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	<title>Comments on: Zen and the Art of Bed Bug Prep? And positive thinking and bed bugs.</title>
	<atom:link href="http://bedbugger.com/2008/12/14/zen-and-the-art-of-bed-bug-prep-and-positive-thinking-and-bed-bugs/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://bedbugger.com/2008/12/14/zen-and-the-art-of-bed-bug-prep-and-positive-thinking-and-bed-bugs/</link>
	<description>bed bug news, information, activism, and support</description>
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		<title>By: nobugsonme</title>
		<link>http://bedbugger.com/2008/12/14/zen-and-the-art-of-bed-bug-prep-and-positive-thinking-and-bed-bugs/comment-page-1/#comment-16235</link>
		<dc:creator>nobugsonme</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:34:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bedbugger.com/?p=1269#comment-16235</guid>
		<description>HI Janet,

I assume you are interested in times for drying already-dry items.  (Items need only be dried on hot, but if they are washed, obviously, they must be thoroughly dried and then I would add additional time.)

The problem with this is that there is no easy answer.  It takes a lot longer to thoroughly heat a pair of thick jeans, than a nylon sock.  And then pillows and comforters?  Very long time.  The thickness of the item is a factor, so is the temperature of the dryer.  

Entomologist Dr. Michael Potter has tested dry cotton socks, and found that a hot dryer killed bed bugs and eggs in a sock in 5 minutes (at 175 F; note, Potter says a hot dryer is typically 180 F in the US, but I believe temperatures can vary a lot).  The &lt;a href=&quot;http://bedbugger.com/2007/05/18/dryer/&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;Dryer FAQ&lt;/a&gt; gives more details on drying times at various temperatures, with references to studies we&#039;re aware of.

Given that some things may be thicker than a cotton sock, I would guess that  a normal load of dry laundry should be kept at this temp in 20 minutes, just to be safe.  If you are trying to kill bed bugs and eggs in a dry comforter or pillow or stuffed animals, I honestly am not sure how long you&#039;d have to dry it for.  

&lt;a href=&quot;http://bedbugger.com/2009/03/29/what-is-a-packtite/&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;A Packtite &lt;/a&gt;would be a good option esp. for thicker items like stuffed animals; to be absolutely sure, you could insert the temperature probe into the center of the item (eg through a seam).  It can also be used on non-washable clothing.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>HI Janet,</p>
<p>I assume you are interested in times for drying already-dry items.  (Items need only be dried on hot, but if they are washed, obviously, they must be thoroughly dried and then I would add additional time.)</p>
<p>The problem with this is that there is no easy answer.  It takes a lot longer to thoroughly heat a pair of thick jeans, than a nylon sock.  And then pillows and comforters?  Very long time.  The thickness of the item is a factor, so is the temperature of the dryer.  </p>
<p>Entomologist Dr. Michael Potter has tested dry cotton socks, and found that a hot dryer killed bed bugs and eggs in a sock in 5 minutes (at 175 F; note, Potter says a hot dryer is typically 180 F in the US, but I believe temperatures can vary a lot).  The <a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/05/18/dryer/" rel="nofollow">Dryer FAQ</a> gives more details on drying times at various temperatures, with references to studies we&#8217;re aware of.</p>
<p>Given that some things may be thicker than a cotton sock, I would guess that  a normal load of dry laundry should be kept at this temp in 20 minutes, just to be safe.  If you are trying to kill bed bugs and eggs in a dry comforter or pillow or stuffed animals, I honestly am not sure how long you&#8217;d have to dry it for.  </p>
<p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/03/29/what-is-a-packtite/" rel="nofollow">A Packtite </a>would be a good option esp. for thicker items like stuffed animals; to be absolutely sure, you could insert the temperature probe into the center of the item (eg through a seam).  It can also be used on non-washable clothing.</p>
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		<title>By: Janet</title>
		<link>http://bedbugger.com/2008/12/14/zen-and-the-art-of-bed-bug-prep-and-positive-thinking-and-bed-bugs/comment-page-1/#comment-16227</link>
		<dc:creator>Janet</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:13:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bedbugger.com/?p=1269#comment-16227</guid>
		<description>I have been working on preparing people&#039;s homes for bedbug treatment for about 6 months now.  (I&#039;m actually a professional organizer who fell into this line of work because of the demand for this type of help.)  I have worked with several different exterminators with different protocols.  The big question seems to be about clothing and linens.  I have heard anywhere from 20 minutes to 40 minutes in a hot dryer.  Only one said the clothing had to be washed first.  What&#039;s the current thought out there on this subject?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have been working on preparing people&#8217;s homes for bedbug treatment for about 6 months now.  (I&#8217;m actually a professional organizer who fell into this line of work because of the demand for this type of help.)  I have worked with several different exterminators with different protocols.  The big question seems to be about clothing and linens.  I have heard anywhere from 20 minutes to 40 minutes in a hot dryer.  Only one said the clothing had to be washed first.  What&#8217;s the current thought out there on this subject?</p>
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		<title>By: nobugsonme</title>
		<link>http://bedbugger.com/2008/12/14/zen-and-the-art-of-bed-bug-prep-and-positive-thinking-and-bed-bugs/comment-page-1/#comment-14020</link>
		<dc:creator>nobugsonme</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:05:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bedbugger.com/?p=1269#comment-14020</guid>
		<description>Thanks, JC!  I was pretty sure your PCO gave you these instructions but wanted to make sure others did not rush to follow them, since they might work with someone with a vastly different protocol.

Some PCOs do recommend bagging non-washables for 18 months, some until the first treatment has been done, and some never.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thanks, JC!  I was pretty sure your PCO gave you these instructions but wanted to make sure others did not rush to follow them, since they might work with someone with a vastly different protocol.</p>
<p>Some PCOs do recommend bagging non-washables for 18 months, some until the first treatment has been done, and some never.</p>
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		<title>By: JC</title>
		<link>http://bedbugger.com/2008/12/14/zen-and-the-art-of-bed-bug-prep-and-positive-thinking-and-bed-bugs/comment-page-1/#comment-14019</link>
		<dc:creator>JC</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:00:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bedbugger.com/?p=1269#comment-14019</guid>
		<description>Thanks for the well wishes, and for including me in your post. Regarding the bagging of books-- my PCO did recommend this procedure. It is sad to say good-bye to my books for the next year or more... However, it will be a sweet day when they are unwrapped, and placed in a case free of bed bugs!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thanks for the well wishes, and for including me in your post. Regarding the bagging of books&#8211; my PCO did recommend this procedure. It is sad to say good-bye to my books for the next year or more&#8230; However, it will be a sweet day when they are unwrapped, and placed in a case free of bed bugs!</p>
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