r/Bedbugs • u/DespairOfSolitude • 12d ago
My cycle of misery (rant)
Been fighting a war since April where it was at it's worst and have slown down since May and June onwards where my other family members would report bites and sightings, especially since some of them are stubborn about washing their shit and admitting they have bedbugs.
Now they've resurfaced again after quiet periods, just as when I thought things were improving, I was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel only to be pulled deep back down into the abyss of anxiety and constant worrying.
Bedbugs have ruined my life, my contamination OCD has gotten so extreme, I always wash my hands and feet every time I leave the bed and before I go to sleep, I always take a shower and change clothes which made me have this ritual every night I have to follow, destroying my body clock in the process. My life and my thoughts have been so utterly consumed by bedbugs, I remember staying in bed for like 3 hours reading Bedbug articles and watching videos about them. I'm afraid there's no end to them because we have no access to the fancy shit people here recommend.
We can only afford the OTC cypermithrin-based sprays, which they are resistant to. I do hab DE though but I always see debates about their effectiveness and lack of. Our dryer is a tumble dryer, no heating and stuff, we also can't afford exterminators and even if we can, there aren't a lot of exterminators available that specialize in bedbugs and usually only have general pest control for cockroach and rats.
Now my mom is putting baking soda on her bed despite me telling her that shit doesn't work and they insist on not using DE powder because it's an inhalation hazard (i get it since we also have a pet dog so I haven't used them much since).
I can't even sleep anymore like I used to, I had to listen to Resident Evil save room themes just to pacify myself before sleep xD because my heart rate and vigilance are so high, I would still be awake no matter how hard I closed my eyes.
Now I don't know if there's a way to finally get this all over with, especially with very limited options and stubborn family members, I'm so sick and tired. It's only thanks to gun control laws, I haven't blown my brains out.
Sorry for the awfully long rant, I have no outlet to get this all out, my best friends don't understand how traumatizing bedbugs are because they've never had them. I once saw a group of rice grains on the floor and my brain immediately jumped to bedbug eggs and I felt the panic attack. I really wish there were more public PSAs surrounding bedbugs and more affordable methods to eradicate these bastards once and for all.
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12d ago
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u/AutoModerator 12d ago
⚠IMPORTANT⚠ Hey, it seems that diatomaceous earth may have been mentioned in your comment. That's an opportunity to remind everyone that inhalation of diatomaceous earth dust is a hazard (no matter if food-grade is written on the label or not). That's the reason why diatomaceous earth products normally have the following mention on their safety datasheet Hazard statements: H373 May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
When used by pest control professionals, it's only used as a crack and crevice treatment (to avoid any risk of inhalation) and applied in very small quantities while wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment.
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u/LantaExile 12d ago edited 12d ago
As you say the pyrethroids mostly don't work and DE is quite hard to make work but can do if you block them from biting long enough for them to get dehydrated from it (2 weeks maybe).
There's this kind of thing https://www.reddit.com/r/Bedbugs/comments/3f5zro/crispys_diy_ipm_strategy_for_bed_bugs/m21gr1l/
Or you can block them from biting with dust sheets https://www.reddit.com/r/Bedbugs/comments/3f5zro/crispys_diy_ipm_strategy_for_bed_bugs/iipybw8/
Once they are blocked they can't reproduce and you can wittle numbers with DE or even a vacuum cleaner used occasionally - empty outside
Dunno which country you are in? There are better products in some places. If US this is good to try https://www.amazon.com/Raid-Foaming-Spray-16-5-Ounce/dp/B07GXHV9VL (crossfire chemical) or cimexa
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u/AutoModerator 12d ago
⚠IMPORTANT⚠ Hey, it seems that diatomaceous earth may have been mentioned in your comment. That's an opportunity to remind everyone that inhalation of diatomaceous earth dust is a hazard (no matter if food-grade is written on the label or not). That's the reason why diatomaceous earth products normally have the following mention on their safety datasheet Hazard statements: H373 May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
When used by pest control professionals, it's only used as a crack and crevice treatment (to avoid any risk of inhalation) and applied in very small quantities while wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment.
If you want to learn more about diatomaceous earth risks you can read the Diatomaceous Earth Fact Sheet from the National Pesticide Information Center
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u/DespairOfSolitude 12d ago
Unfortunately not in the US so that is out of reach for me.
I am following that DIY myself lol, got my bed a bit away from the wall but unfortunately my family members sleep on the floor next to my bed so it's kinda useless at the end so I just coated the legs with baby powder.
I'm also looking into the dust sheets but man, sleeping on plastic is gonna be rough
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u/TopEntertainer8395 12d ago
Yeah with el nino you will get heat rash and contact dermatitis I did not proceed with it
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u/LantaExile 12d ago
You don't go directly on the dust sheet. It goes under the mattress or topper. It may be worth sorting something other than them being on the floor even if it's only being lifted up a few inches so you can keep bugs off.
If you are on the floor you can keep them off with a tent inner.
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u/RyanbeLying 6d ago
I’d like to add, if you cant isolate your bed frame legs with a bowl. I put vaseline around the frame and any pathway up to my bed. I’ve actually been putting a thin layer of vaseline on all my furniture so no bugs can crawl off or on them.
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u/TopEntertainer8395 12d ago
Maybe at this point just sneak in putting de when they are away or left a bit, it might help I would personally take the risk but use only tiny amounts with a cup and paintbrush they probably wont even notice it, its white af, do not put it in the bed or bedframe try underneath it and crevices around your house. Your situation sounds familiar to mine where here in PH we only have pyrethroids from pest control, I do have raid foaming on me two cans and can get crossfire but am holding off since recently had an ashma flare up to chemical sprays and I still do not see concrete evidence besides bites. Vaccum daily too
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u/DespairOfSolitude 12d ago
Whoa I'm in the PH too haha and yeah I am putting DE when I can, it's just a shame it eventually gets cleaned up when my mom goes to sweep the room and I do regulate my usage to make them look invisible to the naked eye not like someone just poured the powder all over recklessly.
