Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » General Topics
Scared to go shopping....
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edtt
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed May 23 2012 15:51:45
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We had a bb scare, which looks to be fleas, which we are in the process of dealing with.
I am bug-phobic by nature
This has changed my way of thinking, regarding prevention and added a bit of paranoia.
What precautions shoould be taken when buying things from a store?
I don't own a packtite yet, we are saving up for one.
I can wash clothing items, but what about things you can't wash/dry
I know any public area can be an issue..... -
your host
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed May 23 2012 17:32:07
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Most clothing can be dried on hot for a brief period even if it can't be washed in a machine.
Non-washable items are tricky. You should do a careful visual inspection.
Be aware that things like bed linens, pillows, quilts, may be especially suspect in stores which take returns. I suspect you'll feel a lot better about these when you have the Packtite.
There's always some wise guy who logs in to tell us we're being paranoid. I'm not. I don't treat everything that I buy. I carefully inspect new books and other materials which are easily inspected. I assume new electronics are okay, but everything gets a once-over.
However, I still wonder if I might have gotten bed bugs from a quilt or pillow bought from a big box store everyone loves, in a NYC neighborhood with lots of bed bugs.
I suspect that very few new items in stores will probably pose a risk but it is possible, and treating items before using them will give you peace of mind.
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edtt
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed May 23 2012 18:17:40
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Thanks no bugs.
I wrk near a mall and was wandering around and looking at all the "potential" possibilities, lol.
Not to mention working in social services, makes me even more worried, although i have always been aware, amazing how my co workers are not.....One item I need to get is a scratching post, the old one was ripped\worn, so wight the fleas it made sense to get rid of it.
How will I inspect that! Yeesh.Don't get me wrong, so grateful that it is fleas, the bb threat is still out there and one I want to be aware of.
Thanks again, to everyone here
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mindoverbbs
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed May 23 2012 20:58:20
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Hi edtt,
I struggle with purchasing new items as well, especially after being on high alert for so many months on top of a pre-existing anxiety disorder exacerbated by ongoing skin reactions and occasional blood marks on linens, pillows, and pajamas.
Nobugsonme - 3 hours ago »
Be aware that things like bed linens, pillows, quilts, may be especially suspect in stores which take returns. I suspect you'll feel a lot better about these when you have the Packtite.I have a question for the experts and old-timers. Do adult bedbugs actually live inside pillows? I have only managed to find one, four-year-old thread on this topic, and while two forum users said they can, I didn't see an expert weigh in. I'd especially like to know how common this is, assuming it is possible.
We are planning to get new pillows soon, and I admit I'm worried about introducing bed bugs via that channel, especially if dryers and packtites might not be sufficient to assure kill temperatures inside the pillows.
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your host
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed May 23 2012 22:45:15
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Some things can't easily be inspected, which is why so many of us love the Packtite. If you can wait till you get it, it will deal with the scratching post just fine.
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your host
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed May 23 2012 22:46:54
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Mindoverbbs,
Sorry you hit the spam filter. I've reinstated your post above.
Everyone else, please click here to read it! -
edtt
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed May 23 2012 23:16:06
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Yes, u are right Nobugs, kitty will have to suffer right now.
Poor cat keeps getting shut out of rooms and booted off beds due to the fleas.
I suspect she will forgive us, lol
So u think u got bb's from new linens, wow, sure takes the pleasure out of shopping!Mind over, I believe, I read something that David Caine said about pillows. I can't quote him, wow, would not even try too!
It was a rare situation where the bugs were in the pillow, which he was surprised to discover, as it is not typical, in his experience.....
Maybe he will offer his thoughts
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your host
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed May 23 2012 23:33:55
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edtt - 13 minutes ago »
Yes, u are right Nobugs, kitty will have to suffer right now.
Poor cat keeps getting shut out of rooms and booted off beds due to the fleas.
I suspect she will forgive us, lol
So u think u got bb's from new linens, wow, sure takes the pleasure out of shopping!
Mind over, I believe, I read something that David Caine said about pillows. I can't quote him, wow, would not even try too!
It was a rare situation where the bugs were in the pillow, which he was surprised to discover, as it is not typical, in his experience.....I said I "might have" gotten them from a store-- like many if not most people, I have no idea. I could list thirty different possibilities and can't be sure if the real source was among them.
I do recall buying a fancy pillow and a quilt which had been taken out and repackaged-- which I thought nothing of at the time, but later realized it could have been a return.
I cannot recall the post from David that you mention.
I suspect that it would be possible if the item had large gaps where it was sewn together. David often points out that mattresses don't tend to have bed bugs inside them unless they have torn covers. (US style box springs are another issue.) This rule may hold true for pillows also, though it seems like some pillows may be sewn less tightly. They aren't always so well made.
The pillow I am thinking of was a decorative pillow with a kind of a plush, faux flokati thing going on -- so couldn't even be carefully inspected.
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edtt
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Posted 12 months ago
Sat May 26 2012 14:04:47
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anyone else have thoughts about this?
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MyWorstFear
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Posted 12 months ago
Sat May 26 2012 21:18:54
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The company that makes mattress covers that are supposed to be bed bug proof also makes pillow covers. I have them on our pillows. They are terry cloth on the outside and some impermeable plastic coating on the underside. I put them on when we had our "scare" a few years ago, but I can't say that I like them. They get very hot even with the terry cloth and regular pillowcases on top of them. That being said, I wouldn't dream of NOT using them!
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ShelaghDB
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Posted 12 months ago
Sat May 26 2012 22:16:41
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I have the same ones on my pillows, with the terry cloth but that said, I still throw them all in the dryer, without the cases on them, once in a while JUST IN CASE
along with my duvet cover
I believe its a pointless game trying to figure out where they came from unless you live a high suspect lifestyle, such as spending a lot of times in hotels, working in shelters, live next door to a crack addict, etc.
You could have got one from anywhere
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edtt
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Posted 11 months ago
Thu May 31 2012 20:16:43
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Any experts want to offer their thoughts?
Any new item i buy now I seal the bag and throw it in the dryer when I get home.
I was scared to try on clothes at a womans clothing store!
am i being paranoid? -
edtt
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Posted 11 months ago
Sat Jun 23 2012 2:28:23
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Wondering what the experts think...
how plausable is it to bring home bb's after shopping/purchasing at a store?Another thought, is technicians, such as the cable guy, (lol, and not Jim Carey).
this fellow has been in other homes before coming into mine.....shoudl I request a first appointment?I can't stop thinking about the possabiltiy and the threat........it doe snot seem to stop
hmmm, off to finish my "grown-up drink"
thanks to all -
WishBBsWereButterflies
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Posted 11 months ago
Sat Jun 23 2012 8:32:21
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Someone I know has decided they are just going to live with their infestation after having them come back. She returned some clothing to a store yesterday. Not to say that the items were definitely infested but it certainly a reason to continue washing before wearing.
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MyWorstFear
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Posted 11 months ago
Mon Jun 25 2012 17:52:29
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And be sure to watch where you put YOUR clothes in the dressing room while you are trying on clothes. Usually there's an upholstered chair in the dressing room that I steer clear of.
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