Yes it's true. I have come face to exoskeleton with one of New York City's best known critters - Cimex lectularius, or as it's more commonly known, the bedbug. Deny it as I did, pretending like it was just mosquito bites littering my body and lauding my impeccable cleanliness habits, they came, they bit, they got themselves exterminated.
Thankfully I have a cooperative landlord who knows a thing or two about responsibility (because yes, landlords in New York City are responsible for the eradication of bedbugs in apartment buildings with more than three units) who immediately put me in touch with an exterminator who did a preliminary spray that day and came three days later (after I did loads and loads and loads and loads and well, you get the picture, of laundry and scrubbing) to essentially soak my bedroom in pesticide. It was a very excruciating process and I wish it on no one, but if it happens to you here's my advice:
1) Don't deny it. If you see clusters or lines of bites anywhere on your body, if you see blood or "ink" stains anywhere and especially if you see a bug, check your mattress, box spring, dust ruffle (that's where I found a party going on) and even check behind any pictures on the walls next to your bed. The longer you put off eradication, the larger the problem will get. If you catch a specimen, keep it. I used a lint roller. Also, take a picture.
2) Immediately notify your landlord who should put you in contact with a licensed exterminator. It is illegal to spray pesticides without a license so make sure your landlord is responsible and not up to any funny business. Do this both on the phone (more immediate) and in writing (certified mail with return receipt just to protect yourself).
3) Wash ALL fabric in your room in hot water and dry on high for at least an hour. The heat is what kills the bugs. All fabric means sheets, clothes, curtains, comforters, blankets, pillows, mattress covers, etc. etc. Anywhere bugs can hide. After washing, bag all clean clothes in sealed bags (trashbags work) and remove them from the infested room.
4) Buy bed-bug protecting cloth covers for your mattress, box spring and pillows. Make sure you purchase cloth covers because bedbugs can eat through the vinyl or plastic. Yes, I know they are expensive, but you are protecting your investment. Make sure to put on the covers immediately. This will prevent any bugs on the inside from getting out and will kill them eventually and will prevent any new bugs from hopping aboard.
5) When the exterminator comes, make sure all pictures are removed from the wall and that your bed is not touching the wall or any other furniture.
6) Keep your fingers crossed that the exterminators got all the little suckers, but if you see any more, call them and make sure they get back asap to do more spraying. Many times the original spraying will not kill eggs already laid and they will hatch. One more spray should be sufficient to solve your problem. Even the environmentalist I am says to make sure you do this, because there is no getting rid of bedbugs without chemicals.
Again, I hope you never have to deal with this, but if you do, shoot me your questions and I'll try to answer to the best of my ability or find someone who can.
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