Don't let 'em bite

✔Vacuumed
✔Ethanol sprayed everything
✔Inspected everything
✔Did not reorganize everything for fear of meddling too much with whatever is going on
... Things were I did before today...


Now...
I am paranoid.  Chiggers? Mites? Fleas? Spiders? Ants? and the worst scenario...bed bugs?!?! I don't know if it's here, if it's from somewhere else, or what...I am prone to bug bites to begin with and my skin is generally sensitive to like...a lot of things, so this makes it confusing.  I have seen a lot of people, been to a lot of places, but I don't hug strangers at least.  Not that my friends wouldn't have anything.  I decided to go the route of the worst case scenario because I figure if I approached the problem this way, it would be the most effective regardless of what the problem is.
I woke up itchy.


Couldn't fall back asleep.
Got paranoid.


Went to work... couldn't find my ID... got to the office at like 6:45am...nobody was there and it was dark...and I struggled to find light switches.  Only found one.  Thankfully my desk has a light.


Instead of direct deposit for my first check I got the paper one as they struggled so much.  GOT PAID, YES! Spent time multi-tasking...doing my lit review for work and also researching possible infestations, focusing on bed bug control.  Called many stores inquiring about specific products...that was a big of a struggle...looked for places with bed encasements (specifically protect-a-bed one...if I gotta do something, gotta do it right...can't get any more hardcore than a P-A-B bed encasement set. Seriously).  Chitchatted with my cubicle buddy and discussed this dilemna.  He has two bug bites and is not taking it well...he could just be a wimp about itchiness though.  Shared benadryl cream as he was suffering and never used it before.  Because I got to work so early I left really early.  


First stop: The bank.


Then I headed to mattress firm.  Found the products (bed encasements) but they were way over retail price from online (directly from P-A-B)...told them and they brought the price down to what I'd pay for it online.  Essentially I haggled the price from 250 to 140-ish. Score.  Of course this is still ridiculously priced.  But that's the price to pay for precautions and control for potential or present infestations...of anything.  If there are bugs on the mattress...they are now encased and have no way out.  There is always no way in...to either the mattress, box, or my pillows.  The pillows I bought from bed bath and beyond and they're a different brand but they should be OK.  I can at least wash the pillows occassionally.  At the mattress store they did throw in a free mattress cover though (separate from encasements).  It was a pleasant transaction.  I also inquired about warrenties...and they have the typical stuff.  They also said that the tag on the products have the phone number incase I lose the number...to which I responded
"I'd have to lose my bed to lose the number I guess"
:)
At least they were very amused.


Then I went to Bed Bath and Beyond (as implied earlier).  Bought bed bug sprays (the natural-y stuff...it was also set up at the front...is this bed bug season or something? am I missing something?  It is a city....sigh...and it's on the list of outbreaks in the country).  And it is here that I bought cases for my pillows.


As soon as I got home I wrapped up all of my bedding including the pillows and washed them.  One pillow was totally ruined n had to be thrown out...the other two are ... tolerable...and one is still in its normal state.  Sigh.  Looks like I need new pillows.  BUT, my comforter survived at least...surprised.  Previous one died.  Don't have large enough washers/dryers.  Now I wish I had one IN my apartment...it was a hassle going back and forth.  I used all but two of the washers..and almost all of the working dryers.  Good thing it was in the middle of the day while people are still at work.


As the laundry was going i proceeded to vacuum...sprayed the baseboards and parts of the mattress and box...wrapped them up in their new encasements, sprinkled some diatomaceous earth on the ground and esp around baseboards and bed....tried not to inhale it as it is harmful to lungs (silicon).  It is supposed to kill insects as it cuts through their exoskeleton which makes them very vulnerable to the air which essentially dries them out (and then they die).
lalala...eventually made my bed...sad about my dead pillows...


Did some more online research...
Called my roomie to update her on what I've been learning and what she should do (such as continue normal patterns to localize potential infestations without just spreading em around the apartment more, that it could be from anywhere...possibly through the walls cus thats how the ants get in too...and urged her to wash everything).
At Meijer I bought some spray that Josh's mom recommended me to get.  Way more hardcore.  I also got Calamine oil and Hot Shot spray.  Used both for the entire apartment baseboards and doors.  I struggled with my closet but I couldn't even get to my roomie's closet cus it was a disaster and crammed full. Literally.


I plan on calling the management tomorrow to inform them of the potential problem for them to bring in an inspector.  I have not been able to find anything...so I'm not sure if I'm just paranoid or if there is really a problem.. Hopefully they can help...For now let's hope I sleep better.
Oh, I also doused my hair with listerine cus I am paranoid that maybe they're hiding.  I just want to make sure just about everything is clean.  I'm not gonna mess with my stuff too much tho bc I want them to be checked professionally.


Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite.  To think I thought that was made up when I was little...apparently bed bugs are back in the country and are now immune to a lot of pesticides.  Maybe I should try to find one, bring it to my dad, and ask him to make a better pesticide.  It used to be his job at least...we'll see how things go before I bring that up with him though.