Preventing bed bugs

[Irulan]

It looks like college son has just discovered them in his apt that he shares with some other guys. Aside from the fun of dealing with that end of it, any suggestions on how to prevent transferrence when he gets home? He's due here in a few days. He usually travels with a duffel and a backpack/computer bag.

I figure I would have him leave his bags in the garage, have him put all his stuff in the washer direct from the garage, and shower right away. The info I read says that humans do not transmit, "stuff" does.

Has anyone dealt with this? Also, tips on helping him get rid of it from afar? They just found them, and he hasn't heard back from the landlord yet.

thanks for any real world advice.

[pll]

Yikes. There is this Q&A from the University of Minnesota:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...ing/M1196.html

[jyyanks]

Bed Bugs are rampant in NYC. We actually had some in my office building (yuck!). In fact, the city has a whole booklet dedicated to the little buggers. This little booklet has alot of info on bed bugs, and how to find/treat an infestation.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/download...-bug-guide.pdf

They are hard to kill and literally the only thing that kills them is extreme heat or extreme cold. Putting any items that were exposed in the washer won't kill bed bugs, but putting the exposed items in the dryer on high heat will. Another option is to put the items in a bag and leave them out in the bitter cold though the dryer is faster.

Remove everything and seal all items in a plastic bag to reduce the bed bugs from spreading. Vaccum everything (including wood) and get rid of the vacuum bag outside. Good Luck and I'm sorry you and your son have to deal with this.

[Jolt]

Some good advice already, I just wanted to say YUCK!!!

[tangentgirl]

Act 2 of this episode of This American Life has me forever scared of bedbugs: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radi.../fear-of-sleep

[Biciclista]

I am terrified of them too. After reading tons of personal anecdotes (i was obsessed in 2003 when my sons saw some in the youth hostel they stayed at in Rome)
I am terrified of getting them because they are so stealthy and hard to get rid of... argh

good luck. Don't let your son bring too much home.

[channlluv]

DD and I picked up bedbugs on a cross-country drive a couple of years ago. They're hellatious to try to get rid of. We've found that steam works, though. We bought a steamer and we steam all of our baseboards, beds, bedframes, living room furniture, and so on, every couple of months to catch any new hatchings.

90% Isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle will kill them on contact, too, but it takes a dousing to get the job done, and if you have any breathing problems at all, you might have trouble with this process.

I vote not letting your son bring anything home with him. Have him wear whatever he has at home. Home wardrobe, school wardrobe, and you might gift him with a small steamer machine to take back to school with him.

Roxy

[pll]

I vote not letting your son bring anything home with him. Have him wear whatever he has at home. Home wardrobe, school wardrobe, and you might gift him with a small steamer machine to take back to school with him.

Roxy

This sounds like a splendid idea, even if it requires a shopping trip.

[Koronin]

DD and I picked up bedbugs on a cross-country drive a couple of years ago. They're hellatious to try to get rid of. We've found that steam works, though. We bought a steamer and we steam all of our baseboards, beds, bedframes, living room furniture, and so on, every couple of months to catch any new hatchings.

90% Isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle will kill them on contact, too, but it takes a dousing to get the job done, and if you have any breathing problems at all, you might have trouble with this process.

I vote not letting your son bring anything home with him. Have him wear whatever he has at home. Home wardrobe, school wardrobe, and you might gift him with a small steamer machine to take back to school with him.

Roxy

I also vote for this idea.