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Dry cleaning effects on bed bugs
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buggedbrooklyn
newbite
Joined: May '07
Posts: 27
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 7 2007 12:17:18
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So - I have read some places that dry cleaning works on bed bugs, and that it doesn't work. Is there any "true" answer to the question "Does dry cleaning kill bed bugs?" If it does, I'd like to kill two birds, or, in this case, bugs, with one stone by getting my clothing dry cleaned and then stored for the summer.
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coopbugged
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Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 7 2007 12:36:05
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Well I sure hope it works, since I just spent hundreds having stuff cleaned... and then taped up the tops by the hangers and twisted and taped the hanging plastic at the bottoms!
The truth is there's really no answer to your question, but hey, it couldn't hurt to dry clean and store your winter stuff over the summer.
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Bugalina
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Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 508
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 7 2007 12:36:35
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I have only "heard" that Dry cleaning works...I have no proof...however I would think that if they do work its because of the petroleum based chemicals they use....so this new "green cleaners" technique would be questionable...in other words, if you do use a dry cleaners..make certain they use "real chemicals" , the old fashioned way, to clean your clothes with ...and as difficult as it will be, you have to tell them that the clothes could be infested....its the moral and right thing to do....bag the clothes up very securely...when you take them in...but don't go to a "green" cleaners....imo
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coopbugged
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Posts: 173
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 7 2007 12:46:08
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Yup, very important to deliver clothes to the cleaners in sealed bags and be very upfront about it. I did this with our dry cleaner and he was so great about it... charged us just cost for everything he could do on site (everything except coats and stuff). He's old fashioned, not organic, but just the same I am re-bagging and taping up everything as it comes back from the dry cleaners... more to ensure that it can't get re-infested though.
It's like safer sex vs. safe sex
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S
Bite Researcher
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 185
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 7 2007 12:50:42
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The only thing I know for 99% sure is that it does not work on down comforters.
Is this because the down is an insulator and the bugs hid inside and avoided the heat/chemicals? Maybe. Is it because the item is large and the cleaners didn't do a thorough job? Maybe. Is it because I told them it might have bedbugs and they looked at me like I had leprosy, and simply didn't clean it? Maybe.
But I've since found a new cleaners, and had all my drycleaneables done there. I've spent about $500 on drycleaning. So goodness holy gracious, I hope it works.
I guess the only way to prove it would be to do a test.
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willow-the-wisp
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Posts: 1,530
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 7 2007 13:21:41
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maybe this should go into a thread called de-clutter and storage ...
But ... OMG 500 bucks! You S., were the very last thing I thought of before I drifted off last night. You and that fateful comforter. I was going to send you a PM today just to ask you about the very points you pointed out above.And so let's also remind people here that putting stuff into a plastic bag is not enough: shrink wrap it if you can ... Double or even triple lined plastic or the thickest plastic you can afford will save you LOTS of $$$.$$ down the road.
I absolutely HATED throwing away my keyboard, with only the suspicion it might have been infested, and my $ 600.00 Opera collection too ... It was de-clutter or storage.
Cost wise throwing it away--for me--was the cheaper and safer route. I say this because so many (but of course not all) storage facilities are breeding grounds for bed bugs.
So ... if you are going to use public storage--I suggest triple bagging...
Why...?So you can remove the outermost plastic bag--after you get it out of storage--but before you bring it back in the door. Even then ... into the tub (if it will fit) for inspection is best.
Whatever you decide to do de-clutter wise is up to you. I am not nor have I ever advocated the mass chucking of items. I did sit down with myself and weigh out all the possible costs: unfortunately for me it came down to store 1/2 of my stuff and pay my rent with, like 60.00 to 100.00 bucks to live on???$190.00 per month for 18 months.
Oh yeah ... they were VHS Operas about 40 of them... so they were already obsolete, but--they had deep sentimental value to me and that can never be replaced!
In hindsight—I probably could have kept these two major items—but half the clothing HAD TO GO!
FOR ME!
I SPEAK FOR ME! -
u2dan
junior member
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 100
Posted 2 years ago
Tue May 8 2007 14:03:05
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Oh if there is a de-clutter and storage thread i am still highly reccomednign vacuum space saverbags! Ha i had so many clothes that i coudlnt part with, and i really dont want bugs to live in them alive...so i did it. I splurged and i bought enough bags for everything i own. I remember people saying they didnt have much luck with them in the past, however, mine are still sealed to the best of my knowledge (i make sure itss till hard as a rock..the sucked bags of course!)Then to be extra safe i would store them in a big plastic bin.
