Silk liners can't take hot dryer? What do if bed bugs?

rainswift · Apr 24, 2024

So I have heard common wisdom is to bring a silk liner for your Camino (+/- a sleeping bag depending on your preference and season).

Specifically regarding silk liners, all of the ones I've found say not to dry them on high heat as they may shrink. Many say wash cold and line dry.

Even my quilt's care instructions actually say to dry on no-heat setting as it may melt the fabric used, and it's a synthetic quilt!

... should I be looking for a synthetic liner +/- sleeping bag that can take the heat of a 45C/113F dryer? I know I can use a freezer for 72+ hours as well but there's no chance of that on the Camino....

I didn't realize I couldn't dry this quilt or I wouldn't have bought it... :/

trecile · Apr 24, 2024

I have dried my silk sleep sack on high heat as bed bug treatment. The key is to do it while it's dry. Shrinkage is more likely to occur when you put wet fabric into a hot dryer. To kill bed bugs all you need to do is to dry on high heat for about half an hour. If you want to wash the item afterwards do so according to manufacturer directions.

The necessary temperature to kill bugs and eggs is about 60°C.

Synthetics are more likely to melt than natural fiber fabrics.

rainswift · Apr 24, 2024

trecile said:
I have dried my silk sleep sack on high heat as bed bug treatment. The key is to do it while it's dry. Shrinkage is more likely to occur when you put wet fabric into a hot dryer. To kill bed bugs all you need to do is to dry on high heat for about half an hour. If you want to wash the item afterwards do so according to manufacturer directions.

The necessary temperature to kill bugs and eggs is about 60°C.

Synthetics are more likely to melt than natural fiber fabrics.

Thanks, I was basing 45C on that pinned thread in Equipment about de-bedbugging gear post Camino.

Guess I'm going to find a dry-able quilt now. At least I can use this quilt for backpacking.

trecile · Apr 24, 2024

rainswift said:
Thanks, I was basing 45C on that pinned thread in Equipment about de-bedbugging gear post Camino.

45C should kill the bugs - I'm not sure about the eggs though.

J Willhaus · Apr 24, 2024

I put my silk liner in the dryer without a problem. I also put my down sleeping bag in the dryer. As @trecile says, the key is to dry it first as that is what kills the bedbugs. You can wash it and hang it on the line after if you feel it needs to be washed.

Joe.Iozzi · Apr 24, 2024

I got bedfbugs on the Norte in 2017 and ran my silk liner and all other gear through a commercial dryer for 90 minutes at the highest heat setting. Killed the bugs without damaging my pack or other items as far as I could see. I'm still using the sleep sack and most of the other things seven years later.

Arctic_Alex · Apr 24, 2024

If you have some time, stuff it in a plastic bag and put it in a freezer for 3-4 days at -20°C ... does the job and would not destroy any fabric, shoes or whatever.

domigee · Apr 24, 2024

Joe.Iozzi said:
I got bedfbugs on the Norte in 2017 and ran my silk liner and all other gear through a commercial dryer for 90 minutes at the highest heat setting. Killed the bugs without damaging my pack or other items as far as I could see. I'm still using the sleep sack and most of the other things seven years later.

I did the same and no harm done. I wouldn’t have dreamt of putting all my stuff through a commercial dryer normally but it was more important to get rid of the critters!!! It was all ok, nothing damaged.
If at home and if you have a chest freezer, then put your things in there for a few days. Not practical on the camino though

CanadianBarb · Apr 25, 2024

trecile said:
I have dried my silk sleep sack on high heat as bed bug treatment. The key is to do it while it's dry. Shrinkage is more likely to occur when you put wet fabric into a hot dryer. To kill bed bugs all you need to do is to dry on high heat for about half an hour. If you want to wash the item afterwards do so according to manufacturer directions.

The necessary temperature to kill bugs and eggs is about 60°C.

Synthetics are more likely to melt than natural fiber fabrics.

