Oh, bugger.

Oh, bugger.

We’ve all heard the fable “Don’t let the bed-bugs bite” and many of us have brushed it off as just something our parents used to say. Boy, was I wrong. My brother has a case of the bed bugs! The creepy, crawly tiny little critters have bitten me all over! I look like I have the chicken pox in some places and bee stings on other places. Most of all, they itch! I just couldn’t live getting bit every night by these vampire bugs so I decided to take action. I started ‘Googling’ away trying to find any sensible (and cheap) solution to combating these pests. The first query that came up was rubbing alcohol. Sensible, cheap, hey I was all over that. I enlisted the help of my brother, J, and his fiancée, KM, on this matter since they have a three year old and a newborn. KM promptly went out and purchased a brand new vacuum, rubbing alcohol, and borrowed a steam cleaner from a friend. I sprayed down the couches with the entire bottle; I was on a mission. When I left, KM and J steamed and vacuumed.

My sister Peej told me about the product they had used to get rid of their own bed bug problem called Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade) so I eagerly awaited the time when I could test it out. They gave me almost half of a 5-quart bag to take back to the house. As soon as I got through the door, I displayed the find. When their children were put to bed, I got to work. I first powdered down all of the pillows and then the back and sides of the couches, and finally over the cushions and underneath them. Since I am heavily covered in bites already, if I sit on the couch tonight, I won’t know if I’ve been bitten again.

I sincerely hope this works. Peej and her family have already gotten rid of all of their furniture due to the bed bugs. The devastation was so bad for them that they are now sleeping on air mattresses. I am hoping that if enough letters are written on their behalf, a local furniture company will donate to them.

But I digress...Please wish me luck, my arms and legs need it!