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March 18, 2009
Bed Bugs Experiences Sought
We would like to know what other coop buildings have done when they found one or more apartments had bed bugs. Did you get the entire building checked, or did you limit it to fighting known infested areas?
Comments
I realize the potential for bad jokes here... we would just like the stories of the experiences of course... not an actual experience!
Posted by: coopfornow at March 17, 2009 11:53 AM
I understand that NY city public schools are using trained dogs to detect bed bugs. It's not cheap though.
Posted by: IMBY at March 17, 2009 5:05 PM
From everything I've read or heard, it would not be effective to only partially treat your building. Recently I heard about effective treatment with diatomaceous earth (either the safer food grade or as used for filtering swimming pools). For more information, see: http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/bed_bugs.htm
Re: co-ops, see:
http://cooperator.com/articles/1430/1/Domestic-Terrorists/Page1.html
http://www.cooperator.com/articles/1610/1/A-Serious-Problem-for-Boards-and-Homeowners/Page1.html
Posted by: vinca at March 17, 2009 8:35 PM
Can someone explain why there suddenly is a nasty bed bud problem in "the hood" and its surrounding environs?
Been livin here for years - with all of its inherent neglect, and accusations thereof, abject poverty and the whole eighty yards....
there has never been a bed bug problem.
Then all of a sudden....we need exterminators and trained dogs for bed bugs?
This invasion is clearly born of uncleanliness and unhygienic practices. I'm calling Tish James. Something has to be done. Maybe she can prevent the influx of those who are carrying carry this filth around.
Posted by: The Who at March 18, 2009 10:47 AM
As I understand it, years back the chemicals that exterminators generally used were much more toxic and as a side effect also killed the bed bugs.
Then in our concern to eliminate toxic chemicals and make our environment 'safe,' exterminators switched to safer chemicals which no longer had the side effect of killing the bed bugs.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at March 18, 2009 11:13 AM
After cleaning out after the most disgusting tenant I ever had (roaches even in the insulation of the fridge. I had to throw out the appliances. still makes me shiver) we hired an exterminator to come help us. We were painting the kitchen cupboards with oil based paint. He remarked that oil paint actually does a better job of stopping pests than extermination. It's because there's nothing for roaches to eat in oil paint, unlike in most latex paints which contain casein as fillers. Casein is a milk product, harvested from the stomachs of calves I think. Anyhow, it's edible. Most latex paint has been beefed up with mercury to keep it toxic to mold and mildew but maybe the bugs don't notice that.
I think there are formulations of latex paint now which are less toxic, but actually oil paint - although smelly - is a better pest free alternative.
Posted by: Stonergut at March 18, 2009 11:33 AM
I meant to add that possibly the new voc-free paints and most folks assuming water soluable paint is safer might be partially to blame for the bed bug proliferation. They live in crevices and furniture too. If the environment is less challenging to them, maybe they'll stay around.
Posted by: Stonergut at March 18, 2009 11:38 AM
Stonerqut, why didn't you regularly exterminate for roaches and bugs. It would have made the problem a whole lot better!
I'm currently subletting my place and I shudder to think of coming back to roaches. I did the best I could to find a tenant that is extremely clean but you never know- but I am having the place exterminated ever 6 weeks while I'm away.
As for the bed bugs. Part of me thinks they have always been there and the problem is not particularly worse just that now the media is giving it more attention. I really think I would die or want to die if I ever got bed bugs. Fruit flies even creep me out.
Posted by: 7andfive at March 18, 2009 11:46 AM
The tenants wouldn't let me into the apartment, and I didn't want to make trouble. They were enough of an adrenaline rush on a day to day basis. They never threw out the garbage ONCE in the entire year they lived there. Shudder.
Posted by: Stonergut at March 18, 2009 12:06 PM
i had a friend who had a serious bedbug problem. it was gross he used to smash them on the walls and blood would splatter on them! i was like um you do realize that's youre blood youre smashing on the wall right? gross
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at March 18, 2009 1:09 PM
From the NY Times: Everything You Wanted to Know About Bedbugs But Were Afraid to Ask
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/realestate/15cov.html?scp=2&sq=bedbugs&st=cse
A search of "bedbugs" on NYTimes.com called up several recent articles.
Good luck.
Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at March 18, 2009 3:27 PM
I bet voxpop has a bed bug problem too.
Posted by: Xander Crews at March 18, 2009 4:07 PM
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