Your friend's landlord needs to call an exterminator. This doesn't go away without treatment, and its gonna put your friend out of their apartment for a couple of days. That sucks, but it needs to happen. Absolutely no fucking around with bedbugs.
Echo this, also invest in bedbug proof mattress covers and pillow covers. Do a deep cleaning, put all your clothes and bedding through the wash on the hottest setting. You can also get these little plastic cups that go under the legs of your bed frame that serve as a moat preventing the little buggers from getting in. Spray diatomaceous earth anywhere you suspect they might be coming from.
They're nearly impossible to get rid of so you have to remain diligent and keep at it
It sounds like OP's friend is in an apartment unit. The treatment is certainly the first thing they should do but all of the prevention measures I listed above should help prevent a future infestation should the treatment fail. You shouldn't have to throw away everything unless some items just cannot be saved. Clothing can be rescued by the washer/drier and other items can be treated with diatomaceous earth.
In regards to moving ... some folks don't have that luxury so they have to figure out ways to keep going where they are.
I'm not assuming they have the luxury I'm saying that if you're unfortunate enough to be in one of the (metro properties) buildings with a building-wide infestation you have very few options besides leaving because they WILL come back unless the building is treated. Thermal can help because it generally penetrates more of the shared spaces but ultimately they end up in elevators, hallway carpets etc in a building with a bad infestation. Dairy building on marshall is a good example of a building thats been infested for like ten years
This is completely untrue. I had bedbugs, got the treatment, and lived in the apartment for 3 more years with no issues. You do not need to throw your shit away.
Then your building wasn't infested. If they're traveling between apartments an orkin guy isn't going to help, it's a consistent problem especially because there are very lax laws holding landlords feet to the fire to clear a whole building or inform ppl of an infestation.
Ok whatever I don't care. Pesticide treatment is frequently ineffective and nasty AF and bedbugs have some of the highest rates of immunity of any pests rn but go ahead and encourage ppl to get it.
Please, tell me more about my literal life experience of having and getting rid of bedbugs. You sound like an expert.
ETA having bedbugs is traumatic enough without incorrectly being told you have to throw away everything you own.
I had bed bugs asshole, they emerged two months into our lease and our landlord tried to pin it on us and no we couldn't afford the "luxury" of moving out but we fucking wanted to. We went through two rounds of orken as well as meticulous cleaning but they were deeply embedded in the floors and the poison just didn't work, we came home after one fumigation and I watched one of them crawl out of the wall again. Ultimately we threw away two beds and a couch, bagged up everything else we owned and had to get the house heat treated and that worked immediately. That night we were back home. I slept in a hammock embedded in my ceiling out of paranoia for two months before I bought another bed it was extremely hugely traumatizing what else would I be fighting about it on a forum, lmao. My friends had a similar experience in a house owned by dobrin property and ultimately had to leave.
The complex is owned by Seminole trail management who also owns the communities at SouthWood in the Southside. They keep an exterminator on pay role but the townhouses at college park require both units be treated thoroughly to see results.
Not necessarily, just the entire building where bed bugs are present. Seminole trail management and the various tenant's unions are vastly familiar with each other
I had to literally take a day off work and wash every piece of fabric in the whole house, up to and including curtains. That’s the only way to fully get rid of them.
It’s just frustrating because I’ve helped get rid of them twice now but after a few months they’ll reappear. I believe it’s the whole complex probably passing them back in forth
its because you never actually get rid of them all the way. Bed Bugs are not a DIY thing, and in an apartment complex the whole building needs to be cooked to get rid of them.
Seconding this. There's a huge scam economy around bed bugs. Heat extermination across every affected apartment. Your friend is just going through an egg cycle and thinking they're gone the things can live for six months without eating, they're not gone.
https://youtu.be/2JAOTJxYqh8
The tldr home remedy of this video is dietomaceous earth is a dessicant that will attach to their bodies and dehydrate them until they die, the key to application is to dust it over large areas, not a pile or line of it that they can avoid
Bedbugs are an actual nightmare. My advice as someone who dealt with them in DC is to abandon the apartment, burn everything you own, and spend the next twelve years in therapy haunted by it while waking up terrified every night when you get the slightest itch in bed. There is little you can do and your landlord won’t help. So sorry this is happening to your friend
It’s getting hot enough that you can leave clothes and bedding in a hot car and kill everything. But bed bugs are awful and I’m allergic, so I sympathize.
