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vikane vs. throw everything away
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Ok, so I just want out. I know everyone does, and I know I am being irrational, but I am at a breaking point... so here is my question:
Vikane is very expensive according to what I have heard, and our infestation is only located in our bedroom, so do you think we should get a U-Haul and vikane everything?? OR chuck the bed, bedroom furniture, etc, and just get new stuff?
Taken these little s**ts with us is not an option!
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paulaw0919
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Nov 19 2008 8:28:28
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Vikaning a Uhaul is cheaper than doing an entire building (single family home)
If you want to avoid taking a single bug with you, I would save your stuff, and vikane.
People take extreme precautions when doing so (changing to and from clean bagged clothes in the process etc) But that is your best best, imo. You don't want to chance a stray bug being in a book or a chair from another room.
True, it's a bit expensive, but it's a personal decision. You need to find a reputable company knows how to vikane for bed bugs. Look up here on the forums for info on what you are looking for in a company. Then you need to weigh out what would be more....replacing everything or the fumigation. In many cases the fumigation runs cheaper by a long shot. (furniture, electronics, personal memorabilia etc) If you own a vehicle, you may want to consider pricing how much it would be to have that done as well. Better safe than sorry. -
chooke2
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 13:46:59
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Ok, so I have been in touch with a comapny and we have decided that we are vikaning a moving truck and keeping most of our belongings. I am just wondering if there are any success stories here after a Vikane treatment? If so, I would love to hear them!
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paulaw0919
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 14:47:55
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I have never written a success story for I still have huge anxiety issues from the trauma of our experience. But we had our home and vehicles vikane fumigated last fall. I have had many k9 inspections periodically done afterward. I did have two certified K9's (out of 5 visits total I think) give positive alerts in the home, but never a visual confirmation.
Considering that we had our fumigation done over a year ago, I have found a few dead headless/legless bed bugs and a piece of a cast skin. (Now we did have an infestation and did not move.) These were found in various places of the home, but none in the bed rooms. So far (knock on wood) I have never found a live bug yet and it's been over a year. I continue to do monthly inspections of all beds and mattress, keep DE by the bed legs, in the cracks of bed frames, around floor boards of closets and under the washer/dryer.
We have gotten bites here and there, and the very, very occasional blood spot on the bed. I have now, after a year chucked these up to other issues for we live in the country, have many other insects around and many other things can also cause the very occasional blood spot on the bed.
I continue to be as vigilant as I can, we are living normally for the most part and as far as I can tell we are bed bug free. I do hope to write a success story some day, after I can afford a reliable monitor to prove to myself that I and extended family are all bug free.
I think Vikane is your best best in your situation if you can afford it. I would look up some tags here on vikane on what some people did as precautions during their move. I didn't move from one location to another so I cannot comment on that. But for that one day, I would have a change of clean bagged clothes to change into, leave everything to be fumigated including your wallet. I would just take bare necessities such as Credit Cards, Debit Cards and License. Seems extreme, but it's only once and then it's over. :)
Hope this is of some help and encouragement. Best. -
your host
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 18:39:03
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I would not be too sure it was only in your bedroom, chooke2.
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chooke2
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 18:40:49
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Thank you Paula, it makes me feel much better to hear a positive story in light of this whole nightmare. We are going to purge as much as possible during this move (we are also moving into a smaller apartment) so I hope that will help as well. I still do not really believe that our infestation was ever severe (denial? perhaps) but we have found several bugs, although my husband was only bitten once, and I was never bitten... and I find it hard to believe we are lving in harmony and these particular bed bugs are choosing not to feast on us! Congrats on your year of relative peace and I wish nothing but the best for you in 09!
I will keep you posted! -
your host
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 19:57:21
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chooke2,
Entomologists tell us as many as 70% of people do not react to bed bug bites. It is possible to be bitten and have no idea.
I am not trying to be a downer, and it sounds like you may have a small infestation (since your husband did react only once) but it is important to know this.
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chooke2
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 21:08:00
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You are right Nobugs, I am not trying to be completely obtuse, but I have to tell you that it helps me sleep at night believing that I have never been bitten, so denial or no, I shall carry on believing that.
Regardless of where the bugs are/were Vikaning all of our possessions should be sufficent to get rid of whatever is left... right?? -
paulaw0919
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 22:03:08
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Hi Chooke2. Nobugs gives sound advise. I know how you feel and it's good to stay level headed at all times. Don't be in denial or under estimate the infestation though. We didn't react to bites for many months. Even after 4 traditional treatments I would have sworn the bugs were never in our office. But, after vikane, taking out old carpet and replacing with new flooring, low and behold I found a dead bed bug in that room. That was last Feb I think.
But what I'm trying to say, is when prepping for the fumigation, treat everything that you own/keeping as if it's infested. Make sure you pack lightly, and don't over stuff the Uhaul. Furniture and such can be saved, don't toss it. But things that are made of plastic...like Cd's, photo albums and such....make sure are very loosely packed as so the gas can penetrate it. Think of it as if the gas were air or water. If air or water can get in, so can the gas. In fact, we opened all Cd cases and stacked them. The gas penetrates wood so that's not much the issue, imo. But if you have hollow metal furniture, make sure the end caps are off and fully exposed.
It's an ordeal, yes...but better to be over cautious and vigilant when the cost is so high. Most people cannot do something like this again.
There's a lot of info on Vikane now. (3X for extended time, etc..) Do the homework, dot all "i's" and cross all "t's" and things should work out fine. Of course if you have questions there are those that can help best they can as well. Best to you and best of luck. :) -
your host
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 22:31:18
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chooke2,
Thanks for the response. Paula makes my point better than I did. It's fine to believe you are not being bitten, and we can hope it is true. (And thank goodness you can sleep-- I am not trying to come between you and your zzzzzzzz's!)
