This FAQ was updated in June 2009 and now has two parts: the first covers travel, the second covers how not to spread bed bugs in your daily life.
Avoid spreading bed bugs when you travel
by Parakeets
I have bedbugs and I sometimes stay overnight with friends and relatives. What a dilemma! How can I make sure I don’t take bedbugs with me to my host? (Ha ha, that’s a switch. With bedbugs I’m usually referring to MYSELF as the “host.”) Bedbugs are so small, such good hiders, such good hitchhikers. It seems almost impossible, but here are some tips on what I do:
1) I take the absolute least amount of things with me as possible. The less you take, the less hiding places there are. This means repeating outfits, mixing and matching, and wearing the same piece of clothing or shoes over and over. Again, the less you take, the less chance of taking bedbugs. We have to be stark minimalists. It reminds me of when I traveled in Europe with a pack on my back and carried very little.
2) Whenever possible, I won’t even take a suitcase. I pack my clothes hot from the dryer into ziploc bags. I then put the zip-lock bags of clothes into a clear plastic larger bag and carry my clothes in that. (Ladies, first tuck your lingerie inside something else. Otherwise you’ll find you’re walking down the street with your “underwear showing”–literally). When I travel, I wear an outfit that I take straight out of the dryer or out of a ziploc bag.
3) I tossed out all my cosmetic bags and all those “travel totes for toiletries” (okay, I didn’t throw out my love of alliteration). I carry such items in zip-lock sandwich baggies. I don’t take hairdryers, travel irons, etc. with me. I borrow shamelessly when I get to the place I’m staying.
4) Again, when possible, I won’t even take the clear plastic larger bag into the house I am visiting if I’m using my car. I leave all my stuff in the car and use the car as my closet. The less I bring into the house, the better. I’d rather infect my own car than someone else’s house. I leave my coat in the car, too. If it is the summer, I put my “luggage” in the car for two days ahead of time, in the backseat in the sun, and let it bake.
5) I won’t take books or magazines with me that have been in my apartment. I buy them “fresh” for the trip.
6) I never take gifts with me that have been kept in my home. Instead I have any gifts shipped ahead of time, straight from wherever I ordered them online, or buy them along the way.
I don’t know if I’ve spread bedbugs or not. I certainly hope not. I take as much care as possible. I really care about the family and friends I stay with. Most of them don’t know about bedbugs, so even if I tell them, it doesn’t sink in how terrible they can be. I somehow think that precautions like this might help since hotels are not yet reporting bedbugs in 100% of the rooms and not everyone who stays in a hotel with bedbugs gets bedbugs, so there must be a way not to take them with you. However, I think the only way to be absolutely certain you won’t take bedbugs when you visit is if you are visiting a nudist camp.
I eagerly welcome more comments and suggestions on how to do this. It’s a learning process and stuff like this is not written anywhere else. Most of the bedbug articles I find in the media are soooo out of date, often cheeky in tone. They seem to think you just have to cover your mattress and spray, and your problems will go away. They couldn’t even imagine the horror we’ve gone through and we continue to go through on a daily basis.
Note: the above FAQ was written before the invention of a tool which many readers will find useful. The Packtite allows people to remove bed bugs from items such as unwashable clothing, books, papers, shoes, etc. This may help someone with an active infestation avoid taking bed bugs to other places (and, once bed bugs are gone, items brought in may be treated — even packed in the suitcase itself!) You can read more in the Packtite FAQ.
Avoid spreading bed bugs on a daily basis (added 6/2009)
by Nobugsonme
Most of the tips above are also relevant to your daily life, if you are someone who has bed bugs in your home.
The idea is to avoid taking bed bugs out of your home and infesting your workplace, your car, or other places.
Washing and dressing in clothing known to be bed bug-free immediately before leaving the home is a good rule to follow. (You can ensure clothing is bed bug-free by washing/drying it or running it through a Packtite, and keeping it bagged until wearing; this FAQ and this one may help.)
Think about where other items rest in your home which are only used outside. Why not keep a bed bug-free purse or backpack inside a sealed Ziploc while you’re at home? (The same rule would apply at work if the workplace is infested, and your home is not.)
Removing shoes at your own door and wearing something else on your feet inside the house is another good idea. The shoes, again, can be kept safely somewhere, in sealed bags. (Remember never to store damp shoes in a sealed bag!)