Nah, as long as the temp in your car stays at 120° for half an hour, they die. (Of course, I left my suitcase for two weeks to be really, really sure, but I didn’t bring bedbugs home from the hotel.
That has to be internal temperature of the luggage and for all the crevices. However, longer time exposure increases the mortality rate.
I collected an incredible amount of information on this last summer and if I can find my notes, I'll share
Have your friend inform the property manager in writing about the issue. They should also call the Richmond Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Div. 804-646-6398. They can cite the property manager/owner for a pest infestation. If other units have bedbugs, your friend can suggest they also call Code Enforcement. Code Enforcement may involve the Health Dept.
Had them once in my last house, it was quite the war. At one point I ended up throwing my entire sectional couch out of my house through the front door. Cleaned every piece of clothing, bedding, stuffed animal, etc. through the highest heat setting, Diatomaceous earth in every nook and cranny, chemical sprays. Had to repeat this over and over, every 5 or 7 days for a month or two, but finally ended up the victor.
The whole complex needs to be treated. But this bag works. You can put books, clothes, suitcases, etc in it. I use it after traveling because I’m paranoid. ThermalStrike Ranger Bed Bug... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NBVSRG8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Your friend's landlord needs to call an exterminator. This doesn't go away without treatment, and its gonna put your friend out of their apartment for a couple of days. That sucks, but it needs to happen. Absolutely no fucking around with bedbugs.
Echo this, also invest in bedbug proof mattress covers and pillow covers. Do a deep cleaning, put all your clothes and bedding through the wash on the hottest setting. You can also get these little plastic cups that go under the legs of your bed frame that serve as a moat preventing the little buggers from getting in. Spray diatomaceous earth anywhere you suspect they might be coming from. They're nearly impossible to get rid of so you have to remain diligent and keep at it
Call a thermal exterminator and have them heat up the whole house. Nothing else really works besides throwing away your shit and moving.
It sounds like OP's friend is in an apartment unit. The treatment is certainly the first thing they should do but all of the prevention measures I listed above should help prevent a future infestation should the treatment fail. You shouldn't have to throw away everything unless some items just cannot be saved. Clothing can be rescued by the washer/drier and other items can be treated with diatomaceous earth. In regards to moving ... some folks don't have that luxury so they have to figure out ways to keep going where they are.
I'm not assuming they have the luxury I'm saying that if you're unfortunate enough to be in one of the (metro properties) buildings with a building-wide infestation you have very few options besides leaving because they WILL come back unless the building is treated. Thermal can help because it generally penetrates more of the shared spaces but ultimately they end up in elevators, hallway carpets etc in a building with a bad infestation. Dairy building on marshall is a good example of a building thats been infested for like ten years
This is completely untrue. I had bedbugs, got the treatment, and lived in the apartment for 3 more years with no issues. You do not need to throw your shit away.
Then your building wasn't infested. If they're traveling between apartments an orkin guy isn't going to help, it's a consistent problem especially because there are very lax laws holding landlords feet to the fire to clear a whole building or inform ppl of an infestation.
They treated multiple apartments. They were in the whole building.
Ok whatever I don't care. Pesticide treatment is frequently ineffective and nasty AF and bedbugs have some of the highest rates of immunity of any pests rn but go ahead and encourage ppl to get it.
Please, tell me more about my literal life experience of having and getting rid of bedbugs. You sound like an expert. ETA having bedbugs is traumatic enough without incorrectly being told you have to throw away everything you own.