And that is also true for our merino wool items. I was scared to do this but found no shrinkage when my merino clothing was DRY ( also getting rid of bed bugs)

darealdeal77 · Apr 25, 2024

Hello all, I know many people do not like to talk about chemicals, but I stand by the use of Permethrin if one follows its instructions and regulations properly. I have been hiking, and camping for over 30 years, and Permethrin has been the best invention yet. I spray my clothes, my shoes, my backpacks, my sleeping bags, bed liners, all equipment except underwear, even my socks get sprayed. I have never had a physical or mental issue while using this product. I used it in 2014 when I did my Camino, and in Tick infested locations on the Appalachian Trail, and No bites!!! Again Permethrin is a spray that can only be sprayed outside in a well ventilated area, and the clothes or equipment need to be completely dried before bringing it back in the house or touching it. After it dries it has no smell, and the product last on the clothes a long while as long as when washed is air dried, and away from full sun. I’m not a product representative, just speaking out of experience. Hope this helps! Buen Camino

Becky 59 · Apr 25, 2024

Arctic_Alex said:
If you have some time, stuff it in a plastic bag and put it in a freezer for 3-4 days at -20°C ... does the job and would not destroy any fabric, shoes or whatever.

A professional exterminator tried 4 days at -40 degrees, and the bugs revived after they warmed up. Freezing apparently doesn’t work as well as we would like.

rainswift · Apr 25, 2024

I pulled out an old outdoor blanket that can be dried and will take that on my Camino instead. A little heavier but I guess it's worth the peace of mind that I could dry it if needed.

@darealdeal77 I'll be spraying my stuff with permethrin too, but permethrin doesn't kill bedbugs instantly - they have to contact it and then after 1-2 hours they die, is my understanding.

C clearly · Apr 25, 2024

Becky 59 said:
A professional exterminator tried 4 days at -40 degrees, and the bugs revived after they warmed up.

Can you provide any more information or a source for this? Was it a published study, or someone you know? That is a very low temperature, not something available to most of us, anyway.

beliperegrina · Apr 25, 2024

I painted silk scarves for years. The colour is fixed with steam, i.e. at more than 100 °C. Since then, I no longer worry about washing silk in hot water

Keith H · Apr 25, 2024

trecile said:
I have dried my silk sleep sack on high heat as bed bug treatment. The key is to do it while it's dry. Shrinkage is more likely to occur when you put wet fabric into a hot dryer. To kill bed bugs all you need to do is to dry on high heat for about half an hour. If you want to wash the item afterwards do so according to manufacturer directions.

The necessary temperature to kill bugs and eggs is about 60°C.

Synthetics are more likely to melt than natural fiber fabrics.

This is 100% the right answer. I ran my silk liner through a hot drier as often as possible along with my ‘sleep set’ (usually every day) with no issues. With my backpack in a plastic bag and sealed and everything else in closed dry bags the only thing that could get bed bugs was the stuff I was sleeping in. Every morning I put all my sleeping gear inside its dry bag and sealed it. When I got to the albergue I would put those items in the drier dry including the dry bag (that’s like saying dry 5 times fast) to ensure anything on them was killed. Was it overkill? Probably. But it gave me peace of mind and I never was bitten despite seeing bed bugs 3 times right at the end of the Camino.

darealdeal77 · Apr 25, 2024

rainswift said:
I pulled out an old outdoor blanket that can be dried and will take that on my Camino instead. A little heavier but I guess it's worth the peace of mind that I could dry it if needed.

@darealdeal77 I'll be spraying my stuff with permethrin too, but permethrin doesn't kill bedbugs instantly - they have to contact it and then after 1-2 hours they die, is my understanding.

The idea is not to get them near you! I don’t know if it kills them or not! I know that some insects die immediately on contact of Permethrin, but the repelling of the bugs is most important! I know we did not get bothered by any bugs on the Camino!

C clearly · Apr 25, 2024

darealdeal77 said:
the repelling of the bugs is most important!

But permethrin is sold as an insecticide, not as a repellent.

trecile · Apr 25, 2024

darealdeal77 said:
The idea is not to get them near you! I don’t know if it kills them or not! I know that some insects die immediately on contact of Permethrin, but the repelling of the bugs is most important!

