Wednesday, September 14, 2011
I've been searching for laundry detergent similar to the "Free and Clear" brands in the US - those without the chemicals and smells that make my youngest son itchy, and was happy to find some at the Total Mall this past weekend.

Unfortunately, that's not the only thing making us itchy. I've been getting out of bed the past few weeks with unexplained bites on my arms, back, and legs. Well, I finally discovered what the culprit was.

Bed Bugs. I am so disgusted and creeped I cannot even begin to tell you.

I've put in a call to an exterminator today to have them come out an do something - but based on what I've heard about bedbugs, it's likely we will have to toss all of our matresses. So it's a good thing I don't work full-time, because I'm going to need the time to wash and dry all of our things on the highest heat imaginable.

I was aware that bedbugs were a growing problem in the United States, but it honestly never occurred to me that they would be here. But from a quick Google search, it appears they are a big deal in Bangalore as well. Stupid not to think of this, I know. But all the floors are tile here - no carpet to hide in. I'm hoping that with the exterminator's help we'll be able to get rid of them soon!

I'm still completely confused about how they came to live here - we bought our furniture and matresses new, but I've heard they can live up to a year without eating, so it's obviously possible they hung around after the old tenants left. Thank goodness for Discovery Channel specials, or I wouldn't have been able to identify them.

We actually got lucky with the kids' beds - the youngest is still potty training, so both of them have a plastic liner on their matresses. I should just be able to wash the bedding, rug, and curtains in their room and be good to go.

But for all of you potential tourists I've offered a bed to - it's best if you wait until we get you a new bed.

And no pictures today - I'll spare you the crawly skin.

2 comments:

Josh said...

That really sucks. I had bed bugs in my first apartment in Joplin. You don't necessarily have to toss the mattresses if you can find the allergy cover things (similar to the plastic on the kids' beds but not plastic). I know that these are at most any Wal-Mart in the US, I don't know if you can find them there - but they have some of them that specifically call out that they keep bedbugs in/out. I always use these now.

Lorenda said...

Well, the guy sprayed like a ton of liquid directly on the mattress - they swore to me it was safe to sleep on. I've read that hot steam will kill bed bugs in all stages of their life cycle, so I've thought about whipping out the ol' steam iron and spending a day killing bugs. (I will of course test this outside, just in case I set myself on fire._

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