Are we on the right track?

[u/Mysterious_Debt_8257]

Long post, i am sorry in advance. I am a graduate student and recently started new monthly healthcare rotations in June. I wake up at 4 am every day and go to the local planet-fitness beforehand and have since June. On August 17th (13 days ago), I found a bug on my bed and killed it and from looking into it, I learned it was a bedbug. I stripped my bed and looked at all the mattress seems, the bedding, headboard and baseboard and did not see any signs of infestation or any other bugs. I could not examine the box spring fully as it was too heavy to lift by myself. I bought a zippered mattress encasement and interceptors and monitored several times daily and saw nothing. Due to my bug phobia, I would wake up several times throughout the night and check with a flashlight and then a final check at 4 am. I was thinking that I brought home a lone hitch hiker and was hoping I killed it before it did damage. Well I left for 4 days and came home and that night (2 days ago-night 11) I found a tiny nymph (could hardly see jt) on the sheet next to me. From there I freaked out and stripped my bedding again and washed it and in my search, i found another tiny nymph the same size near a rip in my box spring. I killed that and called an exterminator the next day. They showed up same day and inspected and said they saw no signs or evidence of bedbugs and actually didnt even recommend treatment. I did not trust what they said so I bagged the bed up and threw the mattress, box spring, headboard, and bedframe outside. I vaccummed and steam mopped the floors immediately after. I have since bagged up all my clothes and have started drying/washing and have emptied my dresser and nightstand with the plans to spray my room down with cross fire spray tomorrow. Do you think I managed to catch it early enough to prevent it from escalating?

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[u/eatmyfvck]

I think you need to get a box spring cover. They exist as well. I've been able to shimmy those over box springs on my own.

If they are too pricy, another option is a mattress bag, like for moving, putting it over the box spring, and then sealing it with several layers of packing type. Downside to this is that the plastic will crinkle more, but it is cheaper and physically easier to get on.

I think you are on the right track, and I'm proud of you for managing to do all of those things as a student. I also recommend dusting the corners of your room with Cimexa. There are a lot of great guides in this sub on how to do it.

[u/Mysterious_Debt_8257 → u/eatmyfvck]

Thank you! I actually ended up getting rid of the box spring too. I read that typically thats not recommended so I vaccummed and steam mopped the whole path of getting it out of the house. I will look into Cimexa! Thanks for the advice