This FAQ contains very good advice and the principles you need to apply. Your best bet is to be very methodical in how you launder and pack what you will bring and how you limit what you bring. No matter the size of your infestation, you will feel confident and prepared if you don’t underestimate the risk. You should re-read this FAQ and consult the other FAQs about how to handle clothes. In addition to the recommendations above, people rely on different things: some choose washable duffel bags, others use hardcase luggage. Please visit the forums (blue button above right) to interact with others who are experienced if you have more questions.

To my horror, my current building (until July 1st) was listed as having bedbugs. I called the rental office, and they admitted they’d had the 5th floor sprayed. I live on the 2nd. I’ve gone from feeling free of them, to this unbelievable fear of them.

I live in a bachelor apartment, so there isn’t a lot of room. I have bought so many varied sizes of Ziploc bags that I ought to have stock in the company. I washed 8 loads of laundry with hot water and put them in a hot dryer; some other clothing I inspected seams, tags, etc… I’ve had NO blood spots/stains on my matress, and I’ve never seen a bedbug…yet the fact that someone in the building reported them has left me with this stalked feeling.

I don’t have too many friends…no significant other…my slight pleasure in life is spent either going to a movie, going out for a walk, or seeing my family. I’m faced with the reality that even my DVD’s, which thus far I’ve inspected one by one, my DVD player, my VCR, my TV, my laptop, sofa, bed…all of it will have to go.

Do you guys understand? I will literally have nothing left in this life! I will be too afraid to visit my family, I won’t have the money to replace everything that I have to in essence get rid of, and whenever I’m out in public, the thought of these bugs is all that is on my mind. And I may not even have them!

Just yesterday, on my way home from his place, I found a bedbug crawling on my pants! I’d worn those pants minimum of 30 seconds in his apartment, and they’d spent the rest of the time sealed away.

Could they be traveling in my hair? I have a long, thick, curly hair, and while I’ve never heard of bedbugs in hair, I can’t help thinking that a little nymph could hitch a ride pretty easily. Not really ready to consider shaving my head! I’m certainly not ready to consider celibacy.

Greener method: use a reclosable XL ziploc to keep the dirty clothes isolated until treatment. There are not likely to be so many bugs in your laundry that they remain in the bag, but these bags are see-through and bed bugs are small (1-6 mm depending on life stage) but not invisible. Use a clean recloseable bag for cleaned clothing. Both can be reused (label them carefully!)

I hope this helps.

If you have other questions, please come to the forums (blue button at top right)!

By the way, eBay, like Craigslist, is a bit of a Bedbugger no-no.