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Bed Bugs and a Side Table

post #1 of 8
7/27/12 at 9:39am
Thread Starter 

I wasn't sure if this thread goes under simple and green living, because I am not opposed to using harsh chemicals!

 

N just "won" a side table for her dorm at her place of employment, a nursing home.  She was told confidentially awhile ago that the place had bed bugs in the basement.  I'm not sure if that has been rectified or not.  N works in the dining services--not in the rooms.

 

Anyway, is there a chance that an end table can bring in bed bugs?  Is there a way we should disinfect it before she brings it in the house?  I think for now I'll keep it in the garage until she moves into the dorm.

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post #2 of 8
7/27/12 at 10:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diane View Post

I wasn't sure if this thread goes under simple and green living, because I am not opposed to using harsh chemicals!

 

N just "won" a side table for her dorm at her place of employment, a nursing home.  She was told confidentially awhile ago that the place had bed bugs in the basement.  I'm not sure if that has been rectified or not.  N works in the dining services--not in the rooms.

 

Anyway, is there a chance that an end table can bring in bed bugs?  Is there a way we should disinfect it before she brings it in the house?  I think for now I'll keep it in the garage until she moves into the dorm.

It's possible. If the table has molding, bed bugs could be behind that or hiding in tracks or nooks in drawers/openings. You can see bed bugs, they're little but certainly visible. I'd give the table a thorough cleaning, pulling out any drawers, to make sure there aren't any. If it has molding you could pop that off as well to make sure there aren't any behind it.  

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post #3 of 8
7/27/12 at 10:27am
Thread Starter 

Thanks, that helps. So if I don't see any bugs while cleaning it, we are good to go?

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post #4 of 8
7/27/12 at 11:02am

Just to be sure, you could spray in areas that won't be seen or risk damaging the surface - inside the drawers and on the bottom - then wrap it in plastic (duct tape some garbage bags around it) and store it in the garage where it will get very hot (above 115-degrees F). The combination is recommended for killing any bug that might be in the wood, not just bed bugs.

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post #5 of 8
8/2/12 at 10:28am

Personally hearing so many horror stories about bedbugs, I would not get within 10 feet of that thing if it was even suspected you could bring them into your life.  It can cost you thousands to finally get rid of them.  I would instead have her refuse the side table and buy her an inexpensive one, or have her buy one.  Sorry if that sounded harsh, but you Don't want to mess with bedbugs.  One free item is not worth it IMO.

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post #6 of 8
8/2/12 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormy View Post

Personally hearing so many horror stories about bedbugs, I would not get within 10 feet of that thing if it was even suspected you could bring them into your life.  It can cost you thousands to finally get rid of them.  I would instead have her refuse the side table and buy her an inexpensive one, or have her buy one.  Sorry if that sounded harsh, but you Don't want to mess with bedbugs.  One free item is not worth it IMO.

I agree somewhat with this. If it's not an expensive item, I just personally wouldn't risk it. You can get those things so cheap at Target, etc. Now if it was a really nice one I might try to clean it up and spray it too. Would just depend on what it was to me.
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post #7 of 8
8/2/12 at 11:30am

I wouldn't risk it either. A side table might not even fit in her dorm room!

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post #8 of 8
8/2/12 at 12:13pm
Thread Starter 

Dh inspected it and then bought some bed bug killer spray.  He sprayed it and left it outside in the heat for a couple of days (and sprayed it multiple times).  We have it in the garage.  It's an antique and very nice.  She has a pretty decent size dorm and it will fit--we've already seen it at orientation.  I think it is fine. We just wanted to take some precautions.

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