do i have bed bugs? how to get rid

angeldeelite

I'm a bit concerned i have bed bugs. Throughout the summer, every few weeks or so I would wake up with a couple of red raised lump around my knees. They were itchy like insect bites. Always around my knee and would appear maybe once a month.

Havn't had anything a few week thens this morning I woke up with a really itchy arm (in the fold) and have a few red raised lumps and couple more down my arm. Again look like bites.

I've lived in my flat for 18 months and never had this issue before so i'm unsure as to how I could have got bed bugs but nothing else can really explain the bites. It only happens every few week so not like i'm waking up with them every day. So if i do have bugs there definitely isn't many as they must be feeding well every few weeks!

I wash my sheets and duvet cover regularly. They are usually black so i can't really check for blood marks as suggested by sites. Checked mattress and i can't really see anything in there either.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there something i can buy to fumegate the mattress?

ormus

pesticides are not much use on bed bugs, they are resistant to most of em.
extreme heat and or cold is the answer. steam cleaning works fairly well.

simple vacuuming regular does help.

BatCat

Do you have a dog or a cat? It may well be fleas!

Loganfire

Every mattress has bed bugs unless its a foam or water bed. The question is how many do you have, if its an old mattress it could be time for a new one however if it's not that old say within 5 years then I would suggest using a tin of fly spray and spray your room has you could have a mosquito's living in your nice warm bed room or better still if you have pets such has cats that sleep on your bed it could be mites from them.

maninthestreet

Loganfire wrote: »

Every mattress has bed bugs unless its a foam or water bed. The question is how many do you have, if its an old mattress it could be time for a new one however if it's not that old say within 5 years then I would suggest using a tin of fly spray and spray your room has you could have a mosquito's living in your nice warm bed room or better still if you have pets such has cats that sleep on your bed it could be mites from them.

Every mattress does NOT have bed bugs! I think you are confusing them with house dust mites.

angeldeelite

No, i have no pets. I did consider mosquitos to begin with as i slept with my window open all summer. Not had the window open in a couple of weeks though.

I spoke to somebody at Rentokil and they don't think it sounds like bed bugs as the bites are too infrequent. Maybe i'll try the bug killing spray around the room and hope it kills whatever is eating me!

ukmaggie45

angeldeelite wrote: »

I spoke to somebody at Rentokil and they don't think it sounds like bed bugs as the bites are too infrequent. Maybe i'll try the bug killing spray around the room and hope it kills whatever is eating me!

Well, it's a relief that Rentokil don't think it's bed bugs. But do think twice about using bug killing sprays (unless it's really really necessary) as they are neurotoxins and can make you ill. Some people are more susceptible as I understand it, but don't risk it.

There is a tendency in this country to just use insecticides indiscriminately that is worrying.

Suggest you need to find out just what it is that is biting you. Although you don't have pets I guess it's possible you have picked up dog/cat fleas from public transport?

Plus midges can give a nasty bite (ask my DD!) and may get you if you throw off your quilt or sheets and blankets if you get hot in the night. (I'm forever chucking off quilt and then getting cold and dragging it back on) It seems a pretty midgey autumn to me so far - loads and loads in the garden.

Best wishes and good luck with finding a remedy that works for you.

Loganfire

maninthestreet wrote: »

Every mattress does NOT have bed bugs! I think you are confusing them with house dust mites.

Your wrong and no i am not confusing them with dust mites, I have worked in the making of mattress and you could say I know a little about this. If you did a little digging on the web you find what i am saying is true.

Payless_2

Loganfire wrote: »

Your wrong and no i am not confusing them with dust mites, I have worked in the making of mattress and you could say I know a little about this. If you did a little digging on the web you find what i am saying is true.

I don't know what your matresses were like :eek: but not all matresses have bed bugs. Dust mites, yes. Bed bugs, definitely not

Errata

If every mattress contained bed bugs the whole nation would wake up each morning bitten and bleeding. It doesn't.

Gingell

angeldeelite wrote: »

I'm a bit concerned i have bed bugs. Throughout the summer, every few weeks or so I would wake up with a couple of red raised lump around my knees. They were itchy like insect bites. Always around my knee and would appear maybe once a month.

Havn't had anything a few week thens this morning I woke up with a really itchy arm (in the fold) and have a few red raised lumps and couple more down my arm. Again look like bites.

I've lived in my flat for 18 months and never had this issue before so i'm unsure as to how I could have got bed bugs but nothing else can really explain the bites. It only happens every few week so not like i'm waking up with them every day. So if i do have bugs there definitely isn't many as they must be feeding well every few weeks!

I wash my sheets and duvet cover regularly. They are usually black so i can't really check for blood marks as suggested by sites. Checked mattress and i can't really see anything in there either.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there something i can buy to fumegate the mattress?

b3blitz have a great product and are giving a 30% discount on their website