Shoes, hats, coats, etc. can also be run through a Packtite before storing or before use.
The important thing is to think about what you’re taking outside of the home, and ensure it is bed bug-free.
A little bit of common sense, and a little bit of annoyance, will help you avoid spreading bed bugs to others. The reward? Go where you want to, visit friends and family, enjoy your life, even while battling bed bugs!
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HI Parakeets! Great FAQ.
(By the way, I changed the title to a question, added the word FAQ, and linked to it from the FAQ page–I hope that’s all good with you.)
If anyone has suggestions about both visiting people’s homes overnight OR just regular visiting, we can add that too. Even going to someone’s home for dinner is a frightening prospect. If you use a car, and they’re in your car, it’s especially dangerous.
When you realize that they can hitch a ride in a purse or wallet, let alone a pocket, jacket or book, it’s enough to become a bit obsessive-compulsive.
Wonderful FAQ! This kind of information is going to be vital to help stop the spread of BBs. It is especially scary to think of spreading them to those we love.
Thanks for a thorough, practical guide!
M
Hi M,
Isn’t is amazing how many procedures we Bedbuggers have built up, amongst us? And so many things are similar ideas we independently come up with. It’s great to share these with people new to the problem.
Let us know if you have anything to add.
If you are not sure and have had an inspection that was useless, what to do next when there is endless clutter. What type of coat is cheap and can be put in the dry to avoid all this dry cleaning. How do you even get the coat to the dry cleaners?
Hi hopingidont!
We’re happy to answer any questions you have, but please repost this in the correct spot so people will see it and respond. (The comments on this page are just about the FAQ). Here’s what to do: please click on “Need advice?” in the links at the top, and copy and repost your message this following the directions there.
Thanks!
When my apartment was infected with bedbugs, I used rubbing alcohol in a spritz bottle. If you spray the suspected areas and items with rubbing alcohol and cover them with a sheet or seal them in a plastic bag, the bugs usually die out.
I sprayed around the floor of my bed after cleaning everything (bugs were getting in through the air ducts) and before I would get into bed, I sprayed my feet too.
I have read that placing plastic lids containing water under the bed posts (creating a sort of mote) drowns them on their way up to the bed.
Did you know that bed bugs find you by detecting the carbon dioxide you emit, especially while breathing in a deep sleep?
At any rate, they are awful, and some times I fear they have been dormant and will even come into my new home. I pray they don’t!
One last note, a washer and dryer are not usually conveniently located in a person’s apartment. Many times, I had to store clothes in the freezer until I could wash them, but as you know, the cold does not kill them (neither does water), it is the heat that kills them.
Grandma once gave me the strangest look when she saw me remove my bra from the freezer!
Fortunately, our bed-bugs-buddies did not spread to our family and friends.
THINGS I would never be able to bring with me becasue I’ve tossed them:
any and all velcro–including my wallet (with the exception of my hand braces) which I try to keep on my “sterile” note the quotes bed.
Considering the insdiousness and tenacity (size hiding and breeding) I rarely go anywhere anymore anyway. I even want to hug people who want to hug me.
PERSONALLY … I DON’T THINK VISITING–ESPECIALLY OVERNIGHT IS A GOOD IDEA AT ALL.
FOR THE RECORD, LET ME RESTATE IT: Ii DON’T EVEN WANT TO HUG PEOPLE.
What if you are someone visiting an infested home?? Can you follow the same procedures to get away “clean”, without taking the bugs home with you??
Great question, Butz. I would avoid sitting on anything with cushions and/or fabric while in the bed-bug suspected home. You can spray off around your pants legs, and body to help keep the bugs off you.
When you leave, spray your car seat with off (many times they will stay in the car for months and hitch-hike on you to your work place). Once you get home, wash the clothes and shoes that you were wearing with hot water, and take a warm shower. If you don’t have a washing machine, store the clothes in the freezer in an air tight plastic bag until you can wash them in hot water (the cold may not kill them).
I hope that helps
Good question, Butz, and good answer, Everythings.
I would add that you can get extra-large ziploc bags and seal everything you take into the house in bags while you are there: Boots, coats, small suitcases, etc.
