Our Helloise doesn’t often see anything she wants to share with Bedbuggers. We all have too much stuff anyway, don’t we?

But she recently came across this item: the Hollywood Purse Hook.

The manufacturers claim it will hold a purse dangling from a table edge or chair armrest. It keeps your bag off the floor. It puts several inches of lovely metal between your purse and the table.

The manufacturers of this brand of purse hook claim it will hold a purse or laptop up to 35 pounds, though we are skeptical about the larger and heavier items.

But we know how skeeved you get putting your bag on the floor of public places, post-bed bugs.

It comes with a velvet carrying case, presumably to protect the contents of your purse.

Has anyone tried one of these, or a similar idea in another brand? If so, do write in and tell Helloise if you like it.

Other brands of purse hooks below make their own claims as to maximum weights held, saying their purse hooks will hold up to 15 or 20 pounds. YMMV!

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I have not a hint, however, but a query:

Reader sojo wanted to know about this item, Skubb, as a way of storing clothing during a siege of bed bugs. It looks to be made of nylon, and is zippered clothing storage which hangs directly on a closet rod.

Nobugs pointed out that it was not fully sealed (since we know bed bugs can get through zippers, for example, in suitcases). Nobugs suggested it might not be a great idea, also, that it was nylon, and probably had seams which bed bugs might nest in. Doug pointed out that, unlike mattress protectors, bed bugs won’t be attracted to food inside the hanging bag. So why would they go into it?

Since the Skubb’s seams are still a concern, and something a bit more sealed up and without cloth seams might work better, Nobugs tentatively suggested considering instead this item from the Container Store, Clear Vinyl Garment Bags, which are vinyl, and also fully enclosed except for the zipper, assuming it does not have gaps where the hanging rod enters at top, or anywhere else for that matter.

Since it is essential that you inspect an item like this for any obvious gaps or hiding places on the outside, I would absolutely advise not purchasing it online without a close in-person inspection. Since Bed Bug Helloise and Bed Bug ‘Elmer do not live near a Container Store (and frankly, we don’t even like leaving our Retirement Compound), perhaps a Bedbugger delegation could be dispatched, with the relevant product number (to be sure of a correct match) to inspect one of these in person.

What do you think, experienced bed bug sufferers and bed bug professionals?

I also stress that I would not even consider something like this for use during the day of treatment, if the PCO tells you to “seal everything in bags” first. “Sealing” means “airtight.”

However, I think clean / certified bed bug-free clothing (ie that washed and dried on hot) stored in the vinyl version (assuming no gaps) might make sense.

Bed Bug Helloise is decidedly not recommending this solution yet. She is also very skeptical about the polyester Skubb. But she solicits your reactions on the vinyl Container Store item. Helloise tries to look her best, and understands the concerns of people trying to live with bed bugs.

Bed Bug Helloise writes an occasional advice column on products to make life during and after bed bugs more bearable. She does not fully understand this technology, however, Nobugs transcribes her jottings, and can also pass on any comments left below.

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A great “side table” for Bedbuggers: it’s really a thick glass vase turned upside down. At $60, it’s a cute idea and not a bad deal, and something you could use for other purposes as well. Side table? Bedside table? Enormous vase?!?

Check out Blueprint magazine for a photo and more information.

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Tip from a reader, who heard it from Lou Sorkin: try dabbing a bit of hydrogen peroxide (rather than water) on those little black specks you find in your bed, to reveal if they are from blood or not.

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