Bedbugs...what to do?

[Calen]

I slept at a friend's the other night, and about a day later started getting red spots on one cheek and the bottom of my chin. I thought it was an uncharacteristic breakout, but then I remembered my friend's roomates were having bedbug problems, although she said she hadn't gotten any bites, so it didn't occur to me that her attic room would be unsafe.

I just realized now that the weird, not-really-like-zits spots are bites. While I am relieved that my skin isn't suddenly messed up, I don't know what to do! The welts will go away on their own, I am sure, but how can I make sure I didn't bring any home with me? I'm scared their problem will become MY problem!

...help?

[Xentor]

They don't like heat. Got a steam cleaner?

[Sun Sprite]

Wash all the clothes and bed clothes. I have heard that sealing the mattress (and pillow) in plastic helps. For me, the plastic mattress covers tend to be too flimsy and get holes really soon though.

Best wishes!

[Sacreligioushippie]

Wash everything (clothes, bedding, dust ruffles) in super hot water & dry it in a hot dryer. Inspect your mattress, box spring, and bed frame for any telltale signs. Chances are you'll catch it early and there isn't much there to inspect.
There is a spray you can use called Good Night (you can get it at home improvement stores). Make sure you ventilate the area really well after you use it though. You can seal your mattress and box spring but like Sun Sprite said, the plastic is usually very flimsy.
Keep an eye on any open cracks in plaster or floorboards. These things will live almost anywhere and they can fit into a space the thickness of a credit card.

Good luck!

[Lady_Door]

Check your wooden furniture as well. They sometimes like to hide there. Wipe down all of your wooden furniture with a cleanser.
I just got the itchies thinking about bed bugs. *shudder*

[Dawa Lhamo]

Lady_Door, the subject coupled with your signature is just creepy. Just creepy. ^_^

There's apparently been a huge rise in the number of bedbug cases lately. I read something on the BBC about the numbers increasing, and I know that there's a big problem in my city which has been spreading among international students (apparently they picked them up at some estate/garage sale getting furniture on the cheap).

[willa]

The other thing that it could be is mites - a little easier to get rid of then bedbugs but still as itchy. It's quite common at this tme of the year with large flocks of birds migrating & rodents seeking a warm winter nest to bring mites with them & an attic bedroom would be the first place infested.

[purple dragon]

bed bugs are on the increase....as I got to boarding school, things like this spread eal quick - in the summer my boarding house had 3 cases and when we got back my mates room had them too.
The way to check to see if they're there is to look in all the nooks and crannies in your bed. If you do have them, then you have to wash everything in your room from your curtains to your clothes, teddies...everything because they could be anywhere. Then get rid of them by fumigating them, but put stuff around more than once just to be sure.