There are professional people who prepare homes for bedbug treatments in New York City called Diamond Girls (thank heavens for people brave enough to do that). I asked on another bedbug support group how these folks avoided bringing bedbugs home–since they go into infested homes daily, before the homes are treated–and the answer I got was the shower and washing machine/dryer technique that Everythings referred to here. It certainly works. Yet some PCOs and clutter consultants won’t go into a bedbug-infested home without wearing a Hasmat Tyvek suit with Tyvek booties over their shoes.
I would add to Everything that the hot wash should be followed with a hot dry. If you can, shower and change into clean clothing from a sealed bag right before leaving the infested home. And spray your shoes before getting in the car (if relevant).
Hi – parakeets – can you give me the information for Diamond Girls? I can’t find it anywhere and may be interested in hiring them/getting their advice.
Thanks
upat5am,
we heard people who hired Pest Away in NYC were sometimes encouraged to hire Diamond Girls to help them prep for treatment. They may or may not work for just anyone (you might have to be using that PCO), but it is worth a shot. I’d call Pest Away to get their number.
Alternatively, I think it has been posted on the Bedbugger Yahoo Group, click the link in the sidebar and search there (you do not have to be a member).
I think the measures listed aboved are pretty extreme if you only have very light infestation. I find there is not much info out there with people with light/mild infestation. All the info I’ve read is so black and white
Hi Helly,
It may be good to think you have a mild infestation if that helps you keep calm and get a sense of control. However, I think it is very unlikely that you can be a very good judge of the level of your infestation. Bedbugs hide very well. Actually, they could be described as unbelievably stealthy. Some of us never see them. Most people don’t have infestations that require PCOs to come in wearing hazmat suits. Does that mean that they therefore have “light” infestations? It depends. I never see my bugs so I may think that anyone who does see them, by definition, has a larger infestation than mine. But I would be wrong if it turns out that I have a lot of bugs but they are just living in non-obvious places. All infestations are controllable. That is the best way to think of them.
As for precautions. Everyone needs to take very careful steps to not spread bugs. Whether you have a mild infestation or not. It doesn’t matter really. All you need is a pregnant female. A single bug and you could give your nightmare to others. You need to follow the laundry protocol, keep your clothes in sealed bags and take all precautions when you leave home for any reason, to go to work, to go visit friends, to go away for the weekend. We’ve heard from a lot of people who have spread their bugs to others or have seen one on themselves in a public place, in their office, say.
Parakeets’ recommendations are quite sensible. You’ll see when you have done more research. Please read the other FAQs and visit the forums if you need any help.
I’m judging my infestation on how many or little bites I have now. I haven’t been bitten for 2 weeks. Before that, I was getting bites almost every night for a week. See what I mean? Trust me I’ve read 100s of posts and blogs regarding this including this website. I’m only saying that there shoulbe a varying degree of suggestions and recommendations. I’m not saying I’m somehow disillusioned by this whole infestation issue.
FYI, I had 2 PCO treaments, and living off plastic bags last 3 weeks. Nothing touches the walls, all my furniture (what’s left of it) are all isolated. Most of my clothes are in plastic bags washed. I inspect everything before I leave my apt. I got rid of almost all my furniture and most of my clothes. I’m moving to a new apt at the end of the month, only with kitchen and computer stuff and my clean clothes in plastic bags. I’m still doing all this; even though, I haven’t got bites for 2 weeks. I’m not gonna relax until I move out of here.
If you see a beg bug(s) in your place, see evidence of them (feces and blodd splatters), and still getting bites, you should definitely take every measure possible to not to spread them.
It is very atypical for a bed bug to be travelling with you on your clothes you are wearing at the moment. This is mostly true. I always check my pockets, seams and cuffs, even my shoes before I go out even though it’s very unlikely they are living in them when you don’t have medium to heavy infestation. They also don’t like to lay eggs in open space (compare to dark crevices and corners) unless infestation is severe.
I know there will be people who will argue with me on these points; that’s fine with me.
helly,
it sounds like your bed bugs are almost gone–or may be gone (though it’s wise to wait a bit to be sure). These recommendations are not for people whose bed bugs are gone, they’re for people with bed bugs, period, and Parakeets wrote them as someone with bed bugs. As hopelessnomo says, it is hard to judge the seriousness of infestations, though you are right that it seems your bed bugs are being killed off.
