Bed Bugs - Columbus,OH

Updated on June 10, 2011
J.G. asks from Columbus, OH
8 answers

Anyone tried any of the "green" and non-toxic products for use in combatting bed bugs? I've been looking at products like Bed Bug Bully, Bed Bug Patrol, Best Yet, etc. and I would like to hear if anyone has tried these, or what you tried and how you thought it worked. We found 1 bug in our child's bed 2 nights ago, but have seen no others, nothing on the mattresses, we aren't being bitten, etc. Perhaps we found the 1 that we carried into the house, and now its dead, but my guess is there could be more. Doing inspections at night too, and still not finding any. But, before I have a professional spray my whole house with an insecticide (I have small kids), I would rather use a product safe for children.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the responses. I've been doing ongoing inspections, and nothing is turning up, but I went ahead and ordered Dead Bed Bug Spray just to have on hand and use preventively, and also something called diatomaceous earth (food grade), which is ground up fossil shells of marine life, and has all kinds of applications, but it affects bed bugs exoskeletons and they dry up and die. Its safe to put around humans, pets, etc. Let's hope I don't see anymore!

More Answers

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A.H.

answers from Washington DC on

I tried the "natural" sprays, one smelled like Cinnemon the other like Peppermint and they did not do a dang thing. The only thing that really worked is Hot Shot Flea and Bed Bug Killer.

R.B.

answers from Dallas on

Try sterifab.

You can find it online- Amazon.
R.

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C.1.

answers from Minneapolis on

My husband was just telling me yestereday he read on line somewhere that bed bugs are on the rise, again, higher than ever before. We've never had them and I hope we never do.
I also wanted to ask are you positive that it was a bed bug? They can be very hard to spot cuz they're so tiny (long story to go along with how I know this).
I hang my clothes outside to dry when it's nice and lately sometimes find some weird looking bugs on the clothes when I bring them in. I've learned to shake them well first now.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Ooh yikes...I do not envy you. I hope they don't spread this far!! Anyway, I wanted to say that I saw a story on some news the other night about this problem and the particular expert that was interviewed in this story said that part of the problem with the resurgence of these pests was the "newer" pesticides that don't work as well. I would probably go ahead and splurge for the professional and take your chances.

S.V.

answers from Dallas on

Email me at ____@____.com, place "bed bugs" in the subject heading. I think I can help with a safe product.

S.

C.R.

answers from Columbus on

hi J.!
my experience is even though you are not seeing them, they are definitely there!!!
last year in spring time we moved to the 2nd floor of a 3 family building, and got the nasty little things from our landlord who lived below us. We were being bitten alot without ever finding any signs of the bugs, and being it was summer, I just figured it was mosquito bites. after a while i got the telltale row of bites on my side, then shortly after that i found an actual bug on my jacket while i was at an appointment (how embarassing!!!)
after speaking to the board of health, building inspector legal aid and anybody else who would listen, the landlord FINALLY had someone come out to do an estimate of how much it would cost to take care of the problem.
this was in december. the man came to the apartment, searched high & low and only found 1 bug and NO traces of bugs. i told him i know im not crazy. its december, and the kids & myself are STILL getting bitten.
i didnt mean to ramble, what i was trying to get at is you can have them without having any signs of them.
and from what a friend of mine told me is they are extremely difficult to get rid of. i believe what he said because he had formerly worked for terminix. and he warned me against trying to use anything thats not recommended byt "bug professionals" what can happen is the bugs can be scared away for a short time, then will all come out to feed at once, and they will seem to bombard you.
before you try to do anything on your own, call a professional first.
they do free estimates and can give you very sound advice.
i know the kind of hell these pests can cause. good luck, and be very careful.

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H.M.

answers from Omaha on

My husband works at a hotel chain and he handles customer relations. They even have a list of hotels that have had positive hits of them.

Anyways, the only real way to get rid of them was DDT which is banned everywhere now recently so people are bringing them into America like mad. They were nearly extinct and especially here but now since they aren't being combated in the rest of the world anymore They are rising more and more everyday. Hotel industry is having a cow about it.

The only real way to combat them still that is effective is heating the little buggers up. I think it's like over 120 degrees. They literally come into your home and bag everything (especially your mattresses and pillows) then turn your house into a oven and that is what kills them.

My husband works for a fortune 500 one and you can bet your butt if they had a cheaper option they'd do it. . . but supposedly the only effective thing as of right now is baking them.

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C.E.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi J.,

I saw on GMA last week that they are really on the rise and some things to do. THey suggested both mattress covers and bed bug traps that you place under the posts of your bed...somehow they can't get out of them. I would do these first to determine if you actually have them. In fact, you might find more tips on GMA's website if you go there since it just aired last week. Good luck!

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