There are things you can do right now that are less expensive than a professional service:

1. Buy a consumer grade bedbug spray. This isn't as effective as the professional chemical, but it works to slow down infestation. Spray it around the seams of your bedframe and around the baseboards of your apartment. If you can, shop around, some Hardware stores charge way too much for a bottle because they know people are desperate. After you spray, leave it for at least 2 weeks before washing or mopping the area you sprayed.

2. Heat kills them, so if possible, crank up your radiators or heaters.

3. Go through your clothing. You can either wash(in hot water) and then dry (on high) or, to save money, run them in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes. After washing or drying, put in clean garbage bags/plastic bags and close them up, only removing items as you use them. Dry cleaning will kill them, but is very costly. You might have some success at keeping them from infesting clothes/shoes/bags with moth balls.

4. If you can, rent or borrow a steam cleaner and steam clean your sofa/rugs/furniture/mattress. You can buy a mattress cover to use after the mattress has been treated.

Posted by: surly at November 16, 2009 1:59 PM in response to Bed Bug Question

"Replace his water-faucet with a motion-activated one. What's he going to do, wave his hand under it for an hour to get back at you? "

No, he'd just put a piece of tape over the sensor.

Posted by: surly at October 23, 2009 5:46 PM in response to Tenant Leaving Water On

The council that approved the project in June. I think if part of the "attraction" of the project was the school, they should have made sure it was a realistic potential and not just b.s.

Posted by: surly at September 30, 2009 9:38 AM in response to Wednesday Links

You would think they would get DOE approval BEFORE they signed off on any development that involves a school building.

Posted by: surly at September 30, 2009 9:20 AM in response to Wednesday Links

>Can you buy appliances in avocado anymore?

I assume you were kidding, but if you weren't, Elmira makes new vintage-style appliances that as of last year came in avocado

Posted by: surly at August 19, 2009 5:15 PM in response to Wednesday Blogwrap

There are probably limits on how close it can be to a structure or fence.

Posted by: surly at August 13, 2009 11:52 AM in response to Outdoor Fireplaces?

Is there really this much demand for hotels?

Maybe they're anticipating a huge demand for tourists who will want to watch the Atlantic Yards Arena get built...

Posted by: surly at July 8, 2009 11:25 AM in response to Another Hotel for Duffield Street

$100 a month, sharing a toilet with eight other people of low standards and no chance in hell of getting laid anytime soon.

Posted by: surly at June 15, 2009 10:37 AM in response to It's Hard to Beat the Tent Rent

I'd bet good money that the tenant is just waiting to see what the new Rent Guidelines increases will be.

He/She won't want to sign a two year if the new percentages are low.

I've had similar experiences with stabilized tenants waiting until after the board votes before returning their lease. It's annoying but not that big of a deal really.

Posted by: surly at June 15, 2009 9:52 AM in response to Tenant Refusing to Sign Lease

This is a matter for your attorney, you need to take legal action against the tenant. BTW, it is now possible to change the configuration of rental buildings so that tenants are responsible for paying for their own heat and hot water, but you have to reduce their rent. I would follow this course if possible (your attorney will explain the process) as the amount of the rent reduction is not nearly as much as it costs per apartment to provide heat and hot water - you will find it harder to attract good tenants to vacant apartments if you provide expensive to run heating appliances (avoid electric base board heating).

Posted by: bohuma at October 26, 2009 5:57 AM in response to Tenant Leaving Water On

Thanks, everybody - some very useful ideas, and I appreciate the input. I think a combination of legal action, a dedicated and monitored water meter, and what bohuma suggests is about the best I can hope for here.

Posted by: jimmyoforange at October 26, 2009 11:59 AM in response to Tenant Leaving Water On

Vanburenproud,

I'm not knocking the concept off debating a topic, which i agree is the purpose of a forum in the first place.

I'm just saying that unfortunately on this particular subject, you're giving bad information. Yes, the exterminator has motivation for making a sale. Yes, you shouldn't rush into anything.

