Ongoing Bed Bug Problem: Please Help

Some potentially helpful info: http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1174/bed-bug-information-or-complaint

Thanks Bramstar. I cited and sent that link to the board, highlighting the part about violations. I should also mention that in addition to 4 extermination treatments, I'm using diatemaceous earth and deltamethrin spray on my own. My problem is totally invisible at first glance, and I 've never seen more than 2 bugs in 1 day. But it seems that they are able to get in here somehow, and I'm getting bitten a lot.

Where there's smoke, there's fire. If you are seeing 2 bugs in 1 day, particularly if you are seeing them during the day, you have a major problem on your hands. I had the problem myself and it took me 9 MONTHS to completely eradicate the hideous critters. Turns out the "nest" (if you can call it that) was in the structure that attaches the chandelier to the ceiling. Make sure and look at lights switches (behind them) as well.

On a related note, we are renovating our apartment. Semi gut job. Is it worth having it treated before we move in just in case? We lived in the apartment about 6 months before the reno, and did not have problems, but just in case?

We did a gut reno and everything has been overhauled in here. But my contractor (great as he was for everything else) is really not up on pest control. That said the exterminator went through here before the light fixtures went in. He didn't find anything. 3 weeks or so ago he pronounced me "bed bug free" in an inspection. I pulled out a jar of bugs I had killed in response. The chandelier situation sounds like a nightmare!

My building manager keeps blaming everything on me, at each treatment she tells me that they will deny treatments if I don't throw away more furniture. The furniture is all gone and the bugs are still here.

UESprospect, you should have your contractor do an "exclusion." It involves getting every tiny crack caulked and sealed.

I so sympathize with you. But please, do yourself a favor and google diatomaceous earth. It is what finally eradicated my problem. Put some of the powder behind your outlets, and remember that you can put approximately 2 tablespoons in a spray bottle. The fine spray won't be visible, but will continue to work. I wish you all the best because of all the terrible things that have happened to me, a bedbug infestation in my gorgeous art deco apartment almost drove me insane. Seriously....................

Spray the entire perimeter of your apartment with lavender-oil infused water. Lavender is a natural bedbug repellant. It's why people started rinsing their bed linens in lavender water more than 200 years ago.

Thanks to both of you! I will do both of these things. I just sent the past 2 days seaming and caulking everywhere. These both sound like excellent next steps. :)

Correction: "spent" and "steaming. Didn't have my glasses on.

And for good measure. spray all around your bed too!

Matt: Where does one purchase lavender oil??? I don't remember ever seeing it........

Whole Foods/Whole Body. Go to the essential oils section.

If you self treat you will only spread the problem to surrounding apartments until they come back to you. Call a qualified professional and have it done correctly

Thanks again!!! Shopping this afternoon...
Villager - I think it's too late to worry about spreading them. They always had a "light" presence throughout the apartment. Also my PCO is really not very prescriptive. We've discussed the steamer and DE and his only caution was that DE causes silicosis (which is pretty low risk according to what I can find out from other sources.)

"If you self treat you will only spread the problem to surrounding apartments until they come back to you."

Um, this is the essence of life in New York City.

Even "qualified professionals" cannot keep bugs (of any kind) out of a building permanently, because there will always be at least one tenant in the building who's not as scrupulously clean as you are.

I find it amusing that over the past 20 years since we've gone from CARRYING our suitcases (http://image1.masterfile.com/getImage/846-05648104em-1950s---1960s-MAN-SALESMAN-BUSINESSMAN-WITH-TWO-SUITCASES-RUNNING-JUMP.jpg) to dragging them all over God Only Knows Where, we're only know wondering why we have a problem with bedbugs.

DUH.

Wow, and I thought I was/looked antiquated because I still carry my suitcases! Good point, Matt.

I'm feeling increasingly more optimistic about self treating these days. The insecticide and steaming binge from this weekend seems to really be paying off. Slept on the floor last night and didn't get any new bites. I found something unmoving in the bed that I'm not sure was even a bed bug and that's it. I bought lavender and a squeeze bottle for de yesterday.

That said I was scheduled to have another professional treatment today. Then the board president sent me a letter stating that it would be the last treatment they would pay for. I love the way they put it, in the language of "courtesy" treatments and some kind of implied addiction ('hey- we're cutting you off!') Since the unit upstairs is still delaying inspection, I opted to cancel and postpone my treatment until the situation upstairs becomes clear. And that led to a flurry of verbal abuse from my exterminator, who happened to let it drop that he is hurting for work right now. All of which leads me to wonder whether his results are not that great or more people are self treating.

Thanks to both of you for giving the most useful advice and support yet. :)

Go to bedbugger.com and read the forums check out what pesticides other do it yourselfers use. Delmethrin may not be effective since most have immunity. I have to say if the tenants above have it, they will keep coming back in and infecting your place.

Anon: I'm afraid you are on the way to official insanity. Try NOT to perseverate so much on this issue or it will truly drive you to the nuthouse.