BedBugs at B&B-making sure i didn't bring them home

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tales of Bed Bug Woe

BedBugs at B&B-making sure i didn't bring them home

(7 posts)

Tags:

ScaredaboutBBs

newbite
Joined: Sep '07
Posts: 11

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Sep 10 2007 15:16:17
#

Login to Send PM

hello!
i've been reading a lot of helpful tips about avoiding an infestation, but i wanted
to tell my travel story/get some more advice.
last night we arrived from Montreal and the B&B we stayed at apparantly had bedbugs. i was packing up our stuff, on the bed, and noticed a bedbug on the sheet. we notified the owner who was mortified and offered to wash all our clothes. she did, and we repacked everything into our suitcases (i have a leSportsac bag and my husband has a backpack) and left for the airport. i knew we had to go directly to laundrymat once we arrived home and did exactly that. but on the place i noticed one crawling on my husband's windbreaker! he killed it and stuffed the jacket in the overhead compartment. so when we arrived at the airport in Cincinnati we asked for two garbage bags and put our suitcases in them. then we bought two t-shirts at the airport and when we got to the car we undressed and put all our clothes in the garbage bags. we stopped at home and my husband ran in to get us some clothes. we then went to the laundrymat and washed everything except my leather sandals and his leather shoes. i threw out my purse, my toiletries bag, my umbrella and my wallet. i can't convince my husband to do the same, but right now they are sealed tightly in a plastic bag. so my question is:
1) is it safe to unpack all the washed clothing?
2) what should i do about the leather sandals and shoes? should i stick them in the dryer?
3) what about electronics? i've been using my iPhone in the house. i did throw out it's case. my husband has also been using his phone and wallet, after carefully inspecting them. could eggs be hiding in them?
4) we have no known bites from the trip, even though we saw two bedbugs. is this a good sign?
5) i didn't dry some delicate clothing items. should i ?
6) should we stick the backpack in a freezer? and the jacket the bedbug was on-is the best option to throw it away? i washed it, but didn't dry it. it's currently on the porch, along with all the bagged items.

PLEASE help if you have any more adivce!!!
THANKS SO MUCH
parakeets

oldtimer
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 913

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Sep 10 2007 15:29:11
#

Login to Send PM

1) If the washed clothing was heated in a hot dryer for more than a full cycle (I use 100 minutes as my guideline), it should be safe to unpack. Otherwise unpack the washed clothing in a place like a tub, inspect it, and dry it in very hot dryer for more than a full cycle.
2) If you can dry shoes and sandals in a very hot dryer, that would be best.
3) Don't know about Ipods. I'd keep them in sandwhich baggies for now.
4) Some people are bitten and don't react, but I'm glad you don't show any bites.
5) Delicate items can be put in lingerie bags and put into a high heat dryer--or, if you are able to inspect it thorougly (under all seams, inside all rolled hems, etc.) that might be enough. Be sure to look for eggs, which are small and white.
6) Better to put the backpack in a hot dryer for a cycle than freeze it. Good quality backpacks will survive. If the jacket can go in a hot dryer for more than a cycle, that would be best. No need to throw the jacket out if you can heat-treat it.
buggeroff

member
Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 180

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Sep 10 2007 15:42:57
#

Login to Send PM

I'd be most concerned about the luggage. If you can put the bags in the dryer without melting them, do that. If you can't, go out and buy a can of BedLam or SteriFab and spray the heck out of the bags. Seal them in big ziploc bags (buy at Target) and leave them there for a good long while (like, a year).
ScaredaboutBBs

newbite
Joined: Sep '07
Posts: 11

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Sep 10 2007 15:50:06
#

Login to Send PM

thanks for the tips!
where can i buy BedLam? i was just at Target and Lowe's and didn't see anything.

should i freeze the leather shoes and sandals? i don't think i should stick them
in the dryer...
paulaw0919

oldtimer
Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 1,034

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Sep 10 2007 19:06:04
#

Login to Send PM

IF you have a dryer rack for your dryer, I would suggest the dryer is best. In the dryer on HOT for two hours to kill all stages including eggs. If your dryer doesn't have one, call the 800# for the manufacturer and ask if they sell one for it. In the meantime leavethe shoes totally sealed in Ziplocs.
The big XL and XXL ziplocs that buggeroff is speaking of can be found in your supermarket like Shoperite, A&P, Target...The Bedlam bedbug killer needs to be found online and ordered. Google bedlam pesticide and it should lead you to a few sites that sell it. I don't remember where I got mine but I remember it runs about $15-$17 a can
Hope this helps
jstplntired

newbite
Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 10

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Sep 10 2007 20:19:15
#

Login to Send PM

I have been using 91% rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, I tested and it kills the bugs on contact. Don't know about eggs. My PCO used Sterifab, and frankly, I think it's just alcohol. Smells just like it. Just make sure to buy the 91%, not 70-something%. I got mine (and the spray bottle) at Wal-Mart locally. Good luck.
ScaredaboutBBs

newbite
Joined: Sep '07
Posts: 11

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Sep 10 2007 23:30:59
#

Login to Send PM

thanks, everyone for all the tips! i will go out and buy some alcohol, too.
i pray that i didn't bring those suckers home!!