Guest with bedbugs.

January 15, 2017 6:10 PM

A friend stayed overnight, went home and then found out they had bedbugs at their place. Should we be worried, and what should we be doing?

We're bagging up and then washing and drying the comforter and pillow they used with high heat, and we're also doing all the clothes we were wearing. What about the couch they slept on and chairs? What else should we be doing? Are we being too paranoid? Not paranoid enough? I'm not sure how to deal with this.

posted by Kicky to Home & Garden (3 answers total)

You cannot be too paranoid. Do a YouTube search for how to do an inspection of your couch and furniture. It isn't very hard.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:19 PM on January 15, 2017 [2 favorites]

If they had luggage, where did it sit during their stay? Give that area some extra attention.

Vacuum the couch and the surrounding areas thoroughly, then clean the filter. Outside, if possible.
posted by bunderful at 6:58 PM on January 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

The group home I worked at found 2 of the little buggers. I bought this: Cimexa and mattress covers. We also space bagged the bedding we were using at the time and dusted every baseboard, every nook and cranny on our ergo-base bed, including the mattresses, as well as our sofa and chairs. Be vigilant but try not to be paranoid. You can also make bed bug monitors like this with Solo cups and talcum powder. I recommend getting the Cimexa because it's more effective than diatomaceous earth but also, only use a fine dusting, to the point where you can barely see it. We've had no signs but we did treat 3x to be safe with Cimexa, along with the usual laundry doing and vacuuming.
posted by Issithe at 1:56 PM on January 16, 2017 [1 favorite]