Books Are Treatable—It Just Takes Time Heat can successfully eliminate bed bug
You can put your books in sealed plastic bags and get them for 3 days in the freezer, that will kill any bedbug or egg. Alternatively you can simply examine them individually to make sure that there is no bedbug or egg in it.
An appropriate heat treatment will in no way damage the books. That way would be to separate the books, heat the air to 120-150 and hold it there until the heat could penetrate the books sufficiently for the temperature used.
Did you know that you can use your microwave to kill bugs? It's true. This really works, and it is so easy to do. Please note that some books may have moisture in them. Microwaves heat moisture, so the book may get very hot. This may damage the book and even melt the plastic from the heat.
If you spot a bed bug, seal the book in a plastic bag and give that professional backup a call. They'll be able to inspect other areas of your home where bed bugs may have migrated and help with complete removal.
Heat can successfully eliminate bed bug infestations in many places chemicals cannot reach, such as between the sheets of a closed book. If we can successfully heat the interior of a 12' long 4"x12" wooden beam to 140°F, we can raise the temperature within a closed book to levels lethal to insects.
Do You Need to Throw Away Your Bedding or Furniture? You shouldn't have to throw away any of your possessions during a bed bug infestation. Everything can be salvaged with proper treatment in place.
It is important to note that the time required to kill bed bugs with cold is significantly longer than with heat. Carefully wrap items and put them in a plastic bag. Seal the bag and put the items in a household freezer. Leave the items in the freezer for 4 days.
Don't sleep on another bed or the sofa. Bed bugs may follow making it much more difficult to get rid of them. Don't try to kill bed bugs by using agricultural or garden pesticides or other unregistered products. Using pesticide products to kill bed bugs that are labeled for outdoor use can make humans very sick.
The books were frozen for seven days, thawed within their sealed boxes for six days, and frozen again for seven days. Freezing is a typical method used by museums to kill pest and insects. “Freezing is preferable to heat in this case, as heat can accelerate the aging of books and paper,” Lamson said.
During the heating process, temperatures will be from 120 degrees to 140 degrees. These are lethal temperatures to bed bug populations but not hot enough to damage most things; however, a few items will need to be removed or prepared.
How Long Will They Stay in the Book? Bed bugs can stay in books for a long time because they can survive for months without food. They usually go out to find a host, but they will go dormant if the conditions are not favourable for them.
Using Heat Treatment Innovatively
These creatures can't live in temperatures beyond 120°F, and you can use this to your advantage. For the smaller household items like books, you can actually use a portable bed bug heater. Put your things inside, set the correct temperature and allow it to do its job.
Temperature That Kills Bed Bugs
Adult bed bugs die at 119 degrees Fahrenheit, and their heat-resistant eggs require temperatures upwards of 125 degrees. Some infested objects can be safely baked in the oven at these temperatures for three to five hours to get rid of the pests.
If there is evidence of active insects, one method is to wrap your items in plastic and place in the freezer for a couple of weeks. Oxygen deprivation and cold temperatures will kill the bugs. However, not all types of insects will be affected. Inspect the area where the book was stored.
Encase mattresses and box springs in protective plastic covers. Vacuum frequently, especially in areas near where you sleep. Cut down on clutter in your home, which will eliminate some hiding places for bed bugs. If you live in an apartment or other shared housing, try to close off your unit.
There are no specific blood types which bed bugs are attracted to, but there are instances where the pests will sometimes feed on one person in a bed and not the other. This could very well be an example of blood type playing a part in what bed bugs are attracted to.
Pesticides: ProZap or Nuvan strip. Place the item in a large Zip Lock bag with at least 2 inches around the book. Stand the book and the treatment strip in an upright position. Leave sealed for 5 to 7 days.
Some infested items can be microwaved to destroy bed bugs.
Temperatures over 120 degrees Fahrenheit will kill a bed bug if that bug is exposed to those temperatures for about an hour. It is perfectly safe to put books in the oven so long as you keep the temperature below about 400 degrees.
Bed bugs and their eggs can survive the vacuuming process and crawl back out of the vacuum and vacuum bag. ✓Store the vacuum in a sealed plastic bag. Some bed bugs or eggs may get stuck in the suction hose and crawl back out.
Most times, clothing, bedding and furniture from a home with a bed bug problem can be treated and do not need to be thrown away. If you decide to dispose of items, they should be carefully sealed in a plastic bag or container first so the bed bugs don't spread.