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steam cleaning
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bedbugcanada
newbite
Joined: Aug '11
Posts: 18offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Aug 8 2011 17:35:46
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I apologize if this topic has been covered already, but I am new to this forum, and to the bed bug experience. As a result of bed bugs, I now have a steam cleaner. Can this be used to treat books and shoes/boots? It seems like the Packtite would be the best option, but they don't seem to be available in Canada. I read a post about someone who found a heated room offered by a PCO. Does anyone know of any companies offering that option in the Toronto area?
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bedbugcanada
newbite
Joined: Aug '11
Posts: 18offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Aug 8 2011 17:46:42
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To add some context, I am in an apartment building, and the building has had a PCO treat my apartment once so far, and they will be coming back for another treatment, 2 weeks after the first. Since finding the problem, I have been telling my neighbours about it so that they can be alert to the potential problem. What I have found is that several neighbours actually had a problem with them a few months ago! I somehow wonder if the survivors left the premises being treated in search of a more habitable home (like mine!). The PCO offered by the building did not do a pre-inspection. I had to be home in order to move my pets during the treatment, so I was able to ask some questions. I washed and dried clothing and bedding in preparation for the treatment, but I still have a book shelf which is far from the infected zones (bed and couch). I also have shoes and winter boots in my closet. And I have another storage closet full of stuff. The PCO did not seem concerned about these items. Perhaps their MO is to have any bugs hiding in such spots be brought out in search of food (me)?
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oldtimer
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 1,874offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Aug 8 2011 18:22:17
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As a result of bed bugs, I now have a steam cleaner. Can this be used to treat books and shoes/boots?
For shoes and boot there are generally no problems.
Steam cleaner is a wonderfool tool to destroy books, not to treat them. Just make a test on a book you hate...
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bedbugcanada
newbite
Joined: Aug '11
Posts: 18offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Aug 8 2011 18:35:09
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Thank you for the fair warning! As another question, has anyone had any issues with kitchens/kitchenware being affected/infested? If they are attracted to heat, would not the use of the oven lure them there?
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oldtimer
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 1,874offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Aug 8 2011 18:58:19
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As another question, has anyone had any issues with kitchens/kitchenware being affected/infested?
In my experience, you may found them in kitchen
- if it's a king size case, with BBs almost everywhere
- if it's an infested one room apartment that, of course, has a bed or a couch bed in it
- if it's a big kitchen that has a frequently used (i.e for looking at tv) couch or couch bed or armchair in it
- if the kitchen is between the source of infestation and the next bedroom to infestI never found them in kitchenware.
Considering that his experience is at least twenty time mine, I'm pretty sure that David has some amazing stories about that....
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bedbugcanada
newbite
Joined: Aug '11
Posts: 18offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Aug 8 2011 19:19:25
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My kitchen is smaller, and is only used for preparing food. It is too small for a kitchen table, so I spend minimal time there. Sadly, I only just bought a kitchen table and chairs, which is in the dining area about a week before I discovered the bed bug problem. Talk about timing! Currently, the table and chairs are being used as a place for my sealed bags. Not exactly the use I had in mind!
As another note, I have only ever seen bed bugs in my bedroom, although I am sure they are in my couch in the living room too. I asked the PCO how bad my problem was on a scale of 1 to 10, and he ranked it at 7, although I think he was referring to my box spring, which was the main source of the problem. I have since encased my box spring and mattress, even though he said his treatment would have gotten rid of a lot of them.
Also interestingly, I am still being bitten despite the encasements. I also have put little containers under the feet of my bed and headboard, and put DE in them.
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oldtimer
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 1,874offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Aug 8 2011 19:39:44
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Also interestingly, I am still being bitten despite the encasements. I also have put little containers under the feet of my bed and headboard, and put DE in them.
Well, it's normal, because you had only first treatment. Probably there were some survivors to 1st treatment and/or eggs in the bed frame...
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itchycrawlygoingcrazy
newbite
Joined: Aug '11
Posts: 8offline
Posted 1 year ago
Tue Aug 9 2011 11:31:58
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Hi bedbugcanada, did your PCO even look at your storage closet? How close is it to your bedroom? Have you inspected it yourself, say at night with a flashlight? I may be over conscious but I went through six treatments and a move to get away from bed bugs.
Also...I'm in AB and have a Packtite! Amazon dot com my friend! Cost about 130 for shipping and custom charges (I think it was 420 altogether) and it took about 3 day to get here. M broke, but peace of mind is a wonderful thing!
I also heard that they rarely go into kitchen items but I've Packtited most of m kitchen stuff...just in case! If you're worried they're still there I would invest in the Packtite and buy a bunch of XL Ziploc bags (Canadian Tire).
I bought a steam cleaner for my furniture and to spray the electrical sockets ( is that unsafe? ) but wasn't really able to use it for much else. I bought an air mattress because I couldn't bare sleeping on a infested bed...encased or not!
Good luck and stay strong! The FAQs are a great help as well!
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oldtimer
Joined: Feb '09
Posts: 1,874offline
Posted 1 year ago
Tue Aug 9 2011 11:41:55
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to spray the electrical sockets ( is that unsafe? )
It's not simply unsafe. It's the fastest, easiest way to cause a short circuit... don't do that!
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