Although it’s true that the more bed bugs you have, the more likely you are to spread them, if bed bugs rarely hitchhiked on clothing or bags, then people would not bring them home from hotels, cruises, and others’ homes so easily. It’s also worth pointing out that many people here had what they might think were “light” infestations since they only saw one bug, and yet they managed to spread bed bugs either to others, or to move them (while taking extreme precautions). That’s where some of us are coming from.
At the end of the day, we all have to decide what we’re willing to do to make sure we get rid of or don’t spread bed bugs. It sounds like you yourself are taking pretty serious measures to keep from moving them to a new home.
Good points raised here, everybody. Helly, you’re right in that someone who has a very light infestation probably won’t take all these measures when visiting someone overnight, and might not have to. For example, before I knew I had bedbugs, I had stayed overnight with people many times taking no precautions at whatsoever. Though my infestation was not light, I fortunately didn’t spread bedbugs. But those of us with active infestations will relate to the issues raised here by hopelessnomo and nobugs. Behaviors to take when visiting someone when you have bedbugs can be rated on a scale–from “not visiting someone at all when you have bedbugs” on one end, to taking no specific precautions on the other end. We all fall somewhere inbetween. Many of the behaviors we take are to reassure ourselves as much as anything, and that is an important when we deal with bedbugs and anxiety.
A related example came up at the Boston Bedbug Conference. The panel of PCOs and inspectors talked about visiting homes with bedbugs which they do daily, often visiting homes with severe infestations. They said some PCOs wore Tyvek Suits when they visited homes, some also wore Tyvek boots, some just made sure their pants didn’t have cuffs. So even professionals who do this everyday haven’t established their protocols yet.
Thank you your follow up posts. nobugsonme, if you read my post, I do not talk about bags or luggages because I do believe this is one of the easiest way to bring bed bugs with you. I’m only talking about clothes you are wearing; literally on your back. My brother in law works at a homeless shelter, and he’s been battling bed bug infestation for last 2 years there. He often goes into these rooms – with severe infestation – and he hasn’t brought one into his home, knock on wood. Of course, he takes every precaution. I wanted to post my view here because some of the posts here are so severe. ie. like the one who says she/he doesn’t even want to hug people anymore. I think this is too sad and extreme.
So, in reality, you were reacting in your original comment not to Parakeets’ travel recommendations but to the anguished expression of one reader of this FAQ?
It seems I always find myself saying this again and again: you cannot expect everyone to have a moderate, calm reaction in the face of bedbugs. For some, it’s like a bulldozer in our lives. Just because you are possessed of equanimity and feel comfortable that you have a light infestation under control, it does not mean that somehow those who react differently and come here to express themselves freely are blowing things out of proportion. Extreme measures and reactions are in the eye of the beholder. I think that throwing away your furniture and moving away to escape an infestation is pretty extreme. Must I judge you because of it? Must I say the equivalent of “get a grip?”
I’m sorry if I’m coming on too strong on this point but I am personally offended every time this type of comment comes up. Yes, I offend easily.
You know, bed bugs are really just a nuisance. They are not known to spread disease and most of the time you don’t see them. If you’re cool with that, ignore the small infestation and let it grow, share the little buggers with your friends and family.
I was not cool with it and I got rid of mine. I chose to take every precaution I could until the problem was resolved. As a result, no one I know “contracted” them.
I’m sorry I offended you.
No, please, no need, like I said, it’s me, I’m very sensitive to this. And anxious that people don’t misinterpret and not take the precautions we all take. (We’re all counting on the people we work with, ride subways with, etc.) I’m glad you’re adding to the conversation. That’s the way to do it.
No, no offence. I know the measures that we go through to avoid the nuisance seem extreem, but when you wake up to find a fat bedbug engorged and red with your own blood crawling in your sheets to get away, or talk to your roommate and find your gaze drifting to the bed bug crawling from his shirt collar and up to his neck, you kind of don’t want to take any risks. They reproduce extremly fast and foggers dont usually kill them; cleanliness doesn’t kill them.
They hide all day until you sleep, then they creep up like little vampires to feed on you while your asleep. Gross, eh?
We did the following:
1. wash all of your clothes in hot water and dry in hot heat (bag and seal when finished). Wash bedding often 1-2 x or more a week. Move bed away from the wall.
