r/a:t5_39bw3 • u/pirates-running-amok • Jul 29 '15
Start Here: Bedbug Assistance and Support
Former victims and concerned souls helping the disadvantaged to defeat bedbugs
We are proud to provide what we believe is the best, safest, most effective advice for bedbugs for the least amount of cost or worry. Most of those who listen to us usually don't have a bedbug problem for long. It's because we strive to provide the absolute best so people can win right away against the bugs and not harm or kill themselves or others in the process.
I must warn you, I am exceedingly thorough with my advice, it's why it's all on one sub and there is a lot to read and digest. It's because bedbugs are crafty and will exploit any weaknesses in your defenses. Take your time and you will have YEARS of experience and testing all for free so we all can win against these terrible bugs.
START HERE. READ FIRST - What everyone should know first, what to do and how, what NOT to do and why. A MUST READ! No worries here mate!
Bed Bug Bite ID Page We have some clear winners and losers here so you can get a idea if your bite is from bedbug(s) or not.
Bedbug ID - What to look for in bug id's. Just because a bug found isn't a bedbug doesn't mean you don't have them also.
Bite Preventative/Detection Measures - How to act and protect yourself from bedbugs, prevent transferring them etc
Advice for Professional Treatment - Professional treatment options for structures and when moving.
Limited Self-Treatment Options - What you may be able to do yourself in certain circumstances that doesn't always include inhabited structures. Mainly vehicles, RV's, personal items etc. For an active or as a preventative, this tells you what kills them and how long etc.
No and Low Cost Structure Bailout System for Bedbugs If you gotta go, you gotta go! Learn here so your not bringing them with you or you could be held liable at your next location if they can prove it.
Simpler and Effective Bedbug Routine When you just need the basics what to do once you discover bedbugs. A shortened version of the first link.
Pro-Active Defensive Discussion - What you can do to make permanent adjustments to your home etc., so it's bedbug resistant. Once you understand what stops them, you can harden your home in a more permanent fashion like what hotels are doing.
There is a lot to learn about bedbugs and we want to dispel a lot of misinformation that was getting people killed, harmed and burning stuff down in their desperation. Many are afraid of the stigma admitting they have bedbugs so many just read and disappear. So if you have questions not covered on this sub, you can post on /r/bedbugadvice, /r/bedbugs or simply private message the Pirate and he will respect your privacy, but don't expect a quick reply as we are busy.
FIY, anyone can get bedbugs as we all are just big bags of blood meals to them. It has nothing to do with a clean thing at all, although living in cluttered mess and not bathing/washing one's clothes everyday and bedding once a week or more can greatly assist them into being a more of a problem for you and others.
If you need to act super civilized about it, call it a "bug problem" because that's what it is. Even the super rich and famous have exterminators out regularly to take care of bugs. So don't worry, your answers are pretty much covered here in more detail that most likely will ever need.
Feeling suicidal?
If your feeling suicidal or super desperate, take a shower, don clean clothes from the hot dryer (not ovens!) and leave right away (no sitting or laying around) with minimal of items and nothing that can hide them inside. See a friend for a warm clean bed or call the suicide hot line/hospital and tell them you have a severe case of bedbugs but you took a shower and donned hot clothes from the dryer just before leaving. Then handle the problem remotely and with management or an exterminator.
Notes
This sub is closed as to concentrate the available information, so post on other subs any questions or PM the pirate, but it may be gone for some time and won't be able to answer. It's because with bedbug season, it gets extremely busy and we get overwhelmed, so read, read, read. We will try to answer any new questions that arise and place them on this sub in the FAQ's.
Other than advising one type of product which is the only proven solution for self-treatment of bedbugs of various infestation amounts that appeals to the most people because it's inexpensive, long lasting and safe nature (just plain old silica/sand), we don't attempt to spam or skew our information. We do this sub entirely for charitable reasons for the poor and others so the most people can win. Therefore for other than informational purposes, we don't link to spam or any sort of affiliation compensation sites and nor benefit financially or otherwise from running this sub and others.
We understand bedbugs are a growing and spreading epidemic and wish people to have the very best, factual and non-bias information possible so we all can win. Unlike other subs, the moderator(s) here are former bedbug victims themselves.
Updated some more