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Krystine Kercher's avatar

I've been out of commission (ill), so this is the first I'm actually seeing of this, but--there's a cheap and effective solution for treating bedbugs. I don't understand why OHA isn't using diatomaceous earth. It needs to be sprinkled on the carpets and puffed into every crevice and crack in the walls and around baseboards, cupboards, etc. (while this works best in apartments that are empty, it can also be used in apartments where people are currently living, as long as everyone works to minimize the dust getting into places where no one wants it).

It can also be dusted/puffed into the undersides of couches and upholstered chairs, and placed in shallow plastic or metal lids under beds and furniture with legs. It can also be used to line the inside ledges of dressers.

Clothing, shoes, stuffed animals, pillows, and linens that are suspected of having come into contact with bedbugs can be tumble-dried on med-high heat for 30 minutes to kill all bugs and eggs.

Items like books and dress shoes that can't be placed in a dryer can be put in plastic bags, dusted with diatomaceous earth, and the bags tightly fastened after all or most of the air is removed. Items need to stay in the bags a while to ensure full treatment (1-4 weeks, depending on how much air is removed).

I have to wonder how many of the other issues that OHA is facing that could also be reasonably and quickly fixed at minimal cost if someone just applied a little more common sense.

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