Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Reader questions (do not fit into other categories)
What DON'T we need to bag/discard?
(4 posts)-
shockedshocked
newbite
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 4
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Aug 24 2008 21:33:14
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Do we need to bag or discard literally everything in the apartment? (We've gotten bitten in all 3 rooms.) Are there any ordinary household items that bedbugs WOULD NOT be in? Or might they be in among, say, our pots and pans? Cleaning supplies? Lids of vitamin jars?
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I'm really surprised no one answered this.
I've had the odd PCO I've spoken to say not to worry about some toiletries (makeup, etc.) of mine. I'd wipe down/spray bottles and such with rubbing alcohol and wash my brushes, but otherwise kept some makeup safe in ziplocs, and some out in my bathroom. Did anyone ever find something in a lipstick or mascara? Are these to be worried about?
What about kitchenware? We were told not to move anything in the kitchen. For a bit, I treated it as a bit of a safe zone, where I could charge my phone, etc. Why WOULD bed bugs be in our pots and pans and plates? I suppose they can be washed, but is a standard washing enough? What about all those random kitchen gadgets?
What about medication? People sometimes have to bring these bottles with them. Do you have to hope your insurance company will issue you a new prescription because your pill bottle resides close to your bed, and now it's infested and can't leave the house?
I'd love to actually hear these seemingly random but I think important questions answered...
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Emmm,
Since the original poster has not logged on in 9 months, they're unlikely to see this.
If they were, my answer would be that people's circumstances vary greatly.
Some questions: what kind of treatment are you getting? Who's doing it?
Are you moving? Or merely fighting bed bugs in one place?The answers affect everything.
Some PCOs require you to toss out specific things (beds/sofas) and others will treat them. (I have to say I prefer the latter. If someone has a general policy of NOT tossing things, but says to toss something, that's a different story.) Discarding items makes it likely a neighbor will take the item home and reinfest the building. And if it is not necessary, well, what a waste.
In addition, theories vary on bagging. Some PCOs tell people to bag everything. I wrote a FAQ about things you should consider when you do this, and what you should ask the PCO.
You post, Emm, seems to be asking what to take/discard when you MOVE, and that's yet another story. If money permits and the possibility exists, then having thermal or vikane treatment of a truck is a good idea.
Pills and some other items can't be vikane gassed; other items (which will melt) can't be treated with thermal. If you're going to move these, you need to do a careful visual inspection and/or treat using another method. (Pills sealed in a bottle should not be infested. You can inspect the outside of the bottle.)
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Yes, for me it's about moving, primarily toiletries and such. But I just found it interesting this was never addressed, period, even if it was from 9 months ago. There are so many things not addressed that might wind up being fine, but one continually sees "get rid of everything you own" on here instead. I'm a makeup junkie, for example. I've divested a lot already and would gladly get rid of it all if push came to shove, but was told not to worry about it-- by two PCOs. Is that reasonable? Or should it fall under "get rid of it" instead?
I'm not currently undergoing treatment. We've not seen anything since treatment and have had a dog in with an all clear, but I am moving things from vapona'd bags into clean bags for moving. I worry about that, but am treating what I can, etc. So for me, it's interesting to note if there are things considered not worth worrying about or not. But maybe for others it'd be valuable information as well.
And I'm not new around here-- I've heard the Vikane BS. But like many bed bug sufferers, we don't have that apparent god-send. I know it's highly recommended and that's fab, but I can't help but get annoyed when it's given as first suggestion. :P
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