Outside Information
I've been getting great feedback on this site and even some good discussion in the comments section, which means my mission is working! One commenter left a LOT of information in his post, and I felt it was worth posting on its own page for easy reference in the future, for anyone looking for this information. Here it is:
---
Greetings Caitlin.
I've been battling bedbugs since 1999 at the Slumlord-owned and operated SRO hotel where I live. I'll try to give you the executive summary of my knowledge and experience.
(And if someone can advise me on formating my text better, please speak up...I have no idea what I'm doing, with this, my very first blog comment.)
Read up on Bedbugs and treatment:
manhattanfirm.com/landlord_tenant/bedbug_faq.htm
Google
Wikipedia
askourpros.com
bugclinic.com
Buy a gallon of water-based Permethrin: $16 plus tax (plus UPS shipping if you get it by mail order.) Buy a small bottle of Gentrol concentrate $10-ish and/or a can of Gentrol Spray, $18-22. Not sure if the latter is legal for OTC purchase in NYC, but try anyway. Permethrin and Gentrol (in some form) can be bought from the Bugclinic in Spring Valley NY, and you can also buy most of this stuff in NYC, at Terminate Control on East 12th St. off Ave. A. Get an Insecticide-rated respirator: $25-$40. Get some disposable gloves, a pair of cheap plastic goggles, and wear long pants and long sleeves, and if you're not allergic or very chemically sensitive, you should be good to go, but be sure to READ UP FIRST, AND READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FULLY and FOLLOW the instructions to the letter.
After your crash self-education in bedbug behavior and biology, treat your bed and bedding and bed-frame and any nearby cracks and crevices. You'll need to get on your knees and elbows and back as you "think like a bedbug" and look for their hiding places.
If the bites wake you up at night, take time-stamped digital photos of the bump, with your flash off, and using a flashlight to cast a shadow of the bump/bite. It'll be nice and clear in the photo that way. If you keep your flashlight handy and are awakened, you should be able to find the bedbug by looking. It's important to find at least one, to rule out other vermin/insects.
If the problem persists after your treatment, you might have a bigger problem, maybe your neighbors, room-mates, family, or pets (mammals only) are also hosting them.
DO NOT let your super treat. It's illegal and they do NOT know how do do this properly. It's 100% legal for YOU to self-treat with over-the-counter products. It's 100% illegal for anyone else to treat unless they're licensed exterminators, licensed by the NYS DEC. And Professional bedbug exterminations cost $300 and up, depending on the size of the space.
DO NOT ALLOW "bombing" or "fogging"...that's a waste of money and is simply poisoning your environment un-necessarily, not to mention it's illegal. Most building supers have NO IDEA how to deal with this problem.
If the problem persists, you need to do this: Catch a bedbug, immediately after being bitten, go to Bellvue or another
hospital and see a dermatolagist, bring the sample, and get medical documentation of your problem.
ALSO, send a certified, return-receipt requested complaint to your LL.
ALSO, call 311 and file a formal complaint with the HPD and ask an inspector to come, and show them your evidience. It could take weeks before they come, be forwarned.
Finally, you might want to talk to Steven De Castro ESQ. He recently won a record-breaking 50 percent abatement on the rent-in-arrears from a bedbug victim at 165 Ludlow street:
manhattanfirm.com/landlord_tenant/bedbug%20case.htm
Mr. De Castro charges $80 for a 1/2 hour consultation, and it's worth every penny if you follow the advice above in regards documenting your case. He's currently representing the entire building's tenants, who are ALL on rent strike.
I do NOT have ANY vested interest in these products, companies, and I'm not currently being represented by Mr. De Castro.
I hope that you do not have bedbugs, but if you do, welcome to the club, and start arming yourself with knowledge and the proper chemicals.
---
Greetings Caitlin.
I've been battling bedbugs since 1999 at the Slumlord-owned and operated SRO hotel where I live. I'll try to give you the executive summary of my knowledge and experience.
(And if someone can advise me on formating my text better, please speak up...I have no idea what I'm doing, with this, my very first blog comment.)
Read up on Bedbugs and treatment:
manhattanfirm.com/landlord_tenant/bedbug_faq.htm
Wikipedia
askourpros.com
bugclinic.com
Buy a gallon of water-based Permethrin: $16 plus tax (plus UPS shipping if you get it by mail order.) Buy a small bottle of Gentrol concentrate $10-ish and/or a can of Gentrol Spray, $18-22. Not sure if the latter is legal for OTC purchase in NYC, but try anyway. Permethrin and Gentrol (in some form) can be bought from the Bugclinic in Spring Valley NY, and you can also buy most of this stuff in NYC, at Terminate Control on East 12th St. off Ave. A. Get an Insecticide-rated respirator: $25-$40. Get some disposable gloves, a pair of cheap plastic goggles, and wear long pants and long sleeves, and if you're not allergic or very chemically sensitive, you should be good to go, but be sure to READ UP FIRST, AND READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FULLY and FOLLOW the instructions to the letter.
After your crash self-education in bedbug behavior and biology, treat your bed and bedding and bed-frame and any nearby cracks and crevices. You'll need to get on your knees and elbows and back as you "think like a bedbug" and look for their hiding places.
If the bites wake you up at night, take time-stamped digital photos of the bump, with your flash off, and using a flashlight to cast a shadow of the bump/bite. It'll be nice and clear in the photo that way. If you keep your flashlight handy and are awakened, you should be able to find the bedbug by looking. It's important to find at least one, to rule out other vermin/insects.
If the problem persists after your treatment, you might have a bigger problem, maybe your neighbors, room-mates, family, or pets (mammals only) are also hosting them.
DO NOT let your super treat. It's illegal and they do NOT know how do do this properly. It's 100% legal for YOU to self-treat with over-the-counter products. It's 100% illegal for anyone else to treat unless they're licensed exterminators, licensed by the NYS DEC. And Professional bedbug exterminations cost $300 and up, depending on the size of the space.
DO NOT ALLOW "bombing" or "fogging"...that's a waste of money and is simply poisoning your environment un-necessarily, not to mention it's illegal. Most building supers have NO IDEA how to deal with this problem.
If the problem persists, you need to do this: Catch a bedbug, immediately after being bitten, go to Bellvue or another
hospital and see a dermatolagist, bring the sample, and get medical documentation of your problem.
ALSO, send a certified, return-receipt requested complaint to your LL.
ALSO, call 311 and file a formal complaint with the HPD and ask an inspector to come, and show them your evidience. It could take weeks before they come, be forwarned.
Finally, you might want to talk to Steven De Castro ESQ. He recently won a record-breaking 50 percent abatement on the rent-in-arrears from a bedbug victim at 165 Ludlow street:
manhattanfirm.com/landlord_tenant/bedbug%20case.htm
Mr. De Castro charges $80 for a 1/2 hour consultation, and it's worth every penny if you follow the advice above in regards documenting your case. He's currently representing the entire building's tenants, who are ALL on rent strike.
I do NOT have ANY vested interest in these products, companies, and I'm not currently being represented by Mr. De Castro.
I hope that you do not have bedbugs, but if you do, welcome to the club, and start arming yourself with knowledge and the proper chemicals.
posted by Caitlin at 11:01 AM
3 Comments:
caitlin,
can i only assume that no news is good news???
Greetings again Caitlin and readers.
I've been substantially revising my Executive Summary. I added some legal links, adjusted some prices, and eliminated a reference to an NYC exterminator who no longer sells pesticides to the general public. I also added a link back to this great blog page, which is where and why I decided to join the fun.
Happy hunting and
DLTBB!
(Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite.)
http://www.mappost.org/bedbugcity.php
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