Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tales of Bed Bug Woe
PACKTITE - should I order it for my books, shoes , etc
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buggedinbk
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 14
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Nov 15 2008 11:40:27
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I am moving... can't deal with it anymore. I am putting EVERYTHING in storage except my essential paperwork, etc, clothes and shoes...can i use packtite for that. Will it work?
Thanks
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junior member
Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 113
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Nov 15 2008 13:08:19
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Yes, paperwork, shoes etc. can be treated in the unit. Each unit comes with a thermometer as well so you can be sure items placed inside reach the all important 120 F.
David James
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Isn't an oven with a temp thermometer just as good to treat with?
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buggedinbk
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 14
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 18:41:55
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moving - 22 hours ago »
Isn't an oven with a temp thermometer just as good to treat with?that's an idea... I worry that the direct contact with heat might be a hazard...how would you suggest chucking say, a book into the oven?
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myLifeinZiplocs
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 84
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 18:56:40
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I microwaved the books that I needed for school, but keep them in a large ziploc bag anyway when I am not using them. I inspect them thoroughly before each use.
I can't say that this for sure works. As I just had my 2nd treatment on Friday. But The books remain largely unharmed. Except for the one that had some metallic paint on the cover which caused a few sparks. And one which I did not realize had some sort of metallic anti theft device under the label. That burned a hole in the back. oops. :)
But the books got pretty hot and frankly I don't see how anything could survive being subjected to microwaves. (apparently this works for silverfish and some sort of book bugs I forget what they are called) But I really don't know. Perhaps others on the board have some input on microwaving books?
(All the books I don't need for school are still out in the backyard in double bagged knotted black garbage bags. I haven't decided how to deal with those yet.)
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buggedinbk
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 14
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 19:13:38
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myLifeinZiplocs - 14 minutes ago »
I microwaved the books that I needed for school, but keep them in a large ziploc bag anyway when I am not using them. I inspect them thoroughly before each use.
I can't say that this for sure works. As I just had my 2nd treatment on Friday. But The books remain largely unharmed. Except for the one that had some metallic paint on the cover which caused a few sparks. And one which I did not realize had some sort of metallic anti theft device under the label. That burned a hole in the back. oops. :)
But the books got pretty hot and frankly I don't see how anything could survive being subjected to microwaves. (apparently this works for silverfish and some sort of book bugs I forget what they are called) But I really don't know. Perhaps others on the board have some input on microwaving books?
(All the books I don't need for school are still out in the backyard in double bagged knotted black garbage bags. I haven't decided how to deal with those yet.)Hmmm interesting... I hope that got rid of any traces. I can't inspect all my books. Like you, I plan to deal with the books and documents I need most. How long were they in the microwave for? Thanks. Also, things like belts, bags, jewelry...how did you deal with that. I am moving in 2 weeks and I plan to go only with the stuff that have been treated. Getting rid of everything else...even my laptop is suspect at this point.
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myLifeinZiplocs
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 84
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 20:24:25
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Belts, and jewelry and even my jar of change all got soaked in alcohol solution. (I sprayed my belts with alcohol solution, change and jewelry got soaked in a bowl)
Bags got thrown in the dryer.
books in the microwave -- various times actually. That is why I am still keeping them in ziplocs. I re-microwave them as needed.
Thinner paperbacks, about two minutes got them pretty hot, even in the middle. Thinker books may take longer. Again, I am not sure that this method is a surety. But I didn't know what else to do with them.
My laptop doesn't have any slots where they can really hide. Plus the bottom gets SO hot when in use that I can't imagine they would stay there for long if they are in there. I did vacuum the keyboard though with my vacuum cleaner. But the laptop itself gets so hot that I think anything in there would die. I keep vacuuming out the laptop case just in case though. :) (its new, I bought a new one after my first treatment)
I can't imagine they would be in the keyboard with though since I am pressing down on the keys all the time.
The new printer is in one of those big ziploc bags when not in use.
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Some people have damaged books by microwaving (not just fire, potentially, but also melting of glue, bindings, is a hazard from what I understand).
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junior member
Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 113
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 21:56:31
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The biggest problem we had when developing packtite was in the beginning when we were going for higher heat temperatures in order to have a quicker treatment. When using oven like temps things got crispy on the outside but stayed cool in the middle. Besides the damage and fire danger, I would be concerned about things that need heat to penetrate into. Long treatment times at milder temps gets it done. With our unit, you can stick your hand directly in front of the heater unit and it only feels mildly warm, not hot by any means. When we cranked it up so that the output was hot, things got melted, burnt, etc long before the center cool areas of things got warm enough to kill bed bugs.
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lynnee82
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Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 66
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 22:39:18
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How long does an item need to stay in the packtite to kill bbs? Also, can a laptop be put in a packtite? Thank you.
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Overwhelmed
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 42
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 22:45:37
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I found that with my oven, which doesn't go under 170, paperbacks were generally OK for three hours (the glue would kind of melt then harden again) but the jackets of hardcovers seemed to bubble. It never occurred to me to put them in the microwave. I'm currently racking up the late fines on my library books because the last thing I want to do is give bedbugs to the NYPL but I don't want to damage those books at all (a couple of them are out of print). Of course, I decide to buy the PackTite to deal with the books and my shoes and bags and it's out of stock. That seems to be my luck with these awful monsters! :)
I'm feeling like I'll never be free of them these days but I have to say that when I can take care of my books properly and can take a little, clean, sterile book on the subway with me again that'll be a definite improvement in my life.
