Fixit: Ensure that you won't let the bedbugs bite

Q Next month, my daughter will be returning from a study and travel-abroad program sponsored by her college. I know that she stayed with friends, and in hostels and low-cost hotels in various locations. After hearing some of her stories, I'm afraid she's going to come back with bedbugs in her luggage and backpack. Is there a way to prevent that from happening?

A Outside the sing-song greeting "Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite," most Minnesotans have no experience with bedbugs. The insect -- which indeed bites and takes blood meals while people sleep or are at rest -- has only recently resurfaced here after decades of respite from infestations.

To prevent them from hitching a ride home, the University of Minnesota Extension suggests that you first understand the creatures. Bedbugs are oval, flattened, brown and wingless insects approximately ¼ to 3/8 inch long. (They look like wood ticks.) After the bug has taken a blood meal, its color will change from brown to purplish-red. Also after feeding, it is larger and more cigar-shaped, making it appear like a different insect.

Young bedbugs are much smaller (1/16 inch when they first hatch) and nearly colorless except after feeding, but resemble the adult in general shape. After feeding, bedbugs deposit fecal spots (composed of digested blood). It's described as looking like a scattering of pepper.

To prevent bringing bedbugs home:

• Your daughter can confirm that bedbugs are present by carefully inspecting her goods, paying attention to cracks, crevices, seams and folds of material. Remember that bedbugs can be very tiny and young; unfed bugs may be mostly translucent. If she finds bugs, then she'll have to be careful to contain the infestation. If she does not find bugs, but still is suspicious, the following steps will provide peace of mind that she does not bring them home.

• Bedbugs can hitch a ride on people's clothing, but they are not like lice and will not travel directly on a person. If there's concern about bedbugs on clothing, remove suspect articles and place these items in a plastic bag. It would be preferable to remove clothing in a place with a non-carpeted floor, so bedbugs will have to travel some distance before finding a hiding spot. A wet cloth wiped over the floor will help contain any bedbugs that attempt to escape.

• There's no need to discard all luggage and clothing after discovering bedbugs. Instead, place all items suspected of carrying bedbugs in plastic bags until the items can be laundered, washed by hand, heated or frozen.

• Before leaving an infested site, sort items that can be laundered and place them in plastic bags. Separate them as you wash them: light-colored clothes from dark items; delicate hand-washable items from machine-washable items, etc. Separating the clothing permits easy loading of the washing machine and you can avoid escaping bedbugs as you try to sort the laundry at home.

• When washing, set the washer and dryer for the hottest setting that the fabric can withstand. If you need to use a dry cleaning service, mention to them that the items may have bedbugs so they can keep the articles in the plastic bags until just before loading into the machines.

• Suitcases and other items that cannot be placed into a washing machine should be carefully inspected, and if bedbugs are found (or you are not sure) place them into plastic bags, as well. Suitcases may be hand-washed. If hand-washing any items, use soapy water and the hottest water possible. Test the item to make sure it will not be affected by the hot water. Aim for a temperature of 100 to 120 degrees. Use a scrub brush along the seams and folds.

• Items that cannot be washed can be heated or frozen, making sure that the core of the articles being treated reach the target temperature. It's believed that a two-hour core exposure at 120 degrees is the minimum target temperature for killing them with heat. For freezing, a minimum of 23 degrees must be maintained for at least five days. (Most household freezers have temperatures varying between 20 and 30 degrees. If you're uncertain of the freezer temperatures, keep items frozen for at least two weeks.)

• If you are still concerned about bedbugs in your home, contact a professional pest control company for inspection and control measures.

Includes information from Stephen Kells and Jeff Hahn, Entomology Department, University of Minnesota.

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-9033, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.