2. minimal infestation (can’t see blood spots on matress): cover your matress and pillows with plastic (to lock the bugs and eggs until they die…6 months to 1 year); heavy infestation: disgard matress.
3. Raid Ant & Roach killer (Country Fresh scent) worked for us when we sprayed it in the corners of room and around furniture. For some reason this one works better than the others (I don’t know why). I wouldn’t try it if you have infants or small animals in the house.
4. Find a new place to live.
5. When moving to new place spray legs and shoes with OFF and wash (as mentioned in 1) clothes immediately after entering the new place (1 pregnant bug can start the whole infestation all over again).
6. Discard as much of the infested furniture as you can aford to disgard(especially couches). Spray what you can keep and let dry before bringing into the new home.
7. Of course, let the property owners know about the infestation (mild or not). If you live in an apartment, they are responsible for getting rid of the bugs, but usually the bugs spread through the air ducts until the whole building is infested. Our apartment complex treated out unit twice, but we still woke up with the bugs despite our cleanliness and effort. A month ago, I visited the manager and was informed that they found the source: the neighbor downstairs had a grossly large swarm of them under the cooling unit in the bathroom!
I hope this helps.
Hi Everything,
I am glad your methods worked for you, and I am glad you stopped by.
I’d personally recommend people get a PCO and treat professionally. Not only will they solve the problem more efficiently and surely, but they can usually help you retain your furniture and even mattresses (they treat them). I’d venture that most people who go the professional route spend less money than those who self treat and, as you recommend, “Discard as much of the infested furniture as you can… especially couches”. Sometimes things need to be tossed, but usually not. What’s more, if you toss, your neighbors and community are likely to take in your stuff, no matter what warnings you attach to them. If they do, your problems can keep coming back. If you move, they can spread to your old neighbors.
Again, I am not trying to criticize you, but just pointing out why our FAQs disagree with you on the ant/roach spray and on the tossing furniture.
—–
helly,
I think a lot of us thought you were disagreeing with the FAQ and not just with the comment about hugging by one reader, Willow. You only mentioned “the measures listed above,” so this was a fair assumption.
I am glad you clarified, and we can all move on
We just found out my husband’s ex has bedbugs at her house. My stepson is at our house quite often. I am wondering what I can do to prevent him from bringing bedbugs into our home – poor little guy! Thanks!
The FAQ above should be helpful as should the FAQ on how to deal with clothing.
But the bottom line is everyone needs to understand that the bed bugs can easily spread from her home to yours via things your stepson wears or brings with him. Bed bugs don’t live on people, but they “hitchhike” in clothing and stuff.
Is her home being treated properly?
I often go back to my parents apartment. Every time I come in, I go straight to the bathroom and take a shower and soak the clothes that I wore in hot water. I handwash my clothes and put on a new outfit after the shower. I really don’t want to spread the BBs to other people, so I won’t allow visitors to my apartment anymore, other than my immediate family like my brothers and father, who help me with the preparation treatment and other stuff. I wish that I don’t need them to come, but I can’t do everything myself, so I ask for their help. Given the choice, I would rather do everything myself, so this way my family don’t have to come to apt either.
With a few precautions, your brothers and father will be fine. I’m glad you have their support. It’s very hard to fight bedbugs alone.
I wish more families were understanding and supporting in this way.
Anyway, it will get better, you’ll see.
Good luck.
If you know your friends have recently travelled and don’t take bedbug precautions AND they are coming to stay with you, how do you get them to be careful while staying at your place? But, also doing this without insulting them as guests to your home, or making them think you’re over-reacting?
Learningalot,
The above precautions are suggested for people who already know they have bedbugs and need to stay with friends or family.
I’m afraid your situation is very different. Your friends are either the types of friends you can talk about bedbugs with or they’re not. It sounds like they’re not. I think if they see your anxiety, it won’t be a happy visit. In any case, do you think that your friends would visit you and put you at risk if they knew they had bedbugs?
I suggest you don’t assume that everyone who travels will acquire bedbugs. Unless you have reason to suspect that your friends have been exposed to them, I’m not sure where your concern stems from.
Thanks for your response, hopelessnomo. You’re right in saying that friends staying over will either be ones we can talk frankly about bedbugs (BBs) or not; honestly I don’t know how they’d react to such a conversation as we’ll be meeting our friend’s new spouse for the first time.
