Bedbugs are a really nasty problem that, fortunately, I've never had to deal with but I did see something on TV about it. They said that they don't live in just beds but simply everywhere. I don't think they travel like cockroaches though so if you get an exterminator on your own, they might be gone for good. I think I'd probably call like Orkin or someone and ask.

We live at Rollingwood apartments in Silver Spring and have been dealing with bedbugs for 8 months. They don't go away especially in apartment buildings because they are everywhere. Check you lease. Many say that managment has to keep bugs and rodents out of the buildings. It's very costly even for them which could be why they don't want to do anyting, but they shoul be responsible for it. Be demanding because you're going to need them to spry several weeks in a row off and on for the rest of them time you live there. We just went two months without a problem and now they are back. We're moving in May and not taking out couch or futon with us. Get plastic protectors for your mattresses and then tape and holes and the zippers. Leave these on for a year because babies can atch months later and bedbugs can survive a year without nibbling on you. They do live everywhere. Any laundry should be dried for at least twenty minutes making sure you get above 120 degrees to kill the bugs and eggs. The washer does not kill them. Anything fabric you are not using put in airtight packages (we use space bags). We haven't been able to eradicate them, but will find out if moving helps soon. Any fabric we're drying pror to letting it in our new place. Unfortunatly the bugs live in wood and cracks in anything. They pluses are they can not climb smooth metal and can not jump. They climb to the ceiling and drop onto your bed. Always dry you bedding when you do laundry and you shouldn't be bitten too often.

Good Luck! There are a lot of good advice websites online for other ways to minimize the impact.

Hi,

Bed Bugs can be a very difficult problem to deal with. It entirely depends on how infested a building is. It's possible to have them in just one apartment but because they spread so easily checking all adjoining apartments is highly advisable.

Because the problem is growing so rapidly there is a lot of information available to people in both detecting and dealing with the problem. There is no overnight solution so taking your time to research the problem is always advisable although unpleasant if you suffer from the bites. I will list some of the better and informative web sites at the end of this post.

There are an increasing number of cases of people moving into infested properties and likewise an alarmingly high number of people moving to escape them only to take them to a new apartment.

I wish you luck in your fight with the.

David

Suggested web sites

www.BedBugBeware.com
www.BedBugger.com
www.Bed-Bugs.co.uk

Contact the Dept. of Health for Prince George's County Maryland. I had the same problem when I had bed bugs at University Gardens, Adelphi, MD. The Dept. of Health will contact your apartment complex after inspecting your apartment and tell them they have 72 hours to comply. Believe me, they move quick when you get the Dept. of Health involved. Good luck!

Call the City Code Enforcement. And Call Fair Housing. You HAVE to get the city to find one and capture one. Which will proove they are there. And then the city can make the landlord fix the problem within 14 days, or fair housing says you can be let out of your lease. Talk to Fair Housing for more information. You pretty much have to get rid of or destroy your mattress I was told, and maybe other furniture as well. Maybe the landlord will have to re-imburse you. Get a statment from Orkin Pest Control if its not safe to keep your furniture or clothes. Orkin is the best pest control.

Your management is, by law, supposed to get the exterminator to come in your house and eradicate them (if you can prove that they got into your apartment from the spread from another apartment). You cannot really get rid of them unless you throw EVERYTHING AWAY (mattress, bedding) you also have to get rid of the carpet and treat the flooring.
These little guys are even worse than roaches.

We had to move and get rid of the things we could not vacuum-seal (you have to cut off the air-supply for several weeks; freezing helps as well.)
If you have any go with you to your new place, then they will come back.