Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
Dead bug in the dryer
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victimized
new username: help_me
Joined: Nov '10
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Jan 2 2011 3:16:12
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Ok,
So tonight I came home and put a load of laundry into the washer. Not sure what all I washed but a fair assortment of things that had been in the dirty clothes bags, a couple towels, and a new white fitted sheet for my bed.
There were clothes in the dryer from last night that got (I hope) redried tonight before taking out and putting into a bag so that the wet load could go in. I put the wet load and started it, after about 15 minutes I think I stopped it because my lint trap vent thing has been getting lint ALL over my laundry room so I had to stop it long enough to clean that plus the tube and area before restarting. After that load finished I took it out, put it into a clean bag, and had my other half strip down out of his clothes he had been wearing all afternoon. We went out today in his car and came home. From here he went right back out to clean his car windows, smoke a cigar, etc. He was out for several hours but I still made him put his clothes into the dryer ASAP.
His clothes ended and I was going to maybe take them out and put the blanket and pillows in for a while so I can put the new sheet on the bed and when I opened the door I noticed a bug against the edge of the lint trap filter thing by the door and I knew it was a bed bug just from the colour and legs. I ran to get my roll of tape which I always make sure is close by and grabbed it up with the tape. I sat there by the dryer for a couple minutes as I felt faint. After wards I broke into a long crying spout because I do not know where it came from. Was it in his clothes? Alive in the bowels of my dryer? Had it been in the previous load? It was dead, which is a good thing, because hopefully that means my dryer is effective. But this marks the first time I saw one in the dryer or in my laundry load and it scares me. It is an adult. This is surreal, I am quickly becoming a numb human being. Why did this have to happen to me?? Did I do something wrong and this is my karmic retribution?? Now I am shitting bricks about my washer and dryer. -
Traumabugged
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Joined: May '09
Posts: 168offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Jan 2 2011 3:55:11
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I feel for you and don't be too harsh on yourself please. You still live and can fight these suckers so the least thing you need is despair. That is what I learned from my first infestation. So after crying or being paranoid for a while, why not try something merrier? I mean, what surrounds us will not be bbs only and there must be more nicer things we can behold. Besides, they don't carry disease. I know how terrible it feels to be covered by itchy bites all over. But maybe you could try thinking instead:now that you know what is biting you and know how to deal with it on a day to day basis, now that you are more knowledgeable on this matter, it should actually be easier to cope with it, is it not? You know how to inspect the luggage, and how to prevent the bugs from spreading. You will be bitten again but with your knowledge and the help from friends on the real world and the Internet you will have an easier day.
So as difficult as it may appear at first, try considering the matter from a softer perspective. We have to live after all, and it is always the beautiful things that keep us moving.
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victimized
new username: help_me
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 305offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jan 3 2011 1:00:48
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Ok, I do NOT know if this will work or not or if anyone will be able to view it but I took some pictures of the dryer just to add to the conversation.
I went into paintbrush and added a visual to illustrate where the bug was, etc. In case it was unclear. It is now bothering me.
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victimized
new username: help_me
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 305offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jan 3 2011 1:11:37
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Sorry, forgot to add the link:
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cilecto
oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jan 3 2011 10:13:17
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Victimized. I'm not an expert, but I'd think that if you see a dead bug in your lint trap, it's a sign that you and your dryer are doing a good job. Don't kick yourself…give yourself a hand.
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bugnut
senior member
Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 528offline
Posted 2 years ago
Fri Jan 21 2011 9:06:39
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victimized -
Agreed - it was dead and dead is good. Plus you may find dead bugs six months from now. I found a dead one under a desk a month after my last treatment and was freaked out but it was a loner and haven't had anything since (7 months).
BTW -I am singing the praises of a dryer rack lately - great for drying wet boots and sneakers and worked like a mini packtite - for 30 bucks!
I know what you mean about karma - I am working on mine now! I am volunteering for a cancer fundraiser. Makes a good distraction too. You will get your life back it just takes some time.
