Think I got them from a storage unit

[ugh…]

Been here for a while, thought I would share my story. I moved back to the USA a few months ago and into a new apartment. I bought new furniture but moved a few boxes from a storage unit into the new apartment. Shortly after I started experiencing all of these copied from this site so I am guessing I am in the right area:

Pinprick bites with or without lesions
Frequently intense itching of the skin
Vague sensation of crawling on the skin
Bite marks and lesions that heal very slowly
Increase of symptoms in certain areas of the home

My theory is that it might not be bird mites but could be from mites on a rat in my storage unit and not onto me.

Whether my theory is correct and it is from a rat and not a bird, what I am experiencing is very similar to most of what is discussed here.

It has been difficult. I have thrown out my bed and couch and now sleeping on an air mattress and working on a plastic chair in my office and not driving my car because they are now there too.

I feel like I am getting control over it and this is my daily routine:

Vacuum bedroom that I don’t live in (only carpet in apt) twice a day
Mop the floor with bleach
Wipe down bed and desk with bleach solution I use for floor
Wipe down my body with cloth that has 91% alcohol every few hours

I use KG sporadically but the alcohol seems to work better.

I have had some good days lately but had to drive my car yesterday and feel like a step back. I feel like I can get my apt under control with my routine but worried about how to fully clean my car because I can use the same process and if I can’t clean the car how can I fully get rid of the problem.

I have some questions about that and other stuff that I will post separately.

[Flgirl]

I am in the same boat. I actually moved and bought everything new except my car, clothes, coffee maker and camera. My new place is infested again. The car is a major issue for me. I have sprayed the car with chemicals, Kleen Green, essential oils, etc and nothing has worked. I even let the car sit for 3 weeks with pest strips in it. I had to buy a good handheld vacuum for the car. I vacuum the car before driving it and it’s not as bad. It has now been 2 years for me and it started in the car after I went to the beach. I believe the car is the source for me.

I think I will have to sell my car and get rid of everything, just start over fresh to eliminate them. I also use alcohol and Kleen Green, Neem oil, tea tree oil as a spray ( I rotate them weekly). I vacuum or mop daily. I also spray suspend SC, Onslaught, Tempo with IGR, and Excite R a few times a month ( I also rotate the chemicals). I have tried so many things and they seem resistant.

The pandemic is also making it tougher with the housing shortage and with home prices & rent higher now. I am not able to move again. I am just saving to start over fresh when the housing market calms down at this point.

[NewJersey201]

Thank you, @Ugh & @flgirl,

These posts have been helpful as I try to make my way through a major infestation. I have been struggling with what to take from my infested apartment if anything now that I am mostly bird-mite-free in a new space.

I hope as I write this reply, you both are in better places as it relates to bird mites. If you have any suggestions on moving with bird mites, how long do they live or remain on items? Let me know here or reply to my post in the question section.

Thanks again

[Flgirl]

Hello!

I wouldn’t take anything with you if you can. I ended up moving and throwing everything out and I am doing month-to-month rentals and still have them! They are about 90% better now. When I left I bought everything new but had to drive the car to the new place and some did transfer on the new stuff either from the car or the old apt. I have been treating my skin with extra virgin coconut oil and tea tree oil and I have used 10% sulfur cream and it helps! I also put coconut oil in my hair. I do constant laundry and wipe everything down daily like shoes, purse, phone etc. Anything highly infested I throw out and buy new. I just buy cheap clothes etc. My car is now in storage and has Nuvan pest strips in it.
This is my 3rd time moving with these things and I believe they could live on us at least for a few days. I would try treating your skin with extra virgin coconut oil and tea tree oil or even sulfur cream.

[Author]

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