But unfortunately, and again I speak form first hand experience and countless hours of research, if you find a bedbug, you have a bedbug problem. the only question is how to deal with it. not whether or not to deal with it.

as for the bed bug sniffing dogs, yes, many companies now offer them. you must be very careful in choosing the right company, however. a dog that gives a false "alert," and that does happen, can cost you thousands of dollars of uneeded treatments.

but in the case of the OP, if you've seen a bug, then you don't need the dog to tell you that they're there. you've got bedbugs and you've got to deal with it.

when we had them, initially we didn't think it was a big deal b/c we'd "only" seen one. I wanted more proof too, so I spent hundreds of dollars to bring in the dog, who proceeded to tell me that they were also in my sofas, my loveseats, my daughters' bed, the picture frames above my bed, my bookcase, etc etc.

in retrospect, I didn't need the dog, having found a bug, I should have just started treatment. but I wanted to believe that it was "only" one, that it wasn't that serious, etc etc

Posted by: oneasternparkway at November 16, 2009 2:02 PM in response to Bed Bug Question

Wow, wasn't expecting this much conflicting information. Just to give a little more color to those experienced with bedbugs, the one bug that we found was not an adult, and (according to the exterminator) had not yet had a meal.

Also I have a baby so am doubly concerned. Obviously I do NOT want to let this become an infestation. However, I also am concerned about spraying toxic chemicals all over my apartment if I do not need to. I own my place, so will be footing any bills, though that is not a huge concern. No one else in my building has ever had bedbugs (according to my building's exterminator). It is a relatively new building. It was my babysitter who found the bug, so it's possible she brought it in, but I don't want to jump to any conclusions.

If I do go ahead with treatment, any recommendations? Oneeasternparkway, who did you end up using and did they get rid of the problem? (And what was the cost?)

Posted by: Brooklynitetobe at November 16, 2009 2:16 PM in response to Bed Bug Question

get a consumer brand called Hot Shot spray containing lambda-cyhalothrin .03%... A landlord friend of mine swears by it... Don't know if it works but my friend has 4 apt buildings and loves it... I just called him and he told me that they sell it at home depot.. Sometimes it also comes in other brand names... This should only be your start.. I would also get exterminators in your home... To make sure..

Posted by: HOBOKENROCKS at November 16, 2009 2:26 PM in response to Bed Bug Question

I used Bell Environmental (who i mentioned). I would not recomend them. They are very expensive and in my opinon not worth it. again, relied too much on Krylon Spray, which i've found is not effective. I have a baby and a toddler, so I was attracted to it because it's more 'green" but the truth is it just doesn't work and it costs a ton.

when factoring in treatments and replaced furniture and countless loads of laundry, we're approaching 10k. it's insane.

I would recomend Jeff White (I would also watch all his bed bug seminars at BedbugTV on bedbugcentral.com.)

You might also want to try M&M Exterminators, a firm in the city I've heard good things about.

and a guy who goes by the Name of Killer Queen (you can find his info on BedBugger). I've also heard very good things about him.

and if you understandably don't want to commit to a treatment yet, then get either one of those monitors I recomended.

Posted by: oneasternparkway at November 16, 2009 2:26 PM in response to Bed Bug Question

A related question. Assuming OP is in a rental apartment -where is the line between what the tenant & what the landlord is responsible to deal with?

It's in the tenant's self interest to avoid getting eaten by bedbugs, but LL doesn't want a problem that could spread between apartments. What's NYC law say?

Posted by: Bklnite at November 16, 2009 2:38 PM in response to Bed Bug Question

it might have come from your babysitter since you said she found it. i would ask her to please vigorously shake herself off before entering the apartment from now on.

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at November 16, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Bed Bug Question

There's also a product available online, manufactured by RESULTS Indoor, which contains;

pyrethrins
butyronyl
silicone dioxide

It's in powder form, the product is aimed at bedbugs. It seems to be very effective since it is picked up while they crawl around and kills them by several methods including dessication.

I think that manufacturers are responding to the recent explosion of these once common bugs.Widespread use of DDT had virtually eliminated them. The newer products are targeting these pests specifically without the need for DDT of course.

Remember, all cracks must be dusted and sealed.

I've also heard that a portable steamer is good for those hard to get or treat places. at least 150 degrees.

Posted by: Legion at November 16, 2009 3:30 PM in response to Bed Bug Question

Don't use the sprays. I had a neighbor who didn't report the problem to the Landlord (they're rent control and didn't think the Landlord would do anything) they sprayed for 6 months untill the bedbugs spread in the building. Now after weeks of 2 different exterminators coming (1 specializing in eco-friend treatments complete with a dog but not Bell Environmental) and throwing stuff out and getting mattress covers, the bulding is bedbug free. The only way to go is with an extrerminator and to follow their instructions.
And yes, the landlord is responsible for treating bedbugs regardless of who brought them in.

Posted by: Cobblehillbaby at November 16, 2009 3:52 PM in response to Bed Bug Question