Ways to Prevent Spreading Bedbugs

[kellyz]

Hi,
I once woke up in a very clean private pension to see the little nymph-staged bedbugs crawling around on my bed with my blood visible in their clearish bodies (and I smashed a few to be sure). I never reacted to the bites. If I had been in an albergue, I would never have known I'd been exposed because I would not have turned on the light when I got up to go to the bathroom.
Like many people, I kept my things inside my pack in various plastic bags. In order to prevent spreading possible hitchhikers, for the rest of the Camino I used one of the large garbage bags to store my bag in while I was in an albergue, and I kept that bag inside its own ziplock bag, along with my liner and sleeping clothes inside my bag during the day.
Since then, I walk with a large, sturdy garbage bag and ziplock bags for this purpose--always covering my pack with the garbage back in the albergue, and then covering the garbage back in the ziplock during the day. I just make the dual assumption that every albergue/pension/etc. has bedbugs and that they do not have bedbugs and really, really do not want them. This is not foolproof, certainly, and it requires that I carry the slightly added weight of clothes just for sleeping. Also, I don't walk with a sleeping bag.
Finally, if you use plastic extensively, I highly recommend quietly taking your bag to the bathroom or hallway before digging into--that is, if others are sleeping--to avoid waking others with the rustling.
I am not opposed to using spray, as well. Does it work to keep them from tagging along? In any case, why not do both?
Kelly

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Does it work to keep them from tagging along?

Permethrin is an insecticide, not a repellent, so, yes, it does keep bedbugs from tagging along by killing them. Should you acquire bed bug eggs, when they hatch, the permethrin will kill them. Heat and cold will kill the eggs as well.

In France the gites are beginning the practice of not allowing pilgrim backpacks into the rooms, and in one case, even prevent the use of sleeping bags by supplying a cotton sleep sack. If you do not like the rule, move on!! Very French.

I have no idea if such measures are effective.

 

[kellyz]

Well, if that's the case then I suppose there was no need for a new thread and I could have just posted about my plastic in the "spray" thread. Sorry for the clutter!

 

[Kanga]

@kellyz your ideas are all good ones. If everyone took the same precautions bedbugs would be much less of a problem.

 

[scruffy1]

I have used Permethrin and I know it works - h-o-w-e-v-e-r the idea of "
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
before I give the bedbugs my soul to keep"
the idea of sleepingfor a month in what amounts to poison is disturbing. Our herbalist/vegan friends have come up with the following:
Bed Bug Spray Recipe
1 Cup Water
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops rosemary essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops essential oil of clove
Place in a fine mist spray bottle, and shake well before using.
I have never tried it, but seems worth a try.
For all things bedbug, photos of the varmints in all stages of their growth, the effects of their chomping, and other repellants, see here:
http://herbalhealthcare-daw.blogspot.co.il/2013/05/bed-bug-repellents.html

 

[suzie]

Thank you scruffy, for the info on bedbugs, I had no idea how to approach these little ones or if they existed on the camino, as first time traveler I will try the spray, dont like the thought of them latching on to me.

 

[kellyz]

@kellyz your ideas are all good ones. If everyone took the same precautions bedbugs would be much less of a problem.

Thanks, Kanga. I worked as a hospitalera, so that may have made me extra conscientious on the issue. Avoiding bites is important for those who react, but we all have to do our part to stop the spread. I sound like a PSA