That time I had bed bugs and how I got rid of them.

This blog post contains affiliate links from Amazon.com. I get a small commission through qualifying purchase made through this site. A friend at work asked me if I wanted a queen size bed. I thought to myself, why not? Free is free. I could give it to my daughter. I ignorantly agreed and I trusted my friend, she is a hard worker, and she is a friend after all. Her and her husband dropped the bed off at my house, and I was happy that I provided my daughter with a new bed. I mean, this was very nice of her, or so I thought... Fast forward two weeks later, I was so wrong. My poor daughter was covered in red bug bites that looked like mosquito bites. I told my husband, "I think we have bed bugs". My husband said "No, it's just mosquito bites". I believe him, but looking back it's embarrassing to admit that I didn't put two and two together. Seriously? Anyway, I started getting the bites, and so did my other daughter. I was so itchy, it was worse than mosquito bites. Still didn't catch on, but soon I would. One day my daughter beings a black bug to me, with a circular body, she asks, "Mommy, what kind of bug is this". Terrified, I finally had the revelation, WE HAVE BED BUGS. I cannot explain how repulsed I felt. I felt invaded in my own home, like these little intruders that are stealing my blood in exchange for itchy welts, that are driving me crazy. I felt attacked, like "How could this have happen to me and my family"? I clean the house every week. Then I thought to myself "Why, Michelle, would you except a used bed? I felt so bad for my kids, I felt like a bad Mom, but I just made a mistake that I learned from. I had good intentions by getting a "nice" bed for my first born. Never ever again! Enough rambling, let's get to the point. How I saved thousands, and got rid of them by myself, without paying an exterminator. I am embarrassing myself by sharing this experience to help someone that may have an infestation of bed bugs. I got on the web for hours and researched. First off some facts about these horrifying invaders. They come out at night for a meal to feed on you. They like to live wherever you sleep. I found them in the curtains, couch and in the beds. So what did I do first? I just started washing everyone's bedding, and clothes. I also washing the bed bug infested curtains in hot water, and saw them try to escape for their life. You don't have to do this but I got rid of everyone's beds and got new one's. You can save money by getting a Bed Bug Matress Protector these darn critters will get stuck and have no where to go. Then I bought a Fabric Steamer. I used this about every other day on my new beds, curtains and I don't recommend it, but I was a little OCD and used it on the carpet. After all I was having nightmares at night about these God forsaken creatures. Then I went around the baseboards. Might not be good for the wall, but I obviously didn't care. Bed bugs hate the smell of cinnamon, so I bought a Essential Oil Diffuser, and a ton of Essential Oil. I used more than just cinnamon. I ran it all the time. Then I bombed the house. I mean who wants to live in a bed bug infested house? I used Bed Bug Bomber. Word of caution. Read all the instructions or you can actually bomb your house! Unplug the refrigerator, washer, dryer, I unplugged everything. My husband blew out the pilot light in the furnace and the water heater. The next day I just vacuumed, and then I let the chemicals sit so I wasn't mixing anything, but keep the essential oils going. A week later I sprayed the beds, curtains, baseboards, pretty much everything. Harris Bed Bug Killer. It's odorless, which is good because I have asthma and doesn't leave stains. Wear a respirator mask, gloves and long sleeves!!!! Then I sprayed Diatomaceous Earth on and around the baseboards, put it under the bed, in the bed and on the couch. Finally something natural that isn't full of chemicals. You still need a mask, DE is pretty dusty. I read DE is very effective in getting rid of insects. DE is fosilized powder that cuts the insects exoskeleton, and they dehydrate and die as a result, thank goodness. Also, rubbing alcohol 91% kills bed bugs and their eggs. It dehydrates them as well. It is supposly flammable, so be careful. I sprayed Rubbing Alcohol 91% on the beds, including the matress, and box spring. I sprayed the curtains and carpet as well. I also used Bed Bug Aerosol weekly. I repeated the process after vacuuming up the DE monthly for six months. I don't know about mixing all these chemicals, but we're fine and like I mentioned, I have asthma. It took about a month and I was bed bug free!!! I hope I have helped someone that is stuck with these blood sucking creatures. I truly hate them..... Then the next summer, I got cockroaches. 😭 To be continued...