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BB free in a new city--but afraid to unpack
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Bug Tired
newbite
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 6offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Nov 28 2010 20:52:06
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First of all, this forum has been a godsend. I don't know how I would have gotten through these last few months without it.
Here's my dilemma. I recently got a new job and moved to a new city. Right before I moved, I got bed bugs. Fabulous timing, right? So I got rid of my mattress and cloth-covered chairs, and bagged things up as well as I possibly could given my extremely short time frame. I packed all my books in Ziploc bags, and Ziplocked so much other stuff I should probably buy stock in Ziploc. I did a bunch of hot-wash-hot-dry laundry, and threw out a bunch of clothes.
Then I started running out of time, and just threw (non-washed) clothes, shoes, papers, etc., in plastic bags, which I knotted and taped. As you can imagine, that's what's causing me distress. The good news is that I was bite-free for my entire last week in my old place, even when I was sleeping on the floor on an air mattress among the last detritus of packing. I hope beyond hope that I shook them before I left.
But of course, I have no way of knowing. So now I'm paranoid and stuck. I've been in my new place for a month, and I have no bites or signs of infestation. I'm sleeping on that same air mattress, since I don't feel safe buying a new bed yet. I'm using newly washed sheets, comforters, and pillows. It's great to have no bites--although I have plenty of paranoia and phantom itches, believe me! BUT...I can't bring myself to unpack my clothes. They're in a stack in a room next to my bedroom (it's a small apartment), in their knotted plastic bags. I've spent so much money on this move that I can't face spending more on more cleaning, and until I can order a PackTite (which are still back-ordered), I'm just not sure what to do.
I do have laundry in my building, so maybe I should take the bags apart one by one and wash the dickens out of them. I'm quickly running out of things to wear to work--help! Any suggestions would be incredibly helpful. I want to move in and start my life again!
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nycyn
senior member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 701offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Nov 28 2010 21:28:10
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Just put the clean clothes in the dryer?
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Bug Tired
newbite
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 6offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Nov 28 2010 21:33:09
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Thanks! I'm not worried about the clean clothes, but about the clothes I didn't have time to clean, many of which are sweaters. I guess I'm looking at a big dry-cleaning bill and lots of time heat-drying the other stuff. But what about the papers and other miscellany? I could transfer it all into more Ziplocs and wait until I get my Pack-Tite, when it's ready and when I can afford one. The worst of it is I couldn't be more broke!
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SearchandDestroy
senior member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 452offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Nov 28 2010 21:49:38
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I don't know...I'd wait for a packtite, that way you can put 1 bag in at a time, open it carefully, seal up the packtite and bake. Sorting before treatment is risky. (in my view and I got anxious about it a lot so that's just me).
Let's see if others have some ideas.
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nycyn
senior member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 701offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Nov 28 2010 22:17:01
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Bug Tired - 41 minutes ago »
Thanks! I'm not worried about the clean clothes, but about the clothes I didn't have time to clean, many of which are sweaters. I guess I'm looking at a big dry-cleaning bill and lots of time heat-drying the other stuff. But what about the papers and other miscellany? I could transfer it all into more Ziplocs and wait until I get my Pack-Tite, when it's ready and when I can afford one. The worst of it is I couldn't be more broke!Do I have this right? Of the clothes, the ones you are worried about haven't been cleaned--the sweaters--and you plan to pack-tite them--not dry-clean them. Right?
Me? I'd throw them in the drier. One less thing to worry about.
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Bug Tired
newbite
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 6offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Nov 28 2010 23:02:36
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Thanks for replying! There's cashmere and stuff that can't be thrown in the dryer, I fear. And boxes full of papers and other miscellany that I need to Pack-Tite for sure.
I guess this is what's keeping me from doing anything: I'm here in my apt., which is small. I have these bags of stuff that I need to unseal to do anything with them, whether dryer or Pack-Tite. My fear is that the bed bugs, if they've traveled with me, will shake out onto my floor, the clothes I'm wearing, etc., and start infesting my new apartment. I can take the bags of clothes directly down to the laundry room and put them right into the washer/dryer, but how about the bags of mixed stuff that needs to be sorted before it's treated? I wish I had a patio or something so I could put it all out in the freezing cold air while I decide what to do and wait for the Pack-Tite to arrive.
I won't even go into all the stuff I put in storage, but that's a nightmare for another day! I realize I'm not being entirely rational here, but I know you guys understand the fear.
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Bug Tired
newbite
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 6offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Nov 28 2010 23:18:07
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The other thing is, I feel like every time I bring clean stuff into the apartment--for instance, clothes I've just washed--they enter a potentially contaminated environment that will remain a big question mark till I can Pack-Tite every last thing in the place. Maybe put all the clothes that are currently in rotation into the freezer? That'll fill up fast, but...
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Beth
account closed
Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 612offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Nov 28 2010 23:27:00
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clothes that can be laundered should be, pronto. ALl other clothes wait until you have money for dry cleaning. You can heat most dry cleaning stuff as long as you don't wash it. And I would, at least in the packtite when you get it. Leave it bagged until then. As for your books, leave everything bagged until you treat it. You could have gotten away very lucky, moving without bringing them with you and not treating everything en route. Don't let some good luck fool you, they're in your clothes bags alright, maybe your papers too. You will be much more broke if you get them again.
good luck to you.
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Bug Tired
newbite
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 6offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Nov 28 2010 23:32:37
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Thanks! I'm going to take your advice. I really appreciate it!
And I just ordered a Pack-Tite. So I'm ready to start this process and keep my new home (I hope, hope, hope) bed bug free. Part of the problem is that it's getting cold, and I really miss those sweaters. But I'll dry clean a few so I have something to wear to work and move on from there.
I think I just needed to check in with this forum so I could get myself out of the unproductive rut of indecision and anxiety I've been in. It's working!
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nycyn
senior member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 701offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Nov 29 2010 0:27:28
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In all honesty, I'm not convinced that dry woolen items would be harmed by a run through the dryer. I'm open to being convinced, but until then it's what I would do in a pinch.
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evervigilant
junior member
Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 37offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Nov 29 2010 1:28:59
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BT,
My husband stayed in a hotel with bedbugs and came home with them. We (apparently, hopefully, please, please, please) dodged a bullet in the house, but I just unbagged his suitcase and clothes this weekend. They have been bagged and stored in the garage for over three months.
And, when I opened the bags even though logically I know I probably didn't get anything on me, I still had to go change clothes. And then I worried that something had gotten out on the porch and followed me into the house.
Glad it's done, but, wow. My glass of wine never tasted so good
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nycyn
senior member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 701offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Nov 29 2010 1:44:46
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I feel for you. Maybe somebody can say something about Nuvan strips and mothballs? I personally know two people who did this.
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