It has been near to a month since the whole episode of bedbugs scare began. Below is a recount of what has happened during the period from end May to late June. It's a nightmare for my family, especially me.
I came back to Singapore 2 weeks after my trip to India. The weather there was excruciating. I recalled checking all my bags before entering the house etc. Precautions taken to wash everything I brought back to Singapore.
2 weeks after coming back, I started to wake up mysteriously at 4am-5am, due to bites that drove me itchy and woke me up from sleep. I thought there were some mosquitoes around. I sprayed immense amount of Baygon relentlessly in my room but still got bitten. I started to apply insect repellant on myself, washed bedsheets, vacuum and mopped my room everyday. But, the itch just wun stop. In fact, more bites surfaced. I started to ask my mum and dad and sis. They thought probably my skin was sensitive and asked me not to think so much. But, I still get worried and started to google. One possibilty: Bedbugs.
As much as I told myself it wasnt the case, my fear came to reality when I finally saw one black "apple seed-like" creature walking on my bed. I picked it up and squashed it. It burst with blood on the tissue paper, apparently should be my blood. I visualised with magnifying glass, and showed it to my doctor..finally to certify it's bedbugs. I showed my parents, only to realise they actuallie saw such creature walking around but paid no attention to it as they duno what it was. I suspected there might be an infestation happening in the house but couldnt pinpoint the exact "nest". They couldnt be seen in the day..only to come out at night...wee hours when one is asleep and no activity. They are attracted to carbon dioxide and human body temp..and for some reasons, I am the only one getting bitten to max..my sis had some bites..but I'm the overall champion with 40 over bites!
I immediately called the pest control company to spray my entire house(they do not spray the kitchen as the pesticide is very toxic even to human). When they come to inspect the house, they find everything ok..and started to release the 1st spray. We are supposed to stay out of the house for 4hours. Going back home after that, we are only allowed to vaccum and no mop the floor after 2 days to let the chemicals take effect. Is odourless, not oily. The chemicals were said to induce those bugs to come out, so we are expected to have more "bugs" activity. It began our search for bugs at night.
Before they come to spray, I actually threw my mattress, my bed frame. And I bought a cheap mattress to lie in my room. The 1st night after the spray, I wasnt bitten. I thought this nightmare has ended. But, on the 2nd night, I woke up at 4am...irritated by the itch I had on my right leg. In total, 7 bites, in a row..and there was a bug walking around on the matress beside my leg. I felt the anger overwhelmed me. I hit it and my blood was splattered on the mattress. The damn bug died. I called the pest company the next day. Only then I realise, I shouldnt slam the bug. The company said by doing so, I actuallie release a signal to the rest of the community that blood is available. They recognise by the scent of the blood and hence recgonise me as a "target". I guess this explains why I'm a;ways the one bitten! In fact, I should boil the bug with water more than 60deg..they cannot withstand temp above 48C. and flush it down the toilet. That night onwards, I ran out of my room and slept on my mum's bed.
The following night, as I slept with my mum on her bed, I still felt a little paranoid. My mum assured me nothing is going to happen. So I slept. At 2am, I felt the itch. I saw the bite. I saw the bug. I picked it up and boiled it. I slept again. At 5am, I was bitten again. Repeatedly, I was the only one getting bitten. My mum wasnt bitten at all although she slept beside me. WTF! i was pissed to max. I couldnt sleep anymore. I left home that day, checking all my luggage that everything is clean before staying over at my aunt's house for the time being till today.
The 2nd spray treatment came one week later after the 1st spray. One thing to mention, after the 1st spray, we actuallie identified the possible "nest", which is my dad's sofa bed. He bought it 5 years ago. We realise a couple of black marks along the seams of the mattress. I rememeberd he asked me to sleep on it on one of the nights I couldnt sleep on my bed. I was bitten within half an hour. I felt strange but didnt think that much. The bed was most likely the culprit and was disposed away. But, I felt the furniture placed next to the sofa bed were very much affected.
So after the 2nd spray, we still observed some bugs activity. In fact, we saw many bugs dead lying on the floor when we checked the house, after shutting it for 3 whole days. We came to a consensus to throw all the furniture away. And so, for the next few days, the disassembling of the furniture, wardrobe, bedframes were done so. The house was empty.
There are a number of measures that I have gathered from the experiences of those fighting bedbugs. Below are the details:
1. Thinner. It was said that thinner can melt the bodies of these bugs. I recruited painters to paint my entire house, after it was last painted 12 years ago when we first moved in.
2. DE powder(
Diatomaceous earth powder). This powder acts like a dessicant. When one bug gets in contact with it, its body gets dehydrated and dies in 24h. So it can act like a barrier between u and the bug. One is supposed to sprinkle some powder around where one is sleeping. I havent try this yet. I hope there wun be a need to do so.
3. Steam. Bugs die at 48C and above. Although the chemical pesticide spray is effective against live and crawling bugs, it is ineffective against bugs that are still in their egg form. Steam is the only killer to melt their egg protective shells. I bought a Karcher steam cleaner to fight this battle. Every weekend of mine is now spent steaming the entire house and mattress, pillow, bolsters etc..all corners. The steam cleaner is excellent with its various adaptors and nozzles that I can reach corners of the house, window panes, ceiling etc. It's a great helper for housework.
4. Move all furniture out. Yes, we did so. Threw everything away. When the house is stable, is time to get a fresh look and better to get steel/metal furniture as the bugs love wood, and dislike metals.
5. Lavender oil. I read from a forum that some people actually used it like an aromatherapy. They mentioned that bugs disliked it. I wonder if is effective to make me get sleepy so that I will be numb to the bugs or what. But, no harm in trying.
After implementing all these measures, I also asked the pest company people to come spray for the 3rd and 4th time. Their package includes 2 treatments. 2 weeks after the 2nd spray if we are to see any bugs activity, we just need to call them and they will come spray again FOC. So, to make the best of it, and we really still see some bugs activity, I asked them to spray as much as possible, especially corners.
Today is 3 days after the 4th spray. I'm moving back to my house to test-sleep. All my other family members have tested sleeping in each room and they report is peaceful to sleep now. No one get bitten. But I'm still suspicious. Maybe this whole bedbugs affair has affected me a lot.
I will try so tonight. Wish me luck and I dont want and hope not to get bitten again!
