[Noisebridge-discuss] Solving the bedbugs problem at Noisebridge

Wed May 11 01:17:25 UTC 2011

I commit to helping kill the existing upholstered furniture and replace 
it all with home-built Betta ones.  I will do work and put money up for 
this.  John PLEASE TEACH US HOW TO MAKE FURNITURE!!!

Rachel

On 5/10/11 5:54 PM, Christina Olson wrote:
> 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
> <mailto: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 <mailto: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
>>         <mailto: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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>
>     --
>
>     Ladycartoonist.com <http://Ladycartoonist.com>
>
>     ___________
>
>     A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion,
>     butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet,
>     balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take
>     orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze
>     a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal,
>     fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
>
>     -Robert A. Heinlein
>
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