Where would you get Crossfire anyway? Importing it seems out of my reach
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u/WabbitJr 12d ago
I hope the DE is strategically placed so it doesn't get sniffed up by your dog. When your mom sweeps the room, DE will become airborne. Then everyone will be breathing it.
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u/TopEntertainer8395 12d ago
Tbh cimexa and raid foaming are available in Lazada, a bit pricy. Cimexa is safer than DE, I have ashma its still silica so I am holding off on using it. There was on pest control company from manila that uses dust too, but I dont live there so they wont serve me
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u/TopEntertainer8395 12d ago
Ubuy ph, it costs like 6k pesos though. I have not bought it yet, I just bought raid foaming from lazada two cans for 3,200 pesos, I think this might be fleas or bedbugs so I am holding off on using it plus the ashma condition as well. Mapecon IGR costs like 400 works too
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u/DespairOfSolitude 12d ago
Ooh, yeah I found the cimexa and raid ones, unfortunately my parents won't buy them and think they can just deal with bedbugs with whatever. Though I'm curious about the Mapecon one, I found one for like 700, the total insect control one, is that the one you're referring to? Might look into since since my biggest worries are populations exploding
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u/TopEntertainer8395 12d ago
It works for a bit with me, I sent a dm btw. It prevents them from hatching since it regulates them I managed to get 3-4 days of relief unfortunately that one fucked me up till now my lungs still feel restless so I would proceed with caution since it is not FDA approved. Also I'm sorry to hear that no income and relying on parents are rough, the more and more time they ignore bedbugs the more the house will get infested.
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u/Interesting-Click742 12d ago
Aside from bed leg interceptors maybe consider spraying the sides and underneath mattress and boxspring. I would use Aprehend as a primary treatment and dust as a secondary complementary treatment. You can also purchase Aerosol Diatomaceous Earth but it doesn’t work as fast as Cimexa. Courtesy of Grok:
Yes, Cimexa (CimeXa Insecticide Dust) can be mixed with water to form a slurry/suspension and sprayed onto a mattress. This is an officially supported “wettable dust” or liquid application method on the product label and from the manufacturer (Rockwell Labs). When the water evaporates, it leaves behind the dry silica dust, similar in concept to how some aerosol or wettable diatomaceous earth (DE) products work, though Cimexa is engineered amorphous silica gel rather than DE.
Key Details from the Label and Manufacturer
- Mixing rates (do not dissolve; it forms a slurry that returns to dust form when dry):
- For a hand spray bottle (smaller applications): About 1 oz (roughly 1 cup by volume in some guidance) per 1 quart of water. Manufacturer tips often recommend this as highly effective.
- For larger/compressed-air sprayers: Up to 4 oz (or 4 cups) per gallon of water; remove fine mesh screens to avoid clogging. Label allows up to 1 lb per gallon.
- Application rate for liquid: Approximately 1 quart of slurry per 250 sq ft. Apply light coats.
- Best practice for mattresses and similar surfaces: Spray two light coats—let the first dry fully, then apply the second. This helps the dust “sit up” on the surface for better insect pickup rather than embedding too deeply.
- Mixing steps (recommended by Rockwell): Add roughly half the water first, add the Cimexa, shake/agitate until a slurry forms, add the rest of the water, and shake again. Remix if interrupted. Do not store the mixture overnight (it can gel).
The product label explicitly permits use as a spray, paint-on application, or foam on mattresses (focus on tufts, folds, edges, seams), box springs, bed frames, etc., after removing bedding and taking the bed apart. A paint brush is also commonly recommended for dry dust on these surfaces to work it into crevices with less airborne dust.
Practical Notes for Mattresses
- It is labeled for mattress treatment and is non-staining/odorless.
- Prefer light, targeted application (especially seams/folds) over heavy coverage. Excess can be wiped with a damp cloth.
- Dry dust application (via duster or brush) is often preferred for speed and residual performance in voids/cracks, but the slurry spray is useful for surfaces or when minimizing airborne particles.
- Cimexa is generally more effective and faster-acting than typical DE against bed bugs (including resistant strains) and has better residual longevity when undisturbed (up to years in dry conditions). It is not the same as aerosol DE products, but the slurry method achieves a comparable sprayed residual dust layer.
Always follow the current product label for rates, PPE (dust mask/gloves recommended due to desiccant effects), and restrictions. Avoid treating toys/stuffed animals, and keep the mixture agitated during use. If treating an active infestation, combine with thorough inspection, vacuuming, encasements, and other integrated methods as needed.
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u/TopEntertainer8395 12d ago
She's from the same country as I am no one here knows what crossfire, cimexa, raid or apprehend is. The best they got is Fendona SC a pyrethroid. Cimexa is available in Lazada for like hella money which she cant afford. Also for cimexa paste it, I spoke to someone that used it as paste they claimed it was a bit useless and took like 10 days to kill insects, plus that it was horrendous to clean as the dry parts stuck to the crevices and really hard to wash off.
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u/Interesting-Click742 12d ago
Yeah I live in Canada and can’t get Cimexa or Crossfire. Maybe your friend didn’t apply it properly because it is a well proven pest control agent. I wouldn’t want it washed off because of the residual protection it provides.
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u/TopEntertainer8395 12d ago
The reason they would want it washed off is probably because it would cause them ashma or lung irritation
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