Treat Bed Bugs

We recently found out that we have bed bugs, we thought they were ticks from the woods in our backyard. Anyway we bagged all material items washed what is needed for now, broke all bedrooms down, sprayed all hard surfaces(table joints, and chairs, etc.), everyday we spray baseboards, matresses, and carpet with 91% isopropyl alcohol. When I say spray, we are useing a continuous sprayer which puts out a continuous heavy stream. So we are actually saturating everything in alcohol. we have set up camp in our living room( its just nasty to sleep w/them) I need to know are we affecting them at all or just wasting time and money. By the way we cannot afford for the exterminator to do it, he said it was going to start at $600. So for you pros out there are we getting the job done?

I don't know if isopropanol will kill them unless you actually hit them with it. From what I understand, they are very hard to kill, and usually exterminators use heavy duty insecticides. Quite frankly, I would move out before I allowed those chemicals in my home. But what are you gonna do? One insecticide that is not too dangerous is boric acid. The bed bugs hide behind the baseboards and other woodwork during the day. So I would recommend getting a pry bar and removing the woodwork. Then spray in all cracks and crevises with dry boric acid. Make sure you have an applicator that will *spray* the dry powder. Then replace woodwork. You may not want to nail the woodwork because you may have to repeat. Maybe you should rip up the carpet too? They're probably hiding out in there. What's underneith? If it's hardwood floors, I would definitely rip up and dispose of properly so nobody takes it from the curb thinking they got some nice, free carpet. How do you know they are not in the rest of your house? They can come from the attic if you live in an old house that ever had bats. in which case they could be in the whole house. Or you might have brought them in from a hotel stay, or from an old piece of furniture. You kinda need to know how you got them, to try to figure out if the are throughout the house. But you should assume that they are. And are you absolutely certain that they are bed bugs? It's kinda hard to confuse ticks and bed bugs. So maybe you're confusing bed bugs with something else. You can usually take a sample to the county extension of your state university for an accurate identification.

I am currently living in an apartment that became infested with bedbugs. Luckily, I am moving at the end of the month, but what should I do to make sure that no bed bugs come with me to my new place? I am leaving my couches, and probably my mattress/box spring- what else could they hitch a ride in, and how do I make sure that they don't?

Wash everything you can in hot water (personal wear as well as sheets and blankets. Wash EVERYTHING. Don't return clothes to dresser drawers (if heavy infestation) bed bugs and eggs may be there and you risk re-infection. Seal in plastic bags if necessary until your move. Examine very carefully EVERYTHING you take with you on the move (furniture, baskets, etc). Vacuum items including drapes (they climb them to gain access to your bed and blood). As a side bar, roaches will inhabit cardboard boxes so have them inside your new place only long enough to empty the contents, then take them outside immediately for trash. Good luck.

What can get rid of bed bugs and soothe or just plain get rid of the biting? Please help. I can't get a good night's sleep with these things.

The best answer would be to get rid of the bed and call an exterminator.
If you can't afford that use Mule Team Borax from the laundry detergent section of the store. Pour it onto the mattress, box springs, under the bed. Wash sheets in HOT water and dry all bedding in a HOT dryer. Walk the Borax into the mattress. It will kill them within a day or two. I would actually just leave the Borax in the mattress and put bedding over it. You might also consider using a plastic mattress cover.
Old bites? I would assume steroids like hydro-cortisone for itching. If you have an infection from scratching you need some antibiotics.
If bedbugs rehatch from the eggs already in the bed then reapply borax in a week.

They are not harmful as such, however the child suffers a lot from the irritation of the bite and may scratch him/her self very badly and that is bad!

You can never get rid of bed bugs! However the best way to treat them is to expose the mattress to the sun or to stay away for a couple of days from the house. Bed bugs survive on blood alone hence if you guys are away their food supply is gone!.

However chemical treat the bed before going on a vacation so that all eggs are destroyed

NO.

i had my place sprayed and i think my cats may carry them around the house again.they are both in door cats

I don't agree with flea collars. They don't work well, and they make your pet constantly inhale pesticide, along with anyone who hugs/cuddles/plays with them.. Yuch! Try a spot on(not store brand) like Advantage or Frontline, or, even better, go the all natural way!(Ill post a few links later.)