I think you hit the nail on the head, when you comment that I’m assuming people who travel will acquire BBs or that my friends have been exposed to BBs on their travels. Unfortunately, I don’t feel comfortable about taking your suggestion, above. And, my concern stems from the fact that I am assuming travelling and staying at hotels without taking precautions is asking for trouble whether people realize what BBs are or not. I guess my ignorant attitude comes from thinking we should take responsiblity for things on a global trend; I think that assuming we perpetuate this particular problem when we don’t take the proactive steps of being careful on travels as habit, will eventually help towards limiting the spread of BBs.
Of course, people aren’t going to stay at their friends’ houses to deliberately put them at risk of BBs…I’m not an idiot and that’s not my question. I was hoping for some constructive comments about how to sensitively broach the subject with people that might not be aware of the real effects of BBs without making them think they are unwelcome in my home. Of course my friends are welcome that’s why they are invited.
Yet, I still want to know how to broach this sensitive subject, though. Hope you have suggestions for this point, instead of: assuming you know who my friends are, believe it won’t be a happy visit, or devalue my question by wondering what my concern is about.
Learningalot,
I regret that I caused offense. Believe it or not, I was trying to reassure you. You were evidently a person who has never suffered bedbugs, as there’s no other way that you could have asked such a question. Therefore, since I really believe that there is NO way to tell your friends that you want them to launder their clothes and bag their luggage when they arrive in your home without making them feel unwelcome, I was simply trying to assuage your fears.
If you had suffered from bedbugs, your friends would do anything not to cause you any anxiety and you could ask them anything! As it is, no, I don’t think there is any way to ask without causing offense. You can raise the subject at the dinner table, it’s always good to share bedbug knowledge, but by then it’s too late: they’re in your guest room and the fat lady has sung.
Therefore, I am completely out of advice. I am sure that other people who are more respectful and up on the finer points of etiquette than I am will come to lend a hand.
Good night.
Learningalot,
Tone is sometimes hard to read on the internet, but I don’t think hopelessnomo meant you any offence. In fact I know hopelessnomo didn’t, cause we go way back (8 months or so, which is a long time in the bed bug blog world).
You asked, “how do you get them (traveling friends) to be careful while staying at your place? But, also doing this without insulting them as guests to your home, or making them think you’re over-reacting?”
My own response to your question would be that if your friends had bed bugs, it’s what your friends do BEFORE coming to your place, not once they’re there, that would put you in jeopardy. (The FAQ outlines how they could avoid that: laundering clothes, etc.)
Once they’re in your home, I don’t see what precautions they need to take.
It is my sense that if your friends had picked up bed bugs in their travels, you’re at more risk if they come straight to your home from a hotel, rather than if they come from their home. This is because if they did pick up bed bugs, they’re more likely to “deposit” them where they unpack first.
I agree with hopelessnomo that the odds on your friends having caught bed bugs while traveling is not that great. In addition, even if they had them, they have a good shot at figuring that out before they visit you.
I have stayed in many hotel rooms since becoming aware of bed bugs, and I can honestly say I have searched many times and found no signs–and I am pretty attuned to the signs. So it is possible to travel bed bug free, at least now.
I have one other recommendation: encourage all your friends and relatives to watch the 15 minute CBC video here:
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/marketplace/bed_eggs.wmv
Not only does it drive home the risks of bed bugs in hotels and how awful they can be back at home, it also shows, in detail, how to search a hotel room for them. I think sharing with friends in an email how you found it useful might encourage them to watch it too.
Good luck!
nobugsonme, I appreciate your weighing in without sounding patrionizing. The video and your point (about there being more risk if my friends come to my place directly from their hotel to my place) were very helpful. The information was also more along the lines of knowledge-sharing I was hoping to get from this forum.
I think passing along the CBC clip with friends who travel is an excellent way to raise awareness. Thanks for suggesting that method. And, thanks for not saying that evidently I had never experienced BBs or I wouldn’t be asking my questions in the first place. I had thought that the more questions the general public asks about reducing BB spread the better. I hadn’t travelled for 10yrs, and then suddenly this year I went on business trips and stayed in Auckland, Sydney, and Saskatoon (and next Narita). I’m trying to learn about the problem and not spread it, so I tried to follow the precautions posted by Betty_Woo on TripAdvisor.
