My Bed Bug Nightmare
I've never been one to deal with bed bugs, but fate had other plans...
I've lived in old buildings my whole life - three different apartments, three different neighborhoods - and I've never seen a single bed bug! I've always loved the character of old buildings, and I've never thought twice about them being bug-ridden. But when people who love new buildings say that's why they don't like old buildings, I just laugh.
How it all started
It was the end of February when I noticed my daughter had two bumps on her leg - mosquito bites, I thought at first...
Her daycare was a cozy place, but it had a damp and warm atmosphere, which made me think maybe mosquitoes from the basement had flown in. I didn't think much of it at first...
Two weeks went by, and I noticed bites on my hand...
At that point, I still had no idea what was going on. I had no idea about bed bugs! (Now I know everything, and it's a whole new world...)
I couldn't take it anymore and asked about mosquitoes in the daycare, but the teacher firmly said there were none and no one was getting bitten.
Okay...
But then it happened!!!
My daughter woke up with bites on her back!!! Not just bites, but characteristic bed bug bites – in a line!
I'm still trying to put into words the shock and horror I felt!
I'd like to note that my husband and I didn't get a single bite. Not a single one! And our daughter's bed is right next to ours.
I thoroughly searched my daughter's bed, using a flashlight to check every seam, but I didn't find even a hint of bed bug activity... No dots, no specks.
Aside from feeling really bad for my daughter, I was also extremely stressed out about the bed bugs. I was devastated and angry. All I knew about bed bugs was that they're the worst (that's what everyone says).
I scoured the internet, and I learned everything there is to know about them...
Theories on how they appeared
We've lived in this apartment for a year now, and we've had no issues with bugs, so I immediately ruled out the theory that the place was infested.
My husband suggested that the renovation of the elevator might have brought them in. Or maybe the contractors brought in equipment or boxes that brought them in.
We also thought maybe the pest control service that was coming to our building soon might have had something to do with it.
But I'm stumped...
However, I did find out that our neighbors were getting rid of mattresses and beds almost every day. I guess the problem isn't just us...
Our Experience with OZON
What to Do with the Mattresses
Nope, nothing from the treated area needs to be thrown out.
But I did toss the mattresses – I couldn't sleep on them...
What to Treat
You only need to treat the rooms where the bugs are a problem – in our case, that's 99% the bedroom.
Cockroaches tend to live near where you eat and sleep.
But I decided to tackle the hallway and living room just in case.
You really need to give the bed, mattress, and area under the bed a good spraying.
But honestly, I just ended up spraying the whole place.
What You'll Need for Treatment
• Rubber gloves – ideally a disposable painter's suit. Your clothes will smell!
• Rubber gloves
• Safety glasses and a respirator. I got mine from a hardware store.
You really want to get a top-notch respirator. When I first treated the place, I used a painter's dust mask – it didn't help much.
• Sprayer. You can get a simple one like for flowers, but your hand will get tired fast. I got this one:
It's better to get one with a metal nozzle, it sprays a finer mist.
Preparing the Treatment Solution
The box comes with instructions on how to mix, apply, and other recommendations.
I actually used a bit more of the solution than recommended – 20ml in 1 liter of water.
It's essential to have a dense container, so I initially used a thin water bottle. When I poured in the solution, the bottle wall started to deform (where did the clear liquid go).
The solution is extremely fragrant. You should put on a respirator right away.
Everyone, except the person handling the room, should leave the house. Especially kids and pets.
Frankly, staying in the house will be pretty tough.
After mixing the solution with water, the resulting liquid turns into a white suspension.
Before treatment, close the windows.
We went to stay with my parents overnight. The next morning, I returned, opened the windows, and left for another 2 hours.
Then I came back to clean up the solution (floors, surfaces, door handles).
The Lingering Smell
In general, there's a faint smell left on the next day. My bedroom smelled the longest, and I could still sense a light scent of the solution for another 2 weeks. But overall, it's tolerable.
We ended up sleeping in the living room, as I planned to do multiple treatments.
What to Use for Cleaning
Mix soap with baking soda in a basin for a cleaning and deodorizing effect.
How Many Times to Treat
At least 2 times! The thing is, eggs hatch a few days later, and the toxin doesn't affect the eggs. A second treatment will kill any potential hatched individuals.
I recommend not skipping the second treatment!
I treated it 3 times, just to be safe.
What Happens if You Ignore Protection Measures?
I'll be honest, I used a subpar respirator first. Literally, my nose was clogged with mucus, I was drooling, and there was even some blood in my nasal discharge. I started coughing up mucus and had a cough. It was all over in about 30 minutes.
The Outcome
I deliberately left the mattresses out to process before disposal. I thought, at least I'd get to see the bastards if they crawled out from the poison. But honestly, I didn't even spot a single body.
I did find a weird spot in the seam of one of the mattresses, but it might've been just a wrinkle or a bed bug.
After the first treatment, I didn't get a single bite!
As of writing this review, it's been two months, and there've been no relapses.
Textiles
I washed the bedding, blankets, and pillows at 95 degrees.
I didn't think I'd have to deal with this issue, but it was tough on my mental health... It got easier when I told myself it was just a bug infestation and I needed to take care of it.
Palach worked effectively to eliminate the problem from the first use. Yeah, it's not perfect, but it does its job 100%!
I highly recommend acting fast and doing a follow-up treatment!