Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Reader questions (do not fit into other categories)
a ? about contractor's bags & pillows
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IveBeenBugged
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Posted 5 years ago
Tue Feb 5 2008 20:33:05
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I've read through the FAQ's over and over but still have a ? about these two things.
Someone in a post I don't remember had said they used clear contractor bags for sealing things into (clothing ect). Does anyone know where I could get these?
The Home Depot near me only has black ones.
I have been putting my pillows in the dryer once a week for 1 1/2 hours at a time - 2 at a time. I know there are allergen pillow cases and that they help but I see a great degree of price difference. Anywhere from 19.95 for 2 (Marthat Stewart) to 59.95 for 2 (I don't remember the name for that company). Is just an allergen pillow encasement enough to be using?
Truth to tell I can't keep up with the $'s in ziploc's and everything else and need to do this a cheaper way. I still need to bag some records up for storage and I'm not sure how long the piilows will last doing the dryer weekly.
On the plus side all of my clothes are now in ziploc's.
Any suggestions would be much appreciatted.
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paulaw0919
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Posted 5 years ago
Tue Feb 5 2008 21:30:46
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If you are speaking of the clothes that you won't be wearing, but putting aside, sealed until the infestation is over....I used clear garbage bags from ShopRite and doubled them, then Zip-tied.
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persona-non-bugga
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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Feb 6 2008 3:11:35
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Hi IBB,
I like paula's idea of double-bagging clear garbage bags. If you're set on the contractor bags, and you don't want to purchase online, I'd go through the yellow pages and call up local hardware stores. It's amazing sometimes a smaller store will have stuff that Home Depot doesn't.
I was wondering ... would it be possible to cut back on the number of items you're isolating in bags? Like stuff that will not be leaving your apt until you move out and therefore won't spread any bugs. With clothing you wear out, maybe rotate five or fewer outfits. It's tedious, but you'd have to use fewer bags.
I read that you're considering fumigating your stuff with Vikane pre-move. If that's a go, then saving up for that is probably one of your financial priorities. What you save on bags can be put towards the Vikane & rental-truck fund. And if you feel you have to bag your possessions to keep them from being infested, the fumigation (if done correctly) would knock out any bugs in your belongings.
If you're thinking of long-term 18-month-plus storage, there are clear sandbags on the market. They're even stronger than contractor bags; they have to hold several gallons of sand and hold back floods. And they come with self-adhesive strips. I'm not sure where to get them, but while you're searching, something to keep in mind.
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IveBeenBugged
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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Feb 6 2008 8:52:58
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I have some things (like a collection of vinyl records) that I don't think can be vikane gased. Or I should say I am leeray of having them done. It seems to easy for a bug to get through the treatment if you think about records and the cardboard sleeves and how they are stored in crates stacked closely next to each other.
I like the clear sandbag idea I'll have to see if I can find them. Not sure if they will be of the right size but thank you persona for the idea.
I already have all my clothes in ziploc's and I already do the limited outfit thing. I assume the less I have to go in and out of the bags for clothing the better.
I'm still not convinved that the vikane treatment would help with the records though so I thought I would bag and put them in storage for 18 months (there are about 3000). I tried some heavy gauge bags but they were not sturdy enough.
Any input about the pillows would be appreciatted also. I think I may just order them from the National Allergery place on the BB website. They seem to be reasonably priced. Anyone trying them?
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pleasehelp
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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Feb 6 2008 11:41:04
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IBB, I also couldn't find clear bags at Home Depot... I ordered 38x59" Low Density Poly Trash Liners-Clear (item #123173) from an online company called Napspolybag. They seem to be just as strong as the 3 mil contractor bags & they shipped them out very fast. Paula - are zipties the same as cable ties, the ones you cut off to open?
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fightorflight
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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Feb 6 2008 21:37:30
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Ooh, pleasehelp, I've been looking for bags about that size.
I think our site moderators have mentioned that zip-ties (cable ties, whatever you call them) will not seal garbage bags? Yes, no?
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paulaw0919
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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Feb 6 2008 22:19:15
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Pleasehelp, sorry for the delay in response. But yes...cable ties, same thing. You can get them at the hardware store. My local ShopRite even has them but you pay more for less.
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paulaw0919
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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Feb 6 2008 22:21:35
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Oh, and the cable ties are sold in many different sizes, lengths etc... The bigger ones I used for my black contractor bags. I only used the black contractor bags for the items I was throwing out though. It seemed to hold an airtight seal.
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IveBeenBugged
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Posted 5 years ago
Thu Feb 7 2008 8:47:03
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Ok so I found some cable ties online that are resealable. I am familiar with this type of ties as I used them when I would install sound systems in clubs to bundle the wiring together for the sound system and light shows.
I'm curious if this is what is recommended for use by others on this website (whether the regular or the resealable ones) as I have my doubts about them making an airtight seal on a heavy duty plastic bag.
The site is cabletiesplus and their prices are pretty good. They even have multi color if anyone needs to color code bags.
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IveBeenBugged
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Posted 5 years ago
Thu Feb 7 2008 8:49:08
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pleasehelp I forgot to say thank you as the bags are about the right size and strength I was looking for. Not sure what I'll do with 100 bags though. I really need only about 20 t0 25 for the records I have.
thanks again pleasehelp.
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pleasehelp
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Posted 5 years ago
Thu Feb 7 2008 12:54:02
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Thanks Paula & IBB! - I checked out the cabletiesplus site - am glad to find out about the resealable ones. I think they can make a good seal on a bag if you twist the bag closed MANY times, fold the twisted part over on itself, then cable that together.
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fightorflight
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Posted 5 years ago
Sat Feb 9 2008 5:56:11
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pleasehelp - I was thinking too about doing it the way you suggest. Maybe the other good way of doing it is like tying a balloon, as hopelessnomo recommends, but that might not be possible with bags that are too thick.
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pleasehelp
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Posted 5 years ago
Sat Feb 9 2008 11:49:24
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Thanks for the reminder, FOF - I think thats a good method too - probably better.
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