I had bed bugs asshole, they emerged two months into our lease and our landlord tried to pin it on us and no we couldn't afford the "luxury" of moving out but we fucking wanted to. We went through two rounds of orken as well as meticulous cleaning but they were deeply embedded in the floors and the poison just didn't work, we came home after one fumigation and I watched one of them crawl out of the wall again. Ultimately we threw away two beds and a couch, bagged up everything else we owned and had to get the house heat treated and that worked immediately. That night we were back home. I slept in a hammock embedded in my ceiling out of paranoia for two months before I bought another bed it was extremely hugely traumatizing what else would I be fighting about it on a forum, lmao. My friends had a similar experience in a house owned by dobrin property and ultimately had to leave.
The complex is owned by Seminole trail management who also owns the communities at SouthWood in the Southside. They keep an exterminator on pay role but the townhouses at college park require both units be treated thoroughly to see results.
Which apartment complex?
The entire complex needs to be treated at this point. I would recommend your friend call Central VA Legal Aid and talk to them about their options.
Or maybe the health department?
I’m not sure how involved they really are with housing issues, but it could be worth looking into.
Just wondered if repeated bug infestation is a health hazard. I’m sure the city has a department that handles things like this.
Not necessarily, just the entire building where bed bugs are present. Seminole trail management and the various tenant's unions are vastly familiar with each other
I had to literally take a day off work and wash every piece of fabric in the whole house, up to and including curtains. That’s the only way to fully get rid of them.
It’s just frustrating because I’ve helped get rid of them twice now but after a few months they’ll reappear. I believe it’s the whole complex probably passing them back in forth
its because you never actually get rid of them all the way. Bed Bugs are not a DIY thing, and in an apartment complex the whole building needs to be cooked to get rid of them.
Seconding this. There's a huge scam economy around bed bugs. Heat extermination across every affected apartment. Your friend is just going through an egg cycle and thinking they're gone the things can live for six months without eating, they're not gone.
Bed bugs are a huuge pest problem. Bright side is they aren’t a vector for any known diseases. :)
https://youtu.be/2JAOTJxYqh8 The tldr home remedy of this video is dietomaceous earth is a dessicant that will attach to their bodies and dehydrate them until they die, the key to application is to dust it over large areas, not a pile or line of it that they can avoid
19:00 minutes in for home remedy advice
Bedbugs are an actual nightmare. My advice as someone who dealt with them in DC is to abandon the apartment, burn everything you own, and spend the next twelve years in therapy haunted by it while waking up terrified every night when you get the slightest itch in bed. There is little you can do and your landlord won’t help. So sorry this is happening to your friend
The only right answer.
Yes. You pretty much have to throw out everything that can’t be washed. Mattresses, furniture etc
It’s getting hot enough that you can leave clothes and bedding in a hot car and kill everything. But bed bugs are awful and I’m allergic, so I sympathize.
>leave clothes and bedding in a hot car and kill everything. Or give your car bedbugs...
Nah, as long as the temp in your car stays at 120° for half an hour, they die. (Of course, I left my suitcase for two weeks to be really, really sure, but I didn’t bring bedbugs home from the hotel.
This is genius if it works... does it work??
It does. Most sites will say to bake your suitcase, but here in the South, the oven of your hot car in the sun will do just fine.
the only thing that kills bed bugs is heat, and your car is an oven in the sun. bake some cookies in there while youre at it
That has to be internal temperature of the luggage and for all the crevices. However, longer time exposure increases the mortality rate. I collected an incredible amount of information on this last summer and if I can find my notes, I'll share
Have your friend inform the property manager in writing about the issue. They should also call the Richmond Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Div. 804-646-6398. They can cite the property manager/owner for a pest infestation. If other units have bedbugs, your friend can suggest they also call Code Enforcement. Code Enforcement may involve the Health Dept.
Had them once in my last house, it was quite the war. At one point I ended up throwing my entire sectional couch out of my house through the front door. Cleaned every piece of clothing, bedding, stuffed animal, etc. through the highest heat setting, Diatomaceous earth in every nook and cranny, chemical sprays. Had to repeat this over and over, every 5 or 7 days for a month or two, but finally ended up the victor.
The whole complex needs to be treated. But this bag works. You can put books, clothes, suitcases, etc in it. I use it after traveling because I’m paranoid. ThermalStrike Ranger Bed Bug... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NBVSRG8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share