[Noisebridge-discuss] Solving the bedbugs problem at Noisebridge

Wed May 11 00:54:15 UTC 2011

Ok guys, public service announcement.

Last night I went to the space and did a comprehensive furniture inspection
with another person (john m.).  Both of us have had bedbugs in the past and
successfully eradicated them, so we're kind of prequalified for knowing what
to look for (small dark bugs, black spots that mark bedbug excrement,
molts).

We found NO SIGNS OF BEDBUGS WHATSOEVER.  Let me repeat that.

THERE ARE NO BEDBUGS AT NOISEBRIDGE IN THE COUCHES, CHAIRS OR TABLES.  You
no longer need to hide yo kids, wife, or husband.

However, bedbugs are a real problem in urban areas and SF in particular is
having an epidemic.  The bedbug conversation has popped up regularly and I
have no doubt it will continue to do so.  The space is in fact at a
relatively high risk for being a transfer point for infestations due to the
high traffic and volume of new/random people who come through and sit down,
drop their backpacks, etc.  Having upholstered furniture is a big risk;
 bedbugs like to collect in crevices near places where warm bodies occur
regularly.  Also people have this strange habit of bringing random crap in
off the street which might be infested.

There are a few things we can do to minimize the chance that we do get an
infestation:

1. STOP BRINGING CRAP IN OFF THE STREET.  Noisebridge is not your personal
trash removal service.  This goes double for clothes and furniture items.

2.  Be careful about where you put your bag.  Keep it in the cubbies and
away from the furniture.  Inspect yourself before you infect yourself (and
the space).

3.  Get rid of all the couches and chairs, and do not bring any more in.
 Replace them with furniture made specifically for noisebridge.  John is a
DIY furniture maker and he made the big center work table in the woodshop;
he said he'd be willing to consider a furniture class where the class
project is making bedbug-proof couches and chairs for noisebridge to replace
the sketchy random furniture.  I like this idea myself and would take part
in it directly as a student, and at least one more person is already on
board with it.

I can't make it to tonight's meeting but I'm sure you guys will run this
shit into the ground in my absence.  I can provide further pontification
upon request.

On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 2:20 PM, meredith scheff <satiredun at gmail.com> wrote:

> Can the dogs that are often at NB be responsible? Or, conversely, if people
> are just getting bites- are we sure it's not fleas?
>
> On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 12:47 PM, Christine Dibella <
> christinedibella at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Thanks Griffen, this is the best suggestion by far.  I'm from the east
>> coast too and had experience with bedbugs.  I think it is important to
>> immediately notify everyone who visits Noisebridge of the bedbug problem so
>> they can prevent bringing bedbugs back to their home. Noisebridge can
>> collectively deal with the bedbug problem, but it could ruin an individual
>> like me. When i travel I put everything through a dryer in a Laundromat
>> (including shoes*).  I suggest putting a sign on the door immediately, so
>> people can take precautions & if there is a way to bring a dryer in to the
>> space that would also help protect people from bringing bedbugs home.
>> On May 9, 2011, at 1:33 AM, Griffin Boyce wrote:
>>
>> Right now, I'm living in an area of the east coast that is having some
>> sort of bedbug epidemic. Let me just say that it *is* possible to fight and
>> win, but it requires a combination approach and patience.
>>
>> Presuming that NB does have bedbugs, I'd just like to concur with what
>> others have stated:
>>
>> 1) The space should be inspected to see if there ~are~ bedbugs and to get
>> a handle on how big the problem is.  An exterminator is going to be your
>> best bet on this.
>>
>> 2) DIY fogging is not an effective solution for the space.  There are just
>> too many places for them to hide, and many of these places won't be affected
>> much by fogging.  Fogging in this way leads to a months-long cat-and-mouse
>> game with bedbugs that winds up being extremely aggravating for all
>> involved.
>>
>> 3) Couches will likely need to be tossed if they are infested (be sure to
>> wrap them in plastic first, to minimize bedbugs escaping).  If that has to
>> happen, maybe people can bring in non-upholstered chairs as needed?
>>
>> 4) Treating with very cold compressed air, high heat, and alternating
>> both, is probably the best solution for getting rid of them (barring an
>> amazing exterminator solution).
>>
>> 5) The key to treating with high heat is to do it FAST, or they will
>> simply leave the heated area and return once it's cooled.  You can rent
>> equipment that can pull this off.  Caveat: This would be 130F-140F for 2-3
>> hours.
>>
>> Good luck!
>>
>> Griffin
>>
>>
>> On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 2:25 AM, Christine DiBella <
>> christinedibella at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Hi, I haven't actually read this whole discussion, I have some
>>> suggestions and I apologize if I'm repeating anything previously discussed.
>>>
>>> 1. Contact Vector Control for an inspection
>>> http://www.sfdph.org/dph/EH/Vector/default.asp
>>>
>>> 2. the most effective way to treat a bedbug problem is by heating the
>>> area to 115+ degrees for 20min, no chemicals if fact chemicals are often not
>>> effective
>>>
>>> 3. I agree with getting rid of the couches, future couches should have a
>>> frame that would not harbor bedbugs and cushions that could be washed and
>>> put in a dryer.
>>>
>>> 4. Prevention, put pest monitors throughout the space and check regularly
>>>
>>
>>
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>> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
>> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>>
>>
>
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