I know that’s not what everybody’ll do, especially if they’ve never been infested with BBs, but I tried because I’m very allergic to insect bites (the BB bites I got so far on my trips itched for 2 months…), and I didn’t want to bring back unwanted souvenirs. I know it’s awful to live with biting insects from living as a student in 2 places with fleas. The first place, the previous tenants had 12 dogs and cats, and when the 6 of us moved in to the now empty house I was the only one getting bitten. No one believed me that there were bugs (and so the landlord refused to do anything), and that on top of the bugs, the disbelief, and the summer heat, were all making me feel like I was going to go mad. I ended up sleeping in the tub wrapped in saranwrap, and finally, when I went home for a visit the other roommates got bit in my absence and that’s when the landlord (she lived upstairs and also got bitten once I went home for the visit) decided to get rid of the fleas. The second time I moved into a place and found fleas, I moved out immediately. So, now I try to avoid bug-infestations whenever I can, and, I ask questions that seem inappropriate, perhaps.
Anyway, if you’ll be kind enough to comment: To follow-up on your point about the unpacking, I’m just wondering what the likelihood of BBs staying on fabric suitcases are over the BBs getting off the case and depositing themselves closer to the bed–i.e. if people transport the BBs from their trip to their home on their suitcases, will BBs usually get off the suitcase right away, or stay on them for a few months?
Cheers, and still trying to learn,
learningalot_bb
Learningalot,
I am kind of saddened that you are persisting with jabs at hopelessnomo, who I’ve already stated I do not think was trying to be unkind or unhelpful. You might try and remember that she was taking her time to answer your question, for free, on the internet. And as I said, tone is sometimes hard to read. That puts the onus not just on the writer, but also the reader. Remember also that hopelessnomo did not have all the information you’re providing now.
About Betty Woo,
Although we may disagree on a few points, most all of her recommendations are found in our Travel FAQs here:
http://bedbugger.com/faqs/travel/
(This is just one of them.)
I don’t think anyone can speculate on how long a bug will stay in a suitcase, except that adult bugs normally feed every week or so, and newly hatched eggs yield hungry nymphs, who also want to eat (probably right away). So they’re likely to walk away from that suitcase within a week after their last meal, or when they’re born. I don’t think you can count on your visitors’ bugs, if any, staying put.
Good luck and try not to worry. Bed bugs are spreading, but they are not everywhere yet. I have had many happy hotel stays since I first learned about bed bugs.
ps If you want to do something preventative, protect your mattresses and box springs with encasements (as per our faq on protecting the bed).
Also, you might lightly dust some DE (diatomaceous earth) around the edges of the room, and around the legs of furniture, and in corners. Use it with caution–you don’t want it to be breathed. But freshwater FOOD GRADE DE is a mechanical killer of bed bugs. Should a few come out of a suitcase, they could be nipped in the bud. If you dust as lightly as you should, your guests will be none the wiser. Read our FAQ on DE in the pest control section.
nobugsonme, very thought-provoking comments, thanks. I also passed on the cbc clip via email to the friend, so thanks for that suggestion, too.
I’ll look into the DE, but what do you think about sprinkling borax? And, I just heard some interesting research in using scents as repellent. Currently, there’s research into plastic bags infused with mint-scent, which is unpleasant to rodents (and perhaps roaches). Have you heard of any scents unpleasant to bedbugs?
Cheers,
learningalot_bb
Borax is not effective from what I hear.
Fresh water, food grade (NOT POOL GRADE) DE is the thing.
Also lavender, tea tree–none of these will get rid of your bed bugs if you have them. They have a strong survival instinct. Once in your home, it is hard to kill them. Repellents, those that do exist (and I do not mean scents or herbs) may make your problems worse by driving them into the walls.
This is all covered in the FAQs!
nobugsonme, THANKS! You’ve been a great help.
You’re welcome.
i’m dating someone who has let a friend of his w/bed begs stay at his apartment for at least two nights. i have no idea about the level of infestation, although i agree with others that it probably doesn’t matter b/c all you really need is one, especially a female. i have no idea what kind of precautions the friend took before coming to his place. i’m deadly terrified about getting infected by visiting his apartment. any recommendations besides not visiting his apartment again or having him visit mine.
