Beds Bug detected, Heat treatment decided.. next step?

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Xellos2099

Platinum Member
Mar 8, 2005
2,277
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Long story short, bed bugs been detected at the townhouse and we are currently decide on how to deal with the issue. We decided on heat treatment, but the question is, how much stuff can be in the house while the heat treatment is going on and what can survive the heat. I have game collection as well as blu ray/dvd. Do I inspect them for bed bugs and put them away from heat or can they survive the treatment? I know i am suppose to leave computer there but unplugged but how video game console?

Another issue, my mother have a lot of clothing in her room and walk in closet and she worry they will made the treatment not as effective. Does she need to wash them/dry them twice and store them away or can she leave her clothing in her room during the treatment?
 
Scarpozzi

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
I'm not sure what kind of heat treatment you're using or how hot the heat can get. Consumer electronics are going to be subject to damage above temps specified in their operation manuals. Typically, they aren't meant to exceed temps of 120-140 degrees. Cheaper plastics and glues can melt or get soft at temps above 180-200 degrees, but it all depends on what we're talking about.

I know steam treatments can sometimes be used to take care of bed bugs...but of course, that would be 200+ degrees... In short bursts, it may not be a problem. Just be aware that if steam is used, it can damage some electronics.
 
T

T9D

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
5,320
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Wash everything. Put it in plastic. Put mattress in a zippable plastic cover. Put some coasters under the bed feet, and put some borax on them. Or make a water barrier under the bed feet.

If you own the house put in hard floors instead of carpet.

I've never had them but for some reason I was curious and was reading about them. Sound like nasty things really hard to get rid of. But those things help.
 
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Xellos2099

Platinum Member
Mar 8, 2005
2,277
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Well, according to the paper, the temperature will be between 125-140. I don't think we are using steam since they said the process will take 8 hours.
 
mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
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Heat treatment, eh?
U1bgRGC.gif
 
Miramonti

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,651
100
91
Keep in mind this could be a symptom of a larger building issue. Include all vents and entries, etc., and it wouldn't hurt to notify others in the building that bed bugs were found on your floor (ie an anonymous note near the mailboxes?) and see if others have complaints as well, in case it's necessary to take it to the building mgmt.
 
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uclaLabrat

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2007
5,623
3,025
136
AznAnarchy99 said:
Fuck that, poison them out.
Click to expand...
Heat is probably more effective, most pesticides don't really touch them, though we did have two separate treatments when we had them in NYC and that took care of them. We only ever found two in our apartment, and i don't think I ever got bit, but my wife was fairly well freaked out.
 
twinrider1

twinrider1

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2003
4,096
64
91
Nice timing. My neighbor just had his house heat treated today. He moved his dvd collection out of the house, didn't want anything warping. I think he has to leave them out in the garage for a period of time. Pets (he has dogs, birds, a cat, and a toad), out of the house obviously.
His is a freestanding house. I think anything with shared walls would be an additional concern.

I don't think you have to pre wash anything. As long as the whole place gets up to the proper temp, the critters and their eggs will die.

The man and his crew seemed very thorough. I saw him talking to him for at least an hour the day before. And they were there a full day today.

I think he travels to different states. I can get you his contact info if you're interested.
 
Iron Woode

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,149
12,665
136
I went through this in the spring.

They sprayed my place/furniture/bed and frame and there hasn't been another bed bug since.

I also used diatomaceous earth after the treatment.
 
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Xellos2099

Platinum Member
Mar 8, 2005
2,277
13
81
Finally some useful info. So just shake the dvd/blu ray to made sure no bug on in it and just store it away for the time being? How about stuff like computer/ gaming console? I KNOW I have to store my pvc figure away as well. The remain concerning is my mom's clothing. She worry when there is a stack of them temp might not get high enough in the middle.
 
J

jumpncrash

Senior member
Feb 11, 2010
555
1
81
Xellos2099 said:
Finally some useful info. So just shake the dvd/blu ray to made sure no bug on in it and just store it away for the time being? How about stuff like computer/ gaming console? I KNOW I have to store my pvc figure away as well. The remain concerning is my mom's clothing. She worry when there is a stack of them temp might not get high enough in the middle.
Click to expand...

yeah I'd definitely make sure everything gets up to temp as much as possible
 
Hugo Drax

Hugo Drax

Diamond Member
Nov 20, 2011
5,647
47
91
See if a friend working at a hospital can lend you a Cobalt-60 gamma source.

You aim it in the vicinity of the bed bug pull the shutter up to let the gamma radiation out toward the infestations and it should clear them out real quick.

Make sure you stand behind the lead box holding the source, with the shutter/aperture pointing away from you.
 
CrackRabbit

CrackRabbit

Lifer
Mar 30, 2001
16,642
62
91
Hugo Drax said:
See if a friend working at a hospital can lend you a Cobalt-60 gamma source.

You aim it in the vicinity of the bed bug pull the shutter up to let the gamma radiation out toward the infestations and it should clear them out real quick.

Make sure you stand behind the lead box holding the source, with the shutter/aperture pointing away from you.
Click to expand...

I don't know about you, but I don't want to know what type of superpowers I would get from being bitten by an irradiated bed bug. Just sayin'.
 
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Xellos2099

Platinum Member
Mar 8, 2005
2,277
13
81
OK back to serious question. Any suggestion how to deal with a lot of clothing for heat treatment? As in is there any special method to ensure heat get in?
 
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dn7309

Senior member
Dec 5, 2012
469
0
76
my friend burned her mattress and bed frame. If you got a metal frame just spray bleach that shit.
 
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