Sleeping question

[johan.steenkamp]

I read a thread about soaking a fitted sheet in10% of insect poison and using that to prevent bedbugs
The question I have is do you then sleep on the sheet or do you need to put some thing over the bed to sleep on

 

[freeflyer123]

Hi, the following link is the one you want to read about the possibility of being 'harassed' by bed bugs:
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/bed-bugs-2013/ - you will find it on this forum along with other great links to learn all about how to avoid these unwelcome critters.

I also am hesitant to spray things either on the bedding I carry or on myself, but we do need to take some precautions, so it's good to get some ideas on what to do. I have a silk sleeping bag (a sleeping liner really, but it will be hot when we start on the Camino so should suffice). Have an excellent trip and don't let the stories of being bitten along the way put you off - there are ways around it.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The permethrin wash or spray method has been approved in the U.S. for humans by the FDA, for whatever that is worth. I treat my stuff. I have seen bed bug carcasses in three places in spring before the bug season in France. I have not been bitten or seen a live bug.

 

[SuGardner]

We purchased Bed Bug Guard Sheets and Pillow cases treated with Permethrin from a company called Purple Turtle in the UK. (http://www.purpleturtle.co.uk)

They are extremely lightweight and come in a tight compressed little ditty bag.

We will plan to put these down and then sleep in our sleeping bags on top of them.

Apparently, if any little bed bug comes in contact, they will die before getting to us!

Hoping to sleep tight,
Susan

 

[dfitzg773]

I purchased a twin (bunk) sized fitted sheet and very light weight top sheeet and a pillow case and spayed them (along with my backpack) with permethrin before I left. It worked great. I did not have any trouble with bedbugs while I ran across many who did at the same place I stayed.

I walked in September-Octoberr 2012 and did not bring a sleeping bag, just the sheets. I used the blankets provided by the albergues but always had the top sheeet folded over the blanket.

Dan
danscaminotravels.workdpress.com

 

[jennifermcinnes]

I used permethrin treated silk sheet that I made in twin size and sewed elastic on corners to tie to the bedposts. Also sprayed my pack, etc. People were being bitten around me, even in next cot and I never had a bite. This was in 2010 and I doubt the bugs have changed. I am walking again in May/June 2014 and will spray all my equipment again.

 

[Mark M]

Hi, the following link is the one you want to read about the possibility of being 'harassed' by bed bugs:
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/bed-bugs-2013/ - you will find it on this forum along with other great links to learn all about how to avoid these unwelcome critters.

I also am hesitant to spray things either on the bedding I carry or on myself, but we do need to take some precautions, so it's good to get some ideas on what to do. I have a silk sleeping bag (a sleeping liner really, but it will be hot when we start on the Camino so should suffice). Have an excellent trip and don't let the stories of being bitten along the way put you off - there are ways around it.

I gather silk liners repel bed bugs? Do you know if indeed this is true?

With thanks

 

[Annie Little]

I am planning to soak my sheets in red wine… and hope for the best .. sorry I am NOT making light of the subject

 

[freeflyer123]

I gather silk liners repel bed bugs? Do you know if indeed this is true?

With thanks

To be honest, I don't know whether silk liners actually work, but then, we never did come across any bed bugs (and we were there in July, so at the height of the season) - although one place we almost stayed at looked a bit suspect, and we were glad it was full. I believe the hostels are taking the bed bug problem seriously these days and try their hardest to ensure they don't get "visitors" any in their beds. You can buy bug spray anywhere in Spain. You keep your things in a cupboard provided for the purpose, and never leave anything under the bed or, indeed, on the floor. There are washing machines at most, if not all, of the albergues, so you can always put everything in on a hottish wash if you think you've come across any of the little critters.

Also, as an added precaution, I lined our panniers (in your case, if you are walking, it would be your backpac) with large plastic bags so that when we were out in the hot sun, if there were any bugs hitching a ride they wouldn't have lasted long in there!

 

[Mark M]

I am planning to soak my sheets in red wine… and hope for the best .. sorry I am NOT making light of the subject

And excellent strategy. Thank you for suggesting.

 

[Annie Little]

Mark I can see I am going to meet like minded friends on the Camino

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I gather silk liners repel bed bugs? Do you know if indeed this is true?

In a word, "no." If you treat it with permethrin, you will get the best protection possible.

You can buy bug spray anywhere in Spain.

I have never found permethrin for treating equipment in Spain (it is in all the tourist offices of France). Are you talking about household insect spray? While household spray may work for killing bed bugs that you can see, there are few that get them where they live. It takes fairly extensive pest control treatment to remove an infestation of bed bugs. If the spray cans you can find in supermercados worked well, no one would have bed bugs in Spain! And it is toxic...

 

[wayfarer]

I gather silk liners repel bed bugs? Do you know if indeed this is true?

With thanks

Not so much repel them but the close weave is supposed to prevent them coming through the liner but they can get at you in other ways, eg. if you have your arms outside or if you sleep on top of the liner because of the heat, There is no 100% solution other than be as careful as you can, treat your gear and hope for the best.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

if you have your arms outside

Exposed flesh is almost the exclusive danger for getting bit. Head, shoulders, arms, hands, and feet are the prime candidates for bites when they are outside your sleeping bag/sack. Bites on covered flesh usually are from bed bugs that started on exposed flesh and moved up the limb! When pilgrims report that they had no problem with bed bugs even during high bed bug season, I suspect it is because they sleep completely inside their sleeping bag. DEET is somewhat effective against bed bugs, so if you are going to hang out a foot, you can get some protection by using DEET. I personally wash in the morning the areas I covered with DEET at night. I don't like using it all day unless I absolutely need to!

Bed bugs are small, but not small enough to crawl through any fabric. Silk and nylon give the bugs an excellent toe hold! So does cotton.

 

[jennifermcinnes]

I used silk bed cover (light weight) treated with permethrin and never had a problem.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Joe and I bought sheer curtains at a charity shop (Goodwill) and soaked them in permethrin. They weighed almost nothing.

You would lay the bedbug sheet on the bed, then put your sleeping bag on top.

If you are not a person who is allergic to chemicals, you could spray your sleeping bag (outside) with permethrin. Not a good thing to do for a lifetime, but for 6 weeks, I doubt it would hurt you.