Is this a reasonable approach to prevention? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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Is this a reasonable approach to prevention?

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nymom

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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Feb 24 2008 10:56:38
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Hi all, My husband travels frequently and I have convinced him to inspect mattresses etc . But he is not going to do much more . So I would like to have a reasonable routine for him so we do not bring bedbugs to our house. We bring all luggage directly to the basement and I wash his laundry right away . (hot water etc. ) we inspect and vacuum the luggage and other non-washable items. We are storing our luggage in the basement now instead of upstairs near the bedrooms. My theory is that if he picks up a lone bug that we miss it would have to travel up 2 stories to find us. I'd like to also spray the luggage interior with alcohol or some other product . We also change all the linens in the house 1x a week and wash in hot water.

I realize this would not be sufficient if we actually had bedbugs, or if we feel we have been exposed to bedbugs. But it seems cautious without being neurotic... thoughts?
bugbasher

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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Feb 24 2008 11:09:04
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nymom,
It sounds like your doing good.Keep checking your mattress at home too,when you change linens.You can get a can of bedlam or there is a spray just for luggage,I can't remember the name of it.I think I saw an ad for it on http://www.bedbugresource.com If no luck bedlam will work as well.Read the faq's on this site with other tips how to avoid them when traveling and have hubby follow those as well.Good luck
bugbasher

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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Feb 24 2008 16:38:10
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nymom,
The name of the luggage spray is Rest Easy and it's made by JT Eaton and available in Ace hardware stores.Hope that helps.
IveBeenBugged

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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Feb 24 2008 19:16:56
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nymom I think you could also keep the luggage sealed in large bags while stored in the basement. Even if you spray them it would be an additional measure to help assure that none get into the house after trips.
nymom

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Posted 5 years ago
Sun Feb 24 2008 22:09:25
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thanks for the additional info and suggestions. I am going to get the spray for the luggage... I think that is the big risk factor in our home.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 5 years ago
Mon Feb 25 2008 1:58:52
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See also: http://bedbugger.com/faqs/travel for the FAQ on how to avoid bed bugs while traveling including what to do with luggage in hotel rooms and advice on how to search a hotel room--which he must learn to do.
fightorflight

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Posted 5 years ago
Mon Feb 25 2008 2:14:10
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I had also noticed that J.T. Eaton luggage spray advertised on thebedbugresource site. Note, however, that this does not constitute an endorsement of this product from that site. I believe the product is relatively new and don't know how much data there is on it. I tried looking it up after seeing it on thebedbugresource and the only information I could find was through J.T. Eaton. I believe both of their products are contact kills, so if there are eggs in your luggage, you'd better seal it up tightly - I'd say double contractor bags. Others here have been able to twist the ends of the bags into knots, but that was too tough for me, so I twisted the ends in a rope, doubled it over and cinched it as I tight as I could with cable ties.

I don't know if maybe there is a better product for spraying the luggage before bagging it? I have not heard such good things about J.T. Eaton from these posts. You might be better off with the Bedlam, dunno.
fightorflight

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Posted 5 years ago
Mon Feb 25 2008 2:19:38
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Or you can put the luggage in double XXL Ziplocs if it fits.
death2allbbs

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Posted 4 years ago
Sat Nov 1 2008 3:00:38
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fightorflight - 8 months ago »
I had also noticed that J.T. Eaton luggage spray advertised on thebedbugresource site...I tried looking it up after seeing it on thebedbugresource and the only information I could find was through J.T. Eaton. I believe both of their products are contact kills...

I just found this thread after reading another thread about luggage and J.T. Eaton luggage spray is a residual killer. The J.T. Eaton site says that it keeps killing for 4 to 6 weeks:

http://www.jteaton.com/retail_new.htm
barelyliving

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Posted 4 years ago
Sat Nov 1 2008 11:38:16
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As a bed bug survivor, I am a little more cautious even than that. I do spray my husband's luggage w/ the spray but I still ask him to examine the room carefully. If the suitcase is small enough to fit in an XXL Ziploc, I ask him to put it in there when it's in the room. He is currently on a longer trip and so his bigger suitcase doesn't fit in an XXL Ziploc so I have asked him to store his closed suitcase in the bathtub. He wouldn't take hanging space bags so he said he will store his hanging clothes on the shower rod. The maid's going to think he's insane. He has a XL Ziploc for his computer bag, I've asked him to charge it at the office he's at. He has XL Ziplocs for his dirty clothes that will go straight into the wash and I'm buying some of those extra large black garbage bags. When he gets home I'll put the suitcase inside the garbage bag, seal it up tight and put a Hot-Shot No-Pest strip in there with it. The only weak spot is the car, with the suitcase in it on the way home from the airport. But hopefully the spray and storing in the bathtub will make this a non-issue.

Believe me, you are doing the right thing to be cautious. This ordeal changes your life in soooooo many ways!
MyWorstFear

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Posted 4 years ago
Sat Nov 1 2008 12:06:08
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barelyliving - 25 minutes ago »
When he gets home I'll put the suitcase inside the garbage bag, seal it up tight and put a Hot-Shot No-Pest strip in there with it.

Does anyone know what the minimum amount of time you'd need to keep the hot shot strip in with the luggage? I think I'm going to try this method until I can get a pack-tite.
BBcoukHome

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Posted 4 years ago
Sat Nov 1 2008 12:31:30
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Hi,

If you are a frequent traveller the best advice you can follow is P I I or:
- P Protect - isolate the bags while travelling using a protective wrap
- I Inspect - check the hotel room for signs of bed bugs and keep bags away from the main sleeping area also check a bag rack / stand before you use it
- I Isolate - isolate and check bags upon return to home. Zip Loc bags are one of the best solutions but pallet wrap / saran wrap and stretch wrap all viable alternatives
I personally would not advocate the use of any chemical products as a "just in case" because to be frank it’s a waste of time and money if there is nothing there to kill then think of the cost to your pocket and the environment. That is not a queue to enter stage right green solutions because they also cost money and do have an environmental impact even if it is just transporting product that "may kill something if it is there in the first place". Ultimately there is also the issue of resistance to overused products to contend with.

At the end of the day though the best step to take is monthly self home inspection to detect the issue at the earliest stages as travels are just one of the many way in which bed bugs spread.

David