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coopbugged
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Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 173
Posted 2 years ago
Tue May 8 2007 14:09:12
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I eagerly await the arrival of my space bags. I ordered weeks ago from their web site and it is taking forever! I actually feel lucky that I was afflicted during the change of seasons, so I can put away all our winter stuff in vacuum sealed storage. Everything's being washed or dry cleaned or at least put in the dryer before storage so I think I will feel comfortable bringing it out again in the late fall, even though it will not have been 18 months. I'm hoping that even if any of them are in there, the lack of air might contribute to an early demise?
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buggedbrooklyn
newbite
Joined: May '07
Posts: 27
Posted 2 years ago
Tue May 8 2007 17:17:12
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FYI - the space bags are on sale at The COntainer Store, but they only have the very big sizes as well as the hanging ones...
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willow-the-wisp
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Posts: 1,530
Posted 2 years ago
Tue May 8 2007 17:27:42
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hey coop ... I plan on similar interventions but I'll be chucking them back into the drier again before I just take them out. those few extra quaters ... heat does seem to shorten the lifespan.
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buggedbrooklyn
newbite
Joined: May '07
Posts: 27
Posted 2 years ago
Wed May 9 2007 10:38:53
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Would putting my clothing in cold storage be a viable option? (I keep trying to create a new subject regarding that, however, the software keeps deleting my post.)
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willow-the-wisp
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Posts: 1,530
Posted 2 years ago
Wed May 9 2007 11:33:36
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How would you get the cold storage bugged? I mean, I know of no type of commercial cold storage. When ever people bring this up I think of stuff like ... “gee I wish I had a real good friend in the meat business. I could borrow a corner of his/her walk in freezer. And then oh ... yeah.... people have mentioned renting refrigerator trucks and produce trucks. If there is not a pesticide Co with this type of service available--it would be great for entrepreneurs. IMHO--If I had a few hundred grand ... I'd defiantly consider this!!! (Investing in a few cold storage trucks)
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buggedbrooklyn
newbite
Joined: May '07
Posts: 27
Posted 2 years ago
Wed May 9 2007 11:36:48
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I found a place in Brooklyn that will store two pallets for one month for $200 in a sub-zero warehouse. I also had tried asking on this board about photographs, CDs, DVDs, books, and the such, but each time I tried to create a new post it would not show up on the board.
There are many commercial cold storage facilities, I'd imagine - this one has warehouses around the metro area of NYC I believe. He said that they worked with cashew importers, as federal regulations required them to be kept at below 0 for 10 days to kill off any bugs in there.
My question is how safe is it to freeze belongings such as books, CDs, and - most importantly - things like wedding photos and the such.
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willow-the-wisp
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Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 1,530
Posted 2 years ago
Wed May 9 2007 11:52:01
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I had planned on--or really was just talking about--heating things at home in microwaves and ovens the other day and lots of caution statements came sort of "at me" which was good--but then S., suggested for my "important papers" to fan them over the tub with good light.
That sounded reasonable fairly easy and definitely much safer. But CD/DVD ... My thought is to take the disk out of the covers--inspect and put the disks into gallon zip-locks--and then try to freeze the covers only--or course it would not hurt if you had a few old DVD or cads you didn't care for and put them into cold storage as, like ... an experiment. Did you get a $ quote from other places besdies the cashew CO.? 200 a month is good!PS I'm afraid if I start a new thread my computer will blow up, so, someone else will have to that. Maybe the software is full.
PPS I had a thought for "newbees" our affectionate dubbing for new comers here at bed bugger.... (To make an entrance and get noticed as well as be heard, should they too have trouble starting threads).
Pull up an older thread and post in there ... people will be saying to themselves ... oh my god! I haven’t seen that topic for a while. But I'm just suggesting this in case any new bees are having the same starting a thread problem. We have so many they can surely find one that is appropriate -
buggedbrooklyn
newbite
Joined: May '07
Posts: 27
Posted 2 years ago
Wed May 9 2007 17:05:39
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Being that I can't start a new post, I'll continue on this one - I just found this interesting article on freezing books:
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/about/conservation/resources/insects/#freezing1
That sounds like a good start!
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