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insecticidal
junior member
Joined: Dec '10
Posts: 94offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jan 22 2011 0:09:08
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Dryer racks are great! My dryer luckily came with one. I've been using it to "cook" my shoes & belts (like a packtite, but much faster). The first time I did a load of shoes, I found a dead bug by the door!
If you can, spend the money and get a IR thermometer to find out how long it takes to fully heat the insides of the shoes. You can get them on amazon for as little as $40. I spent $100 on one at sears that included a cool laser sight and a wired temperature probe (great for measuring water temperature).
Don't forget to account for the margin of error, when you use it. Usually, it's about +/- 4 degrees F. Don't buy one any worse than that. Also, don't forget that it measures surface temperature. If I shine it on my dryer window, I get only 95 degrees, since the dryer is designed to keep the heat inside.
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Sleepless in NYC
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Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 544offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jan 22 2011 0:42:48
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I just bought an IR thermometermform$10.00 from Sur La Table. It's made by Taylor. It reads very quickly and to chk its accuracy I also stuck in the thermometer that came with my Pack Tite. It read the same. The only difference is the one that came with the pack tite took much longer to read the temperature. I wonder if its because the other one is a metal stick and conducts heat better.
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victimized
new username: help_me
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 305offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jan 22 2011 2:18:22
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When I initially went out to bu a dryer, Home Depot was having a great Christmas preview sale before Thanksgiving. I had been wanting the cherry red (Maytag?) that has the steam fresh setting and also one with the drying rack since I planned on putting our shoes in the dryer daily and knew it would be quick. It would also be good for drying antique garments. Had been wanting this since it's debut and finally it was on sale! It was only $699 and they also had it in white for $599. Not sure why I chickened out but I did and went with the LG. It was nearly the same thing but cheaper and without steam fresh! Only problem is, after trying to decide for about an our and a half in the store I went with the LG and much to my shock did I realize upon delivery day, it had no dryer rack!!!! Nor was it a model that could accommodate one.
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heavyrocker
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Joined: Jan '11
Posts: 36offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Jan 23 2011 23:18:33
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I have read that its almost immpossible to get a bed comforter free from bugs once its infected(its pretty thick),my advice is get rid of it and get a cotton blanket,easier to clean.
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victimized
new username: help_me
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 305offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jan 24 2011 0:25:11
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Fortunately my other half accidentally threw away our brand new eider down. All we have now is a thin patch-work type cotton quilt, not a comforter. Somehow that still doesnt make sense to me though. If one's dryer gets hot enough and one leaves the aforesaid comforter in it for long enough, shouldn't it work?
I still question the effectiveness of any dryer. I swear even clothes that have been cleaned and dried for long periods and bagged right away still make me itchy when first I wear them again. There are certain things I have that I swear when i am wearing them I am more susceptible to bites, like my hooded sweatshirts and velour loungy pants. It's cold out though! Have to wear something to keep warm somehow. The not knowing kills me.
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heavyrocker
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Posts: 36offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jan 24 2011 0:34:50
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A lot of apt buliding got the water heater setting set low to save money,i wash mine and also have a steamer i got over them,i dont trust the heat in the machines.
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heavyrocker
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Posts: 36offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jan 24 2011 0:39:39
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I actually got a twin size fleese blanket,the smaller size ensures it dont touch the floors and its easy to steam clean,i just strech it over my isolated bed and steam the hell of of all my sheets and blankets even my shoes ..i even cut my queen size sheets to twin size..LOL
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victimized
new username: help_me
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 305offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jan 24 2011 1:24:39
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i even cut my queen size sheets to twin size..LOL
Hey, whatever works!
I am going to have to try everything before I will get rid of my bed only because it just may come to doing something as similar as what you did with our sheets just to get it out of my house. It was a three person job and over an hours' worth of effort to get it up my steps (spiral) and the idea of having to undo all that work with a buggy piece of furniture is out of the question.
We have king size bedding but we wrap ourselves up in them so they generally stay on the top of the bed. Miss my big fluffy pillows... my shams... my comforter... my big stuffed teddy bear
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