Question: I have bed bugs in my apartment. I began seeing them (rarely) a
few months ago but I didn't know what they were. Currently I have over 20
bites on my body.
My apartment building management hired an exterminator who visited and
sprayed yesterday. I'm wondering if anyone is ever able to get rid of
these things easily. I have read several horror stories over the internet
and I am considering moving.
Thank you for your help.
ANSWER Bed bugs can be controlled, but it is not always easy. There is usually a lot of work involved.
Control begins with taking the bed completely apart. Start with the frame, and disconnect as many parts as possible so you can clean all the cracks and crevices (and spray with an aerosol insecticide any of the common aerosols will be fine) . If you don't want to use an aerosol, use a hair dryer (set on high) to blow hot air into the cracks and crevices of the bed-this will drive out the bugs and kill some of them.
Once the frame is clean, then do the same for the head board and the box spring. Treat the cracks and crevices, then clean and vacuum the seams of the mattress. With what is left in the aerosol you can spray the baseboards of the room. Start with the area near the bed, and try to get the spray under or behind the baseboard (where bedbugs may also be hiding). These insects can travel far to find a blood meal, so don't fail to clean and treat the room. Nightstands and picture frames on the walls can be hiding places too, so be thorough. They can live long without food, so even old beds (not used in while) can have them.
Check to see that there are no new or recently abandoned bird nests close to the room (check the attic), since there are 'cousins' to bed bugs that live in these nests and can move from there to feeding on people.