But when it comes to treatment, do not assume only the bedroom is infested, as you said. This is extremely hard to determine. Hope it is so, but for the purposes of treatment, err on the side of caution and treat everything as if infested.
Some people claim to move with their credit cards in a baggie and everything else gets left behind, and yet somehow they still brought bed bugs. In such cases, it must be so that something else (shoes? A wallet? A car?) was infested and was not in the realm of suspicion.
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chooke2
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 23:03:49
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Ok, what would I do without you guys?!?! Ok, but I think that I should have been more clear. When I read about Vikane, I think it was my silver lining. That being said, I knew that I couldn't vikane while still living in my 100 unit Co-op building, because who knows how my neighbors are treating their problems (and I know they have them). So I decided we have to move. And within 48 hours I found us an apartment, and handed over a deposit. Now, in light of all that I am still living out of plastic bags and had we have encased everything they sell encasements for, we caulked all along the floor and any outlet or exposed pipe that could be a possible entrance for these damn things. In addition, we are having our third treatment this week (although our PCO hasn't called us back since we called last week...) but we are going to stay on top of him and get the final treatment. Then we are going to load everything we own into the U-haul (from cans of soup to holey socks) and vikane everything we own. I am going to go to Kohls and buy us new outfits including shoes and underwear and leave everything in the truck... including our wallets. We can last a night with nothing but our wits! They do guarantee 90 days if you are moving into a multi-family dwelling and a year if its a single family home. After that, I think I have to hope for the best. Unless, and it isabsolutely possible... I am missing something. Please let me know if you think I am, and thank you Paula and Nobugs for your shared wisedom.
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your host
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 23:12:09
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BTW there are some things you can't vikane. Food, medicines. You need to get full instructions directly from the provider but just throwing that out there. :-)
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chooke2
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 23:16:36
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They are going to email me a prep list once I have scheduled my appoinment my time, but he did mention that medicine can't be vikaned because of the temperature changed, but he actually specifically said that food can be. Do you know otherwise?
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your host
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 23:31:42
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People have mentioned it. I think it's the same idea.
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paulaw0919
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 23:42:24
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Hmm. I don't know about the food. I do know that all food that comes into the country is fumigated, but I would assume the rate would be different, maybe a lot less? When our home was vikaned we were told all never opened food had to be bagged air tight in a particular plastic so the vikane would not penetrate the bag. All other opened food and beverages had to go. All medications had to go but due to vikane fumigant being trapped in the the bottle and/or possible consumption? All our food, perishables, spices, medications were tossed out in my experience. We did keep non medicated shampoos, lotions, and soaps. This was all based on what my instructions at that time. I don't know if things have changed or not?
Make sure you interview the company you chose based on facts you've learned on vikane fumigation. Some companies give a warranty now as well. There aren't many companies out there that are experienced in bed bug fumigation with vikane, but a lot more than there was even a year ago. I cannot stress enough that they need to use 3X the rating for termites and that the ounce hours are extended to penetrate eggs. If eggs survive, then you will be dealing with an infestation again.
What I would do is go to Dow's website and call their customer service number with any questions you have about the process. Heck, I would ask them for any reputable companies in your area while you're speaking with them as well. What I did personally, was when speaking with Dow's customer service, I was able to get the name and number of my district manager to assist in finding a reputable company. Whenever I asked the fumigation company a question, he also was asked. In fact he actually did the training for the company I chose. I kept an open communication with all to ensure everything was done properly, no shortcuts. -
spideyjg
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun Nov 23 2008 23:57:17
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A Vikane operator told me Vikane causes food to rapidly decompose. She said a house was Vikaned for Termites and a steak left in the freezer was rotten and stinking when the untented the place.
Follow the instructions to a T.
Jim
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spideyjg
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Posted 12 months ago
Mon Nov 24 2008 2:40:40
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Que?
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paulaw0919
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Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 997
Posted 12 months ago
Mon Nov 24 2008 11:03:56
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Can that post be converted or translated?
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paulaw0919
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Posted 12 months ago
Mon Nov 24 2008 11:28:17
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Hi Chooke2. Glad to help when possible. Canned foods, should be okay, I think, but check with the company. Oh, and I was told by Dow that the mattress covers (even the breathable, bed bug proof ones, need to be removed before fumigation. The gas can get stuck inside and then leak out when you go to sleep on it. (wouldn't want some one not to wake up in the morning) And vinyl baby mattresses cannot be fumigated if you have a little one)for the same reason.
The Kohls idea is good. What we did was prep and bag clothes for the day of the event and they were kept outside until we had to change. I bought cheap flipflops for everyone..those were bagged outside and never brought in the house but put on when leaving for the fumigation.
Anything you buy from Kohls, it may be wise to keep bagged, even in the truck, until you wear them. When you get to your destination, I would shower and change, and bag those worn clothes/shoes.
I think as long as you are vigilant and the fumigation is done properly, you should be fine. It's great that they have a warranty such as that. It's a good sign.
Best of luck and stop in to let us know how it all worked out. -
your host
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Posts: 5,547
Posted 12 months ago
Mon Nov 24 2008 11:54:37
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The French post (formerly above, now removed) appears to be spam. I ran it through google translator to make light work of it, and because machine translations are so much more fun than human ones.
An excerpt:
ADVICES PURCHASE ANNUITY
Could you advise me on the real opportunity of purchase of a lifetime. N having only a small contribution, my friend and I even before the possibility of investing in a life without bouquet but with a relatively high rent. some questions:occupies the value should not be at least 40% (the owner has more 80ans) less than the market value?
Bed bugs are certainly "a life without bouquet," but there was nothing in this post to suggest it related to Mr. Cimex Lectularius.
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