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lynnee82
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Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 66
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 22:47:18
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Oh no. The packlite's are on backorder? Did they say how long until they are in stock?
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Overwhelmed
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 42
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 22:55:05
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You can sign up to get an email when they come back in stock on the website, (that's what I did) but I didn't see anything about when they'll be back in stock. I assume djames1921 will be able to tell us though.
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lynnee82
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Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 66
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Nov 16 2008 23:05:58
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Ok thanks. I had planned to order it tomorrow! Just my luck! Hope it won't be long.
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More units will be available soon, maybe even today. The unit has a four hour timer and that is the recommended running time, however it also comes with a digital thermometer. Once the center or coolest part of an item has reached 120 F, I would give it another 30 minutes to be sure, but it can be removed at that point.
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buggedinbk
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 14
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Nov 17 2008 20:24:17
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myLifeinZiplocs - 23 hours ago »
Belts, and jewelry and even my jar of change all got soaked in alcohol solution. (I sprayed my belts with alcohol solution, change and jewelry got soaked in a bowl)
Bags got thrown in the dryer.
books in the microwave -- various times actually. That is why I am still keeping them in ziplocs. I re-microwave them as needed.
Thinner paperbacks, about two minutes got them pretty hot, even in the middle. Thinker books may take longer. Again, I am not sure that this method is a surety. But I didn't know what else to do with them.
My laptop doesn't have any slots where they can really hide. Plus the bottom gets SO hot when in use that I can't imagine they would stay there for long if they are in there. I did vacuum the keyboard though with my vacuum cleaner. But the laptop itself gets so hot that I think anything in there would die. I keep vacuuming out the laptop case just in case though. :) (its new, I bought a new one after my first treatment)
I can't imagine they would be in the keyboard with though since I am pressing down on the keys all the time.
The new printer is in one of those big ziploc bags when not in use.Wow.. you know something interesting I read about the alcohol is that they only kill the bugs you see and so they get killed on contact. I am wondering if it would help if I see nothing on the belts and jewelry. Also there is one thing that continues to confuse me. My dining table, drawers, desk, all have no obvious signs of the bugs, I certainly see nothing on them so how are they infested? How would rubbing them down with Alcohol ensure that they are clean and safe especially if the alcohol is only good for bugs I can physically see... Obviously I am bugging out. Please help! ;0)
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buggedinbk
newbite
Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 14
Posted 1 year ago
Thu Nov 20 2008 22:09:03
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buggedinbk - 3 days ago »
myLifeinZiplocs - 23 hours ago »
Belts, and jewelry and even my jar of change all got soaked in alcohol solution. (I sprayed my belts with alcohol solution, change and jewelry got soaked in a bowl)
Bags got thrown in the dryer.
books in the microwave -- various times actually. That is why I am still keeping them in ziplocs. I re-microwave them as needed.
Thinner paperbacks, about two minutes got them pretty hot, even in the middle. Thinker books may take longer. Again, I am not sure that this method is a surety. But I didn't know what else to do with them.
My laptop doesn't have any slots where they can really hide. Plus the bottom gets SO hot when in use that I can't imagine they would stay there for long if they are in there. I did vacuum the keyboard though with my vacuum cleaner. But the laptop itself gets so hot that I think anything in there would die. I keep vacuuming out the laptop case just in case though. :) (its new, I bought a new one after my first treatment)
I can't imagine they would be in the keyboard with though since I am pressing down on the keys all the time.
The new printer is in one of those big ziploc bags when not in use.Wow.. you know something interesting I read about the alcohol is that they only kill the bugs you see and so they get killed on contact. I am wondering if it would help if I see nothing on the belts and jewelry. Also there is one thing that continues to confuse me. My dining table, drawers, desk, all have no obvious signs of the bugs, I certainly see nothing on them so how are they infested? How would rubbing them down with Alcohol ensure that they are clean and safe especially if the alcohol is only good for bugs I can physically see... Obviously I am bugging out. Please help! ;0)
How about putting books in an envelope, a thick one and then tossing them into the oven, will the heat have the same impact...do I need to open pages? Also how about putting my jewelry and shoes and bags each in thick envelopes and tossing them in the oven? Thanks a lot.
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Adele
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Joined: May '08
Posts: 556
Posted 1 year ago
Thu Nov 20 2008 22:30:34
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just be sure to remove the sticker on the thermometer!!! otherwise for folks like me who are not very technical - you may think your Packtite unit stays at 68.8F!!!
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junior member
Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 113
Posted 12 months ago
Sat Nov 22 2008 18:55:42
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I'm just glad we figured that one out, I couldn't for the life of me think why your thermometer read only 68.8 until I looked at one still in the package. For a minute there I was thinking, the heater's broken or the thermometer is busted.
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bbdk
newbite
Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 24
Posted 12 months ago
Sat Nov 22 2008 19:24:19
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Microwaving will not work in the way that you think it will. The reason that microwaves heat foods place in them is that the waves themselves cause water molecules to start vibrating, which is, in a sense, heat.
However, microwave the books might work in that it will outright heat up the bugs and kill them.
Are books really all that big of a problem? Bed Bugs can't fit between the pages of a closed book, can they?
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nycbedbug
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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 51
Posted 2 weeks ago
Mon Nov 2 2009 0:38:06
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About to start Packtiting my books this week...would love to hear any updated/recent thoughts, suggestions, stories, etc. Thanks!
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