Ever since I discovered a bed bug in my mattress seam and killed it (6-29-2010), I haven't seen anymore…?

Ever since then, I’ve been losing a lot of sleep and I even spent a whole day (I should have been studying for my Algebra test! I ended up getting a 48!) looking up information about bed bugs. Every night or in my case, morning (I usually go to sleep between 2-4:30am) I spray my pillow, mattress, pillowcase, covers, between my mattress and box spring, curtains, and in little holes around my window with 91% alcohol. I usually end up using anywhere from 20-30 oz. of alcohol every morning! The fumes are no joke, but I’ve survived them so far, thank God! Luckily, I haven’t been bit, but I feel like I’m over doing it. Before I spray, I always do a through inspection of everything I listed above and I haven’t seen anything. How hazardous are the alcohol fumes? I heard that bed bugs don’t like borax and I thought about putting some between my mattress and box spring. Do you think that will decrease my need for the excessive amounts of alcohol I’ve been using? Also, I just read that taking vitamin B1-B-Complex could keep them and other bugs at bay…I wonder if this really works! With the exception of calling an exterminator (I REALLY DON’T HAVE THE MONEY), I want to know if you could give me additional ideas on keeping them at bay. Thanks so much for your time and effort in advance! I got the alcohol idea from my cousin. They had bed bugs in their apartment building and they sprayed everthing down with alcohol and they haven’t had any ever since!
Oops! I meant "everything" (the last sentence). Sorry about the error!
I just realized that I spelled "thorough" wrong also! Once again, I’m sorry!

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2 Responses to “Ever since I discovered a bed bug in my mattress seam and killed it (6-29-2010), I haven't seen anymore…?”

1. xaargh Says:
   August 29th, 2010 at 12:19 pm

   Good that you haven’t seen any more! What you should probably do is spray the stuff you aren’t sleeping on directly with a residual insecticide instead of alcohol. Anything for "crawling insects" you find at the hardware store should do. This stuff stays around for a while so you don’t have to spray it constantly and breath in all those fumes every day (maybe every couple weeks instead).

   You should also get bed-bug-proof covers for your mattress and box springs, they are bags that zip shut and will keep any bed bugs living in there from biting you, and stop more bed bugs from getting in. Eventually the bugs caught inside will all die. (I think these covers are generally advertised as a remedy for dust mites, though they’ll also work for bed bugs and should say so somewhere on the packaging.) Then wash all your bedding and put it in the dryer on the hottest setting to kill anything living there. Borax or DE on the mattress and covers is also a good idea.

2. Olivia Parker Says:
   August 29th, 2010 at 12:19 pm

   I think that the alcohol spraying has got to stop because the fumes are very harmful for your health. I’m glad the bed bugs aren’t biting you anymore. But I do think that it’s time to change your ways. Your routine can’t go on forever..

   1) Drop the alcohol, and vacuum. Vacuum daily, don’t get lazy!

   2) Cover your pillows and mattress with the mattress encasement: http://www.pestmall.com/protect-a-bed-bug-pillow-covers-standard.html and http://www.pestmall.com/protect-a-bed-bed-bug-mattress-cover—full.html.

   3) If you still feel that the bed bugs are alive, then treat with professional products: http://www.pestmall.com/bed-bug-kit-basic-kill-bedbugs.html

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