Night Night,

 Sleep Tight,

 Don't let the bed bugs bite.... 

This was something I've said many a times to my kids over the years. I guess it was said to me, because I've always known it. 

But in my fifty plus years, I'd never had bed bugs... until a few years ago ! I'm not even sure how this happened. No new or used mattresses or furniture. I wash all incoming clothing. After doing some research trying to figure out what they looked like, what the symptoms/signs were, and how to get rid of them I've learned a thing or two.  I hope my experience helps someone...

First thing I've learned is that I hate bedbugs ! These things are so tiny when young, not much bigger when mature and they HIDE in tiny cracks, behind electric faceplates, in books, anywhere !!  They look like ticks to me when mature. I thought I'd found a tick. Uh, not that lucky !

How can you kill them when you don't know where they are? 

Vacuum and spray the mattress, chairs, curtains, linens, pillows, floors, the entire house ! Wash and dry on HOT for at least 30 minutes. Heat kills them as does rubbing alcohol. But they keep coming back for snacks. They hide in every little crack, under electrical plug faceplates, in floor cracks, in the cracks at the base boards around your walls, in the cracks of the bed, behind head boards, etc. etc, etc. A lawyer in my state had them falling out of his clothing !! A metropolitan library had them, I watched a movie- The Intern (Anne Hathaway) and the business the main character owned had to recall some orders because an inspection found ONE bedbug !

NOW I know why ONE bedbug is such a worry and PAIN. There's NEVER just ONE. They look kinda like light colored ticks, almost flesh colored, but taller legs. When mature they're kinda dark, almost black, but very thin and kinda hard. They like nocturnal adventures. THEY CAN MOVE FAST !!! Get a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol BEFORE you start inspecting mattresses. 

My kid said " Let's throw the mattress away and buy a new one". WELL, that won't get rid of these devil bugs, because they hide everywhere. I also learned that they crawl into books, purses, back packs, suitcases, shoes etc... 

 I had already heard about bags, but books.... really? I buy used books. I have been for years though.

I've had lice three times. I have very long hair, so I'm cautious. I picked up lice from movie theater seats one of the three times I've had them. So, I 'd been to a movie theater recently- crap !! I always put my hair up, now I don't put my purse/ bag on the floor anymore. I also don't put it on fabric furniture. But if they get on your clothes? You've got a stowaway. To your car, to your house, to your BED !

So, STEAM, hot water,  hot dryer, rubbing alcohol kill s these devil bugs.  I used the poison spray from the local store. Did NOTHING, except cost me money and a wasted trip.

They will not die if left in a bag for a certain amount of time. THEY LIVE FOREVER, even without food. They will eat skin cells. 

Renting an apartment or house? HAVE IT SPRAYED FIRST and vacuum the crap out of everything, Be careful what you do with the bag. Vacuum bag needs to be thrown away after use !!! If you have a place to burn, burn those bugs and eggs.

 Wash the curtains, all linens, heat treat the stuffed animals, CARPET. I thought lice was bad, and it is. And at least bedbugs don't like our body heat so they don't live ON us. But what a pain in the acres !!

 I read that the US hasn't had a bedbug problem for about 45 years. That sounds about right. I'll let you figure out WHY we are suddenly having this issue again. Apparently, they don't like certain people as much as others or the blood types.... like mosquitos. They both love me. 

So, I learned how to deal with the bed bugs and I think I itch all the time now thinking about them.

 I HOPE this article helps you understand more about bedbugs and how to get rid of them.  Do everything again in two weeks as recommended. I suggest you wash linens every few days and inspect mattresses. Have rubbing alcohol spray bottle ready. Work your way to every week. Be careful while carrying contaminated linens and pillows around. Put in a garbage bag right off the bed.

I've battled the bedbug twice now, and I THINK I've won. Other people have had mattresses heat treated. Some have had bedbugs as a bonus in new or rented furniture. Some have had their entire home heated to above 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

BTW that nursery song/ poem is TERRIBLE. You can't stop them from biting- you're ASLEEP !  I never wanted to know that, but I try to see negative things as learning experiences, A way to help others. 

Please keep rubbing alcohol away from kids and the fire. If you have lots of stuff on the floor or under the bed, get rid of it ! Don't' let these devil bugs have hiding spots. 

Pray, and check every few days- DON'T wait two weeks. 

Keep Strong Mom,

ElainaMc 

Living the single mom life since 2003.