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tips on meeting a friend who's infested

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   frankys434
   

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   Posted 11 months ago
   Wed Jun 27 2012 10:05:01
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   I'm meeting a friend who's been fighting an infestation for the past month (he says they haven't seen a bedbug in a week but I'm not sure the company they hired is doing the job adequately.)

   I'm meeting him in a restaurant with his wife.

   Should my wife and I put our clothes in a ziplock bag when we come home and put them in the dryer, just as a precaution? Also, what about my wife's purse? And shoes?

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   Nobugsonme
   

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   Posted 11 months ago
   Wed Jun 27 2012 10:12:55
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   You're probably at much less risk if you're in a public place than if they came to your home.

   I am not an expert but I suspect any hitchhikers which rode in on and then fled your friends or their bags would more likely seek a hiding place on the restaurant, rather than another person to ride out on. In that sense, the restaurant is a bit more at risk, but remember they are every day.

   You can run things through a hot dryer if it gives you peace of mind. I would keep my things away from theirs if possible (you don't want a pile of jackets or bags on a chair, for example) and I find it's best to leave as much as you can at home. Easier in the summer, of course.

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   frankys434
   

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   Posted 11 months ago
   Wed Jun 27 2012 10:28:20
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   Thanks. Yes, it is the summer so I suggested to my wife we both wear flip-flops (it's a pretty casual place we're going to) or cloth sneakers (that we can pop into the dryer) and for her to keep her purse on the back of her chair. Just to be ultra-cautious, we're planning on taking off our clothes as soon as we get in the door (we live in an apartment in a big city), put them in a plastic bag and toss them in the dryer.

   Question: how long before we can invite them to our home (my wife is saying not until at least next winter.)

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   Nobugsonme
   

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   Posted 11 months ago
   Wed Jun 27 2012 18:26:52
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   frankys434 - 7 hours ago  » 
   Thanks. Yes, it is the summer so I suggested to my wife we both wear flip-flops (it's a pretty casual place we're going to) or cloth sneakers (that we can pop into the dryer) and for her to keep her purse on the back of her chair. Just to be ultra-cautious, we're planning on taking off our clothes as soon as we get in the door (we live in an apartment in a big city), put them in a plastic bag and toss them in the dryer.
   Question: how long before we can invite them to our home (my wife is saying not until at least next winter.)

   I think you want to be pretty sure the bed bugs are gone. Many people declare this too quickly (because their PCO says "two treatments always work" or "you're clear" but one can't be really very confident until several weeks after that point).

   You can try and gently discuss your concerns. It's awkward but as long as your friends understand you don't blame them or think they're dirty people, it may be okay.

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   frankys434
   

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   Posted 11 months ago
   Wed Jun 27 2012 18:40:44
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   Thanks. I think we'll err on the side of caution here. They've had a guy do five treatments already so I suspect the bugs are either coming in from a neighbor's apartment or the PCO they hired is pretty incompetent. They've been in "treatment" for two months.

   Thanks for the advice.

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