Comments on: Useful Stuff

By: Site improvements, new discount on Protect-A-Bed encasements : Got bed bugs? Bedbugger.com

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:39:30 +0000

[...] Shop [...]

By: L. mcCormack

L. mcCormack — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:57:50 +0000

My grandmother’s journals from the Depression era yielded this advice on ridding oneself of bedbugs.
” Horrid bedbugs! For these, burn sulfur in the presence of water. in every room. On no account should any living thing, man or animal be present for the entire day. Upon return what cannot be washed and all food stuffs not sealed in crockery or tins must be washed or burnt or buried according to kind. ”
There is no formula or recipe, so to speak, but perhaps someone out there can find it for us. I’m certain the result is a toxic, likely acidic cloud that kills the bugs and is none too good for anything else either.
I have no idea of the legality or environmental impact of her advice and IN NO WAY do I advocate or even suggest anyone try this. I merely put it forth as an interesting look at how such infestations were handled before the modern era and in the hope that a qualified pest control person may be able to apply the knowledge in a safe and modern method.

Editor’s note: READERS, DO NOT TRY THIS. It is dangerous and you could harm yourself or others, and could be legally liable. Bed bugs can be treated safely and effectively in a number of ways, and I suggest working with qualified professionals who can solve your problem more quickly, more safely, more effectively in most cases.

Note to L. mcCormack, thanks for sharing the story. We have heard of this before, and it is interesting as you state, but there is no reason for people (including professionals) to implement something dangerous like this with much more effective methods available.

I know that you warn people against it, but I also know that desperate people will try almost anything (having heard some horrific things already–including some with tragic consequences), and I implore readers not to experiment with this.

By: hazel

hazel — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:39:36 +0000

Thanks for the usefull information!!

By: Success Stories: Collette and a professional steamer

Success Stories: Collette and a professional steamer — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:13:51 +0000

[...] Shop for useful Stuff [...]

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:46:00 +0000

Added flea traps for people who need to rule out fleas.

By: DeathToBBs

DeathToBBs — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:49:58 +0000

I think Hefty is a better brand than Ziploc. The large Ziploc’s you have to press your fingers together to close and when letting the air out, the ziploc becomes undone. Hefty bags are zippered and easier to close and open. If you are careful enough, then the bags can be used a lotta times. Even thought the Hefty’s have handles, I don’t use them because I find that the bags wear out and break. I carry the bags from the bottom to give them support.

Just a suggestion from experience.

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:18:05 +0000

Thanks Blue_Ox, I crossed out the recommendation above for that product.

By: Blue_Ox

Blue_Ox — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:05:49 +0000

That Dap / Alex Plus caulk I recommended seemed fine at first, but now, about 3-4 months after applying it, it is cracking and shrinking really badly. Maybe there is a higher quality caulk out there that would be better.

By: crawledon

crawledon — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:04:21 +0000

For gaps around heat pipes and radiators you can purchase heat resistant silicone caulking. For those in NYC, I purchased mine at Grand Metro Hardware on Broadway and 96th.

By: bugobsessed

bugobsessed — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 04:51:19 +0000

To fill holes around pipes and such, I purchased “Good Stuff” by Dow. It fills, seals and insulates large gaps around plumbing and HVAC. It’s great! 16oz. can for about $5.50 at Home Depot in the plumbing aisle.