I couldn’t believe how huge this thing is and how much I can fit in it. It has been more or less running around the clock, since I’m moving this weekend (very sloooowly). I take the contents out of the packtite and put them straight into a clean huge space bag, which is promptly zipped.

The unit is also incredibly quiet! It is set up in the bedroom and the fan makes the subtlest whirring sound that is no louder than a quiet window fan. I can easily sleep while it runs (and I only do that because the automatic timer that was included with it will turn it off even if I fall asleep).

So far I’ve cooked about $600 worth of books, several photo albums (with photos still inside), shoes, blankets, plastic plants, stuffed animals, small or disassembled pieces of furniture, lamp shades, plastic clothes hangers, board games, magazines, pot holders, fabric drawer dividers, plastic/fabric hair stuff (elastics, clips, combs, brushes)…and lots more that I can’t think of. I’ve got queues of other items waiting to go into “the bug oven”: jackets, purses, backpacks, yarns and threads, (empty) suitcases, and anything else I think will bake safely.

My fears over how hot the heat would be and whether things would be safe have faded. Depending on what is cooking and how densely it is packed, the temperature varies from about 127-145 F. For things like books (lots of books), the heat-up time can be near 2 hours. For lighter/airier/more porous stuff, like shoes or stuffed animals, it heated up in about 30 minutes. I cook everything for at LEAST one hour, usually much more. I set my stop watch and go about my other business, returning when enough time has elapsed. I was most nervous about the cheapy plastics, but my photo albums (where the photo touches the protective plastic) were fine, my fake plants were fine, and my Cranium board game insert seemed unaffected.

I really think this product has saved me from having a complete meltdown from further property loss and financial expenses. I haven’t decided yet if I will keep it after I move, or sell it to any one of my many neighbors in the building who also have bed bugs. But I will probably hang onto it if I can as a long-term weapon!

It’s a good question, and we covered it in the post above.

Look for the paragraph which begins “Of course, if you have an infestation of bed bugs…” and follow the link out to manufacturer David James’s forum post which explains the Packtite can be dissassembled, and the outside thrown in a dryer.

Thankfully I’ve been BB free for a year and a half or so* but my friend is now dealing with them, and it occurred to me to ask. I also thought it might be helpful to think about disinfe-s-ting the exterior of the device for the FAQs.

All I can think of is permethrin sprays and maybe additional isolation in a plastic container, but that could be dangerous and isn’t fool proof.

Thoughts?

Man I wish I’d had one of these when I was going through that hell.

(*Vikane and BBs and Beyond are my heroes forever and ever!)