Hi everyone. I'm new here, but had a bedbug experience 6 years ago that resolved with moving and throwing away almost everything. I started a new job recently and during a meeting, I found an adult bed bug crawling on my leg. I flicked it off, then my co-worker tried to step on it and it disappeared into the carpet. They were not too surprised, since we work with some disadvantaged populations and they sometimes meet in the room. Wasn't thinking clearly at the time, but I wished I saved it. My boss didn't want to discuss it and continued the meeting.
I drove home and immediately put my clothing into the dryer. Coming in from the garage door, the laundry room is right inside the house. Showered and put on new clothes. I left my bag inside the car. The next day, I noticed one bite on my arm. I found a slow-moving bed bug on the floor, right in front of the dryer, and caught it. Most definitely a bed bug. Must have fallen off when I took off my clothes and put them in the dryer. I vacuumed the area and my car; I put my bag into a large, unused ziplock leftover from years ago.
The following morning, I noticed 3 bites on my neck. Classic "breakfast, lunch, dinner" bites and a red spot on my leg (very close to where I saw the bug in the meeting). I didn't see any other evidence (fecal, sheddings, blood smears), but we haven't disassembled the bed yet. Spouse did not get bitten.
We ordered mattress and pillowcase encasements and white sheets, which will be coming tomorrow. Have been vacuuming and bagging the contents of the vacuum outside, then zip-locked.
I contacted my boss on Friday, but no word yet. Have a feeling they already know about this, but unclear what actions, if any, they will take.
My questions:
1. What else can I do to keep from bringing more bed bugs home? I was thinking about changing in the garage into a large zip-lock, then emptying it into the dryer? Or changing into a zip-locked set of clean clothing at the meeting site bathroom, then driving home? I bought an air-tight box for a pair of work-only shoes.
2. We're planning on washing and drying all clothing once we get the encasements and new sheets, sealing clean items in zip locks, steaming the curtains & bed frame, emptying out the nightstands, vacuuming everything. Spouse put a very light dusting of DE around the perimeter of the laundry room. Can't use climb-up monitors because of the bed shape. Is there anything else we can do?
3. Should I quit my job, LOL? :)
Thanks everyone in advance!