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The horror of bed bugs

(19 Posts)
Eil4 Sun 05-May-24 15:53:06

Help needed! I think I may have bed bugs following a trip to Abu Dhabi in February. No sign of the little horrors but I’ve been bitten during the night ever since. The bites are mainly on my shoulders and chest and are incredibly itchy almost painfully so.
Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of them? I haven’t yet told my DH as it seems somewhat shameful - he hasn’t been bitten so is unaware of my paranoia.

rafichagran Sun 05-May-24 16:00:59

I think you need a proffesional, if they are bed bugs as they are very hard to get rid off.

keepingquiet Sun 05-May-24 16:18:50

Could be any small flies that are breeding (like flies!) just now. I just took a walk and they are everywhere and I have several itchy bites but hadn't though it could be due to something in the house.

I am no expert on these things though. Hope you get it sorted.

Chardy Sun 05-May-24 16:56:28

I think my daughter brought them back when she'd been away in UK a few years ago. We boiled bedding, and hot washed clothes, storing them in vac bags after. She ended up with a new mattress. New pillows, mattress covers, bug-proof pillow covers were bought for us both. Pest control gave us bed bug traps for the feet of the beds
www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_noss_1&crid=UUT9QE2TB1XR&sprefix=bed+bug+interceptors%2Caps%2C249&k=Bed+Bug+Interceptors&tag=gransnetforum-21
And I spent a lot of money on spray.

My best advice is act quickly.

Chardy Sun 05-May-24 16:58:53

Checking for tiny spots of blood on your sheet is possibly the best way to check if they're there.

EkwaNimitee Sun 05-May-24 17:03:20

I have just been reading a detailed article on bed bugs! It’s in the April issue of the BBC Science Focus magazine….complete with delightful photos of bed bugs and the bites. Also sorts of useful info.
But yes, they are very difficult to get rid of as they are increasingly resistant to chemical controls and can spread rapidly. I believe fumigation is the current answer which is both inconvenient and expensive. But apparently a professional is the only answer.
Try searching the crevices of your mattress, they are about the size of an apple seed and rusty brown in colour.
I really hope it’s something else getting at you, it’s odd your husband isn’t affected.

petra Sun 05-May-24 17:18:03

I lived for 16 years with my mother spraying this poison.
It’s a wonder us 3 children escaped unharmed.
Those houses were all part of what was known as The London Slum Clearance.
All of us who were moved to new housing had to have the council come in and spray everything.

www.flickr.com/photos/voltrader/4281858966

OldFrill Sun 05-May-24 17:46:42

Firstly there is absolutely no shame in bedbugs, it happens and it's noone's fault, and can happen to anyone.
You should share your concerns with husband and especially how concerned you are.
Get a reputable pest control service in, to identify if there is a problem and quote for dealing with it.
Good luck!

crazyH Sun 05-May-24 18:02:25

Is it Scabies? And that’s nothing to be ashamed of either. Travelling back from a trip to Marakech, I lay on a set of airport seats, for a little nap before boarding the plane. I felt a pin prick but didn’t think anything of it . Within a week of returning home I developed an itchy rash on my arms and chest. Went to see the GP who diagnosed it as scabies. And I kept telling the Dr, it can’t be, I haven’t slept with anyone 😂- he said it’s probably from the hotel beds but I swear it’s from the airport seats. Scabies is very contagious.

fancythat Sun 05-May-24 18:46:41

I had been waiting to see if anyone said the same as me.
Wouldnt you need to see something?
They may be small but not invisible?

Esmay Sun 05-May-24 22:01:46

Take an antihistamine to stop the itchiness .
Cold tar soap is useful on itchy skin .
Old fashioned calamine lotion is also soothing .
I've also slapped on rubbing alcohol failing that - gin !
Put a fan on - to cool your skin down .

Heat your iron and give your mattress a thorough ironing taking care to heat the edge seams .
Upholstery can be ironed as well .

Repeat both processes until the itchiness and infestation clears up .

cornergran Sun 05-May-24 23:06:50

If it is bed bugs surely your husband would be bitten as well? Why not talk to him, make him aware and yes, get checked for scabies if you can see no tell tale signs of bed bugs on sheets or mattress. Itching is one of those things things that grows the more we think about it. Good luck. Hope it disappears soon.

PamelaJ1 Mon 06-May-24 07:24:46

I brought one home after a stay in a hotel near Gatwick.
I put my case under the bed…. Never do that. Never put any bags on or near the bed in a hotel room.
Luckily we only had one. It never bit my DH but did leave specks of blood on the sheet. Whilst contemplating if we could afford to rebuild if I burnt the house down I very slowly and carefully pulled the bedding down one morning, there was the little b*****! I squashed it and DH examined it under his microscope to identify it.
Thank heavens it was only one.
Now I unpack in the utility room, clothes go straight in the machine and the case goes to the shed. Good luck

Eil4 Mon 06-May-24 12:57:35

Thank you so much everyone! I shall try diy first, hope we don’t have to bring in professionals, I’m imagining £££££s !

PamelaJ1 Mon 06-May-24 13:11:30

fancythat they hide in all sorts of nooks and crannies.
A TV holiday reporter says he strips the bed in every hotel room he goes to and takes a portable vacuum with him to hoover the mattress!

potar23 Fri 27-Feb-26 18:15:00

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

theworriedwell Fri 27-Feb-26 18:51:10

GS brought home scabies from a festival. I bought new duvet and pillows for his bed, washed his bedding and with my machine gave it all 30 minutes steaming then hot tumble dry. Bought bug proof covers for mattress and pillows (apparently leave them on for a year and the little beasts die) GS got treatment from GP.

Apart from treatment from GP I imagine the same thing would work for bed bugs particularly if you treat fast before they spread.

Good luck.

Jaxjacky Fri 27-Feb-26 19:14:32

I expect OP is sorted, 2 year old thread!

theworriedwell Fri 27-Feb-26 19:23:57

I didn't notice. I wonder what was said that was deleted.

Maybe the OP could tell us what worked.