly enough, whenever they've treated the room it seems to disturb them and I get bittern really badly that night.

[Canary42]

In view of Ratter's comment, perhaps a heat gun isn't a good idea.

[pusskin]

Hi Smowball, would you consider sleeping on the settee downstairs till the bugs have been sorted and sent on their way?

[Sammy48]

Snow, put some neat Tee Tree oil on the body areas you are being bitten on. I use this when I go into the garden, the *** won't bite you then. In fact if you like the smell put some on your bed covers and pillows. Worth a try.

[Smowball]

pusskin you have to sleep in the affected room to draw them out onto the treated surfaces, or else I would be on the sofa every night! ! Will try tea tree oil, and get a steamer - and everything else suggested! xx

[RATTER15]

The only thing a steamer will do is wash away the treatment already applied.

[Smowball]

The last spray they said they used was STINGRAY?

[Sammy48]

Snow, Have you recently bought any new, old or reconditioned furniture into your home ?

[Smowball]

No
It was the 1st thing they asked me actually x

[RATTER15]

From what I can see, Stingray is not a widely used product and I have never heard of it but I am a little out of touch with modern chemicals.

Read this data sheet about this product. Be careful! https://www.pelgar.co.uk/images/stories/datasheet_pdf/STINGRAY_ME.pdf

[RATTER15]

In my experience, bedbugs are usually picked when on holiday or sleeping in hotel bedrooms or the like. Ring any bells?

[Sammy48]

RATTER, my sistars came in a brand new padded headboard which had been stored near an infested old mattress in the delivery van. I know these days old mattresses have to be sealed in a large bag supplied by the delivery people when being collected.

[Smowball]

No hadn't been in any hotels at that time. Will have a look at that link x

[atalanta]

Keating's powder is the old fashioned treatment for bedbugs. You'll need an old-fashioned chemist's shop. Sprinkle powder in the bed, according to the instructions on the packet, especially around the pillow area. This worked for my brother, many years ago.

[tamborine]

Puff this about. "Kills ALL insects" t'aint fussy but its cheap ;)

http://tiny.cc/t0vd3x