Kilts in storage due to bedbugs

[Whidbey78]

I had an infestation years ago when I was stationed in San Diego. I never figured out where they came from either. We found them a few months after I returned from deployment, so I had a bug problem and unwittingly brought in some illegal aliens. I finally gave in and had an exterminator come in and eradicate the little suckers. It wasn't cheap, but it was worth it.

[Jay]

Believe me, I have researched this high and low.


The little buggers can be quite resiliant. Yes cold kills them, but only if it's colder than -25C. Less than that and they merely hibernate, unless it flash freezing, so home based freezers are out.

Heat kills them too, but only when you can get to them. I have found that fabric steamers are doing a tremendous job of killing the beasties in the couch. I have steamed it every night for a week, but I should note that there was no visible trace after the first treatment.

My fear is if these buggers have made it into the walls. When that happens you can be fighting them for 6 months or more.

Bright side is, a heat of 55C will kill them. So if they are still around come July, I will close all the windows in the house, turn up the heat and maybe run some portable electric heaters too. Get every single room up to that temp and all should be killed off.