Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed Bug Treatment
Please critique my moving plan
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DieDieDie
newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 4
Posted 1 month ago
Sat Oct 10 2009 13:22:14
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New to BB. Mid-August '09 I received a memo from LL saying bedbugs have been reported and all units would be inspected. My apartment was inspected late-August and no signs of BB were found. After Labor Day, the bites started. PCO has been out 2x - 1 week ago and 3 weeks ago. Still receiving bites and have decided to move. I'll have some time to prepare as I don't have the $$$ right now for new apartment deposits - $$$ have been drained by laundry, cat boarding, a couple hotel nights, etc. etc. etc... - go figure.
Lease is up in Feb. I'm hoping I won't have a problem breaking the lease, if I can manage to figure out how to get out of here before then.
The question - what is the most effective protocol for leaving the beasts behind?
Thermal and/or Vikane treatments don't seem to be available (Portland, OR - if somebody knows differently, please tell). I'll invest in Packtite and a good dry steam cleaner. All furniture and most electronics stays in the apt. I'll need to bring laptop. It resides on desk with tall metal legs, but electronic cords nearby may be climb-able. I've not seen anything in/around the laptop (not that that means anything).
Basically, I'll just bring stuff that can be washed - sheets, clothes, dishes. Books I think I'll need within the next 2 years, go in Packtite in current apt, then Ziploc, then Packtite again in new apt. Pictures, sentimental stuff, and books not required right now gets sealed for 2 years (adding 6 months to be extra sure). Mattress is in an AllerZip at the moment, but I'm thinking that I'll leave that behind too (but wash encasement and use it on the new mattress).
What am I missing? I know there is a non-zero probability that they'll come with, but I'd like to get that probability as close to zero as possible.
Kris in Portland, OR
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mangycur
member
Joined: Sep '07
Posts: 275
Posted 1 month ago
Sat Oct 10 2009 20:40:58
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I have yet to see info on electronics that totally makes me feel safe. Some people have put their electronics in their packtite. I'm not suggesting you do that, I'm just saying, read up on it and see what you think. You might turn off your electronics, seal them in plastic for a few days and have a bed bug dog sniff them to give you peace of mind.
Put your essential books in the packtite and seal them in plastic bags as soon as they come out. You might get some sentimental items and put them in the pactite as well, so you feel at home when you get to your new place. Pictures in their frame can usually go in the packtite, as well as many knicknacks.
Make sure anything you put in the moving truck or storage area is in plastic bags. Carboard boxes are no good.
don't forget the pactite itself. Bugs can set up shop on the outside of the canvas. So take the canvas off the frame and put the canvas in a dryer on hot for 30 minutes, then bag it.
does that help?
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DieDieDie
newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 4
Posted 1 month ago
Sat Oct 10 2009 21:59:29
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Yes mangycur yes. Didn't think about the Packtite canvas. Thank you.
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What about the mattress? I have encased everything and plan to put on another layer of plastic cover during move (my husband and I are moving to our new home, which was purchased right before the BB nightmare, so we are treating the current place as much as possible to reduce the possibility of taking any bb with us to "minimum". I would like to say "zero" but we know no one knows for sure, only time can tell....we also moved 90% of our stuff into 2 year storage just like Kris said, 6 months extra precaution, and all clothing are in ziploc; packtiting, spraying, vacuuming every couple of days) anyway, let's say after the mattress being transferred to the new place (via a moving truck I assume which is another potential bb hiding place). my question is when and where do you remove the plastic mattress cover, before getting into your home? also I am planning to put a new layer of encasement for both mattress and boxspring, so when and where should I do that? right after remove the plastic cover?
ps: Kris, we also have a cat and it's not easy to board her whenever we want to have repeat treatment of our home and she's so lost for a while when all the plastic ziploc bags and airtight containers are flying around ..her familiar surrounding was completely changed.
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DieDieDie
newbite
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 4
Posted 2 weeks ago
Fri Nov 6 2009 13:59:55
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Hi BB_TYS,
I'm back and forth on the mattress. On the one hand, mattresses are expensive and because it's been in an encasement, it's probably OK. On the other, I really really REALLY don't want to bring them with me. If I end up taking the mattress, I'm not going to take it out the encasement. I'm thinking I'll get some plastic sheeting/tarp like stuff and wrap the mattress up for moving with the encasement intact. White plastic would be great, but we'll see what's out there. Then, at the new place, the mattress can be the first thing in the bedroom. Open up the plastic and steam the crap out of everything in sight. Dispose of the plastic moving materials OUTSIDE asap.
I live on the 8th floor of a downtown building. Cat is indoor, so letting her wander for a few days is not an option. She HATES being boarded, but I'm guessing she'd hate dying from pesticide ingestion even more so I suck up the evil stares and petulant behavior. The boarding place is great. Only cats and you can tell they are 'cat people'. They must have at least 20 cats in there at any given moment and it never smells, you know, how 20 cats ought to smell.
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