Permethrin doesn't repel them or kill them on contact. I have been bitten while inside my permethrin treated silk sleep sack. I use the permethrin because it does kill them over time because I don't want to be the pilgrim who is transporting bed bugs from albergue to albergue.

anoldfireman · Apr 25, 2024

trecile said:
I have dried my silk sleep sack on high heat as bed bug treatment. The key is to do it while it's dry. Shrinkage is more likely to occur when you put wet fabric into a hot dryer. To kill bed bugs all you need to do is to dry on high heat for about half an hour. If you want to wash the item afterwards do so according to manufacturer directions.

The necessary temperature to kill bugs and eggs is about 60°C.

Synthetics are more likely to melt than natural fiber fabrics.

I second this excellent answer

Charles Ross · Apr 25, 2024

A silk liner is not an insulated piece of cloth. Can't you just take it outside and shake it out?

trecile · Apr 25, 2024

Charles Ross said:
A silk liner is not an insulated piece of cloth. Can't you just take it outside and shake it out?

I think that the only issue would be if there were eggs left behind that are quite small.

trecile · Apr 25, 2024

Here's an excellent post from @davebugg about prevention and treatment of bed bugs. Note that he says that you can use a lower temperature, but it will take longer. Also that permethrin is a repellent for some insects (but not bed bugs)

davebugg said:
As a Pilgrim, what if you suspect, or learn about a bedbug exposure (bites, or seeing evidence of bedbugs) within a communal sleeping area? If possible, try to treat yourself, your gear, and clothing before continuing on to your next destination. You do not want to accidentally drag the critters to your next Albergue or casa rural, hotel, etc.

Try to be discreet with your concerns. Quietly inform the lodging staff about what you suspect.

Contain all your belongings in your backpack.

Locate a dryer which can reach above 130F/55c. Although adult bedbugs, nymphs, and eggs are killed at temperatures above 115f/46.2c., the lower the temperature, the longer the treatment time will take.

You do not need to do a washing cycle. It does not kill off an infestation.

If you have an hour, put all soft gear (backpack, sleeping bag, etc.) and clothing into the dryer and run it for 60 minutes at 115f/46.2c or above. This will be the most gentle on fabrics.

To shorten treatment, run the dryer at 135f/57.22c for 20 minutes.

When your clothing has been treated, you may wish to change out of the clothing you are wearing, bag and seal it up, and then keep that bag sealed until you can dry heat treat those clothes.

Ranja · Apr 25, 2024

CanadianBarb said:
And that is also true for our merino wool items. I was scared to do this but found no shrinkage when my merino clothing was DRY ( also getting rid of bed bugs)

Thank you!

RRat · Apr 26, 2024

rainswift said:
So I have heard common wisdom is to bring a silk liner for your Camino (+/- a sleeping bag depending on your preference and season).

Specifically regarding silk liners, all of the ones I've found say not to dry them on high heat as they may shrink. Many say wash cold and line dry.

Even my quilt's care instructions actually say to dry on no-heat setting as it may melt the fabric used, and it's a synthetic quilt!

... should I be looking for a synthetic liner +/- sleeping bag that can take the heat of a 45C/113F dryer? I know I can use a freezer for 72+ hours as well but there's no chance of that on the Camino....

I didn't realize I couldn't dry this quilt or I wouldn't have bought it... :/

Common wisdom on line is the use of a silk liner. But on two Caminos, both SJPDP to Santiago, around 30+ days, Apr/May and Sep/Oct, can't ever recall seeing a silk liner on a bunk. Every bunk had a sleeping bag. My sleeping bag was a $30 bag purchased online. Held up for two Caminos and wouldn't hesitate to use it again.

PhilB · Apr 26, 2024

I have been advised to carry a thermolite fleece liner as I’m walking Norte in high summer and better as an anti bed bug product. Is this true?

C clearly · Apr 26, 2024

Did whoever advised you give a reason? I can't imagine why that type of liner would be any different from another. Your head is still exposed and there is a big opening at the top for you and the bedbugs to climb in.

Some type of sleeping bag or liner is good for general hygiene, though.

peregrina2000 · 2024-05-17T08:59:39+0200

I have just boarded an Iberia flight to Madrid, and so far have seen two people come on with collapsed poles attached to their backpacks. The topic that never dies……

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Silk liners can't take hot dryer? What do if bed bugs?

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