Does any pesticide keep bedbugs out of a structure? If so, I would have to consider using it preventatively.

Joyful, there are a lot more bedbug infestations than what are reported, many people self treat. I would think there is plenty of opportunity to meet a bedbug at your local library, at a church, second hand clothing or furniture stores, restaurants with upholstered furniture,any place where people get together.

Did any of you, noticing all of those capitals, and !!!?? ... get a trifle of a suggestion in mind that ole joyful might have his tongue stuck up in his cheek?

ole joyfuelled

People pick them up in waiting rooms, theaters, restaurants, hotels, taxis, etc.

might have his tongue stuck up in his cheek

Even so, the subject is a good one to discuss, as apparently it is becoming much more widespread. Certainly, it is no laughing matter if one actually has this problem.

From what I've heard, getting rid of them is an expensive nightmare. I don't go to theaters or libraries because of it. We very rarely travel and stay in motels or hotels, but when we do I inspect the mattress and still don't feel safe. I didn't used to be this way but the problem has progressed over the years to the point where I am paranoid about it. And forget going to charity thrift shops anymore. I used to get sheets to rip up for making rag rugs but not any more.

It's dang near an epidemic in the US and in some areas it is. Even bug control company's say they won't guarantee successfully eliminating them as they have become resist to insecticides, pesticides. On top of that it's very expensive.

On top of the places listed above where you can get them there's also the textiles in stores, yep someone buys clothing ect brand new than returns it along with a BB or egg.

Bed bugs terrify me. I would probably have a complete nervous breakdown if I found one here (shudders). I used to think there's no way I could get them..my house is clean..but they don't discriminate. Clean or dirty as long as there's a body with blood flow. And they can live a year or more without eating. (Shudders again ).

They can hide anywhere in your home..in walls, electrical outlets, in the tv, alarm clock, cell phone...everywhere. Makes me wonder how in the world anyone can do a diy to get rid of them.

Well now I've managed to creep myself out...gotta go check my beds. LOL

Last year my 11 year old went into band at school...because the baritone is so heavy he was assigned one thru the school that remains at home..well his first day walking thru the door with the baritone he set it down, opened it, and nestled on red velvet was the shiny baritone and a bug....I put the bug in a zip lock bag and pUT it in the freezer. I have looked at BB pictures but this bug didn't look like one, at least my memory of the bug I found. I've been paranoid about it for over a year now. The zip lock is still in the freezer but getting knocked around its all broken apart so that's no help. (((SHUDDERS)))

My sister lived in a Windsor Housing highrise downtown Windsor that was always being sprayed for bed bugs and cockroaches. When she would come stay with me I wouldn't let her bring any luggage into my house and she kept changes of clothing here. When we had to pack up her apartment after she passed away I didn't bring any soft material or cloth items or furniture home. Except for her jewelry and knick knacks everything else she owned went into grocery carts and put in the recycling/garbage room for others who lived in the apartment building to take. She had some beautiful antique dressers that were my grandparents and framed pictures I left behind because I didn't want to bring any bugs into my house. I wish we had checked her stuff more closely before we tossed it because I couldn't find my grandmother's wedding rings that she often hid.

Someone I was talking to, said they picked up a really nice chair, free on CL, from a really nice neighborhood. His cat kept staring at it, tilting his head....making chortle noises....like he was talking to the chair. Turns out the cat could hear the bed bugs moving around in the chair.

OJ....get the neighbors cat to come over and check your place out....

(PS...OJ knows me. He'll know I'm teasing him)

Nicole, I wonder if cats could be trained like dogs to sniff them out? Nah, that would never work.

Cats are pretty hard to train, don't you think ...

... pretty close to being on a par with husbands?

(Unless, of course, in either case, they come half way close to Ire-trained ((Pre-trained, if you don't mind!)) )?

o j