I jsut moved into my very first apartment on Sept. 7th and then 10 days later I start getting bites. Then 8 days later I kill one of these beetle looking things on the wall, this is the third one I have killed since I had moved in. So I went and looked on the internet and freak out because it looked exactly like the image of a bed bug. I went to management and they sent in a exterminator the next day to look through my place and confirmed that it was bed bugs. I didn’t have at the house I was at before I moved and my sister moved at the same time I did to a different complex and she doesn’t have bed bugs. So to me, I think the bed bugs were already in the apartment. Management is accusing me of bringing them in a threatening to break my lease if the bugs aren’t gone by the second spraying. What should I do? Should I stick it out for 12 months or should I let them do the spraying and move and hope that I don’t take any bugs with me? I am also paranoid that I could have spread bed bugs to my friends and family before I knew I had them. It they do a through cleaning like what I have to do to my apartment they should be ok, right? Please help!
I’m outraged on your behalf. Management is full of crap. They’re so lucky that an army of contingency-fee lawyers haven’t brought suits against landlords for renting out bedbug-infested apartments.
I’m sorry. Bedbugs like to hide. If you see bedbugs crawling around freely in the apartment, then that indicates a heavier infestation. Chances are they’ve been there multiplying for a while. Not just for the few weeks you’ve been there.
- The previous tenant might not have been allergic to bites. Lots of people don’t react to bites. So the last tenant might’ve never complained to management, simply because he didn’t know they were there. Doesn’t mean they weren’t there.
- It frequently takes more than two treatments to get rid of an infestation. That ultimatum of two sprayings or else is … wow! I just don’t have the words ….
- Talk to your neighbors – especially in units that adjoin yours. Perhaps they have bedbug problems that management is in denial about.
- If there’s someone on your management staff that’s not a total jerk, could it be worthwhile to try to educate them about bedbugs? Print out a few FAQs on this site or scientific info linked about non-reaction to bites, typical length of treatment, etc. Whatever you think might help your case.
- On the other hand, maybe it’s good that you have a chance to get away from such hostile building management. If you decide to move, check out the forum and search for messages on how to move house without taking the bedbugs with you. Lots of good and lengthy advice there.
Hatebugs,
It is probable that the prior tenants had them. It could also be that the current neighbors have them and they are coming over. In either case, as persona says, they could be unaware (because not allergic).
It is impossible for your landlord to prove that you brought them in. It’s also impossible for you to prove you did not. (It’s not likely that such a large infestation was brought in by a few stray bugs from a shopping trip, or a few bugs in your moving truck.)
I agree that should should try to talk to others among the management. We have heard from one tenant who had a hard time with management, and so went over their heads and got great treatment. Landlords and managers who are higher up may be more aware.
You should educate yourself about local housing laws. It may be illegal for the landlord to break your lease for this reason.
Also, your friends and family should read about bed bugs (lots of information linked from here) and be on the alert for signs of bed bugs. (Click photos of bed bugs and signs of bed bugs above to start!)
Hi I have to stay with a friend every time my PCO treats, as I am a cancer survivor and am recommended to not come in for 24 hours after they spray. I am in agonies of fear of spreading the bugs to my kind friends who take me in under these conditions. This leads me to a side question: is there any statistic about what kind of people experience the worst reactions. In other words, I wonder if I get such bad bites just because I’m immune compromised.
Maybe I should ask about this in another forum, but I don’t know which one!
Hi…I just found out that a guy that works for my husband, is infested with bed bugs. The whole apartment complex is. Aparently, this has been an ongoing problem for them (unknowingly) for many months. What are the chances that we might inherit these critters? The worker sometimes travels short distances with him in his truck and they obvioulsy work together so that is the extent of contact. Im soo concerned about this. Thanks
Mandalynn,
I had the same issue. I have bed bugs in my new apartment, and I carpool to work every other day with my coworker. She was really paranoid that it may have got into her car. I told her to vacuum really well and wash her car seat covers. I live in Colorado, so the heat or the cold here soon will kill off anything that maybe left. Once I found out that I had the bugs I makes sure everything is in plastic and don’t take it out until I am ready to get dressed, which is right before I leave to go to her house or she comes to mine, just to make sure there is nothing on them. Check out the forums too, there is a lot of advice on there. Good luck!