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I have a bedbug problem in my apartment and I want to fix it myself with heat. (I do not want chemicals sprayed around.)

Apparently, getting a room to 140 degrees for two hours is sufficient to kill the bugs, or 130 degrees for a few more hours.

My first thought was to get a space heater for my room (I think the infestation, which is minor and new, is confined to my room, and that's where I'll start at least).

However, I live in Cambodia, where "cold" means 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so I don't think heaters are exactly flying off the shelves here.

My next thought was to put black trashbags over the windows (maybe 3 square meters) to absorb heat (my room gets direct sunlight during the day). Given that my room already gets to at least 100 degrees with the window open (it's the top floor apartment, which gets hot), do you think that trashbags + closed windows + closed door would be sufficient to heat it to at least 130?

If not, what cheap electronics could I buy here that would emit enough heat to tip the scales? I know my desktop computer with the graphics card running used to pump out a bunch of heat, but obviously I want to get something more economical... Perhaps some powerful halogen lights? Candles under overturned clay pots? Would a hairdryer work, or would it turn off? Rice cooker filled with water?

The good news is that the bugs have nowhere to run to, as the room is really well sealed. Also, it's heating up to 97 this week.

Any other thoughts on how to heat the already-hot room?

Edit

There is almost nothing in the room. Just the heavy, wooden bedframe, mattress, and a small bedside table. No carpets- all tile. Oh, and an armoire made from thin, cheap wood.

Also, turns out that bedbugs die at 113 degrees for 90 minutes (source: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/bb-heat1.pdf). Which is why professionals heat it to 140, to ensure the heat gets everywhere. So I'm just looking for about 20 extra degrees.

Another question- will my room get hotter with black trashbags over the closed windows, or without?

Daniel Griscom
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will_durant
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3 Answers3

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The bigger issue is that if there are bedbugs in your apartment, the whole building is probably infested.

Your best bet is probably to isolate yourself from the bedbugs and set a CO2 bedbug trap. Look into finding a new apartment.

Tyler Durden
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I dont think you will be able to effectively heat the room to 140 deg. The main problem is Insulation.

Escaped heat: Your room is probably not insulated for the cold (as much as some other climates). so internally heating your room may require a large amount of source heat since much will escape.

Insulation from Room Components: items such as beds, wall cracks, under carpets, under cupboards. will naturally insulate. so you would not need to get the room to 140, you would need to get to a temperature much higher to ensure that the minimum heat is 140. That means that you would probably melt or set fire to some things in your room.

I would rather try to use localised steam to heat up specific things, one at a time thats the only way you could "cook" the critters. Do you have access to a steamer?

I tried to answer the direct question about getting a room to that temperature safely, and cannot think of any ideas..

Hightower
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The black garbage bags are a good idea, but wrong usage. Put everything you can't clean in the garbage bags and put them in the sun outside. The bedbugs will die or scurry away looking for shade.

There's more to getting rid of bedbugs than just this. It's really very simple, get a toothpick and go around the apartment. Anywhere the toothpick fits, check, clean, and seal.

brian
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