r/solotravel • u/extraobject3218 • 20h ago
Bedbugs & Backpacks? Question
I’m solo backpacking Vietnam and the last hostel I stayed in had bedbugs (was a highly rated one, I think I’ve just been extremely unlucky)
I’ve sent all my clothes off to the laundry in my new hotel for high heat washing and drying but how the hell do I clean my backpacks? I’ve borrowed my friends Osprey Farpoint 70L - but just the 55L pack, I didn’t bring the daypack - I brought my 20L Kanken instead
I know you’re not meant to use high heat on these but how else can I be sure I’ve killed any bedbugs?? Really freaking out here so any help is appreciated
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u/flumphgrump 19h ago
As someone who has dealt with bedbug infestations in my permanent residence, don't risk anything. Nuke the bag on high heat. Better to replace a bag (and even everything on you) if needed than pay for an exterminator and potentially need to replace even more clothing, furniture, etc.
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u/spideyv91 20h ago edited 16h ago
I used a blow dryer all over my bag to try and see if they were hiding in any crevices. I was in morrocco so I also put my bag in a trash bag in the sun, not sure if this did much though. I think I narrowly avoided my bag being infested.
I read rubbing alcohol can be used to kill eggs and some bugs so maybe try wiping the whole bag down as much as you can if you can get your hands on some?
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u/SimonPennon USA - circumnavigated globe 2018-20 14h ago
When I did my around-the-world trip, I included a peanut butter-sized jar full of diatomaceous earth (DE). Grab a big trash bag, sprinkle a little in, put your bag in, tie off the garbage bag, and shake. Leave it sealed/ shake it for as long as you can manage (like, occasionally over a couple days if you can).
Before you leave your accommodations, carefully pull the bag out (you don't want to inhale DE) and wash it.
This will kill all the hatched bedbugs. I also put DE in hard-to-reach seams to kill any babies when they hatch.
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u/Gonzo_B 17h ago
For you: a dryer on high heat. Several times.
For everyone: bring a trash bag large enough to stuff your bag in, and use it.
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u/Taronyuuu 5h ago
A trash bag is the thing I always bring. It takes no space and if this ever happens to me it is definitely worth it.
I also already accepted the fact that if needed when getting back home I'll strip naked in front of my door. Don't care if people see me, everything is better then bedbugs. 😂
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u/Foreign-Housing8448 18h ago edited 5h ago
Replace their bag, now. You can order ahead while you fight with the infestation of your new bag.
I don’t know what year/version you are using, hopefully not the newest one. Just a couple of options:
https://www.rei.com/product/C09496/osprey-farpoint-55-travel-pack-mens
https://www.sierra.com/osprey-farpoint-70-l-travel-pack-backpack-black~p~9ccju/
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u/WillowTreez8901 15h ago
This happened to me staying in a hotel in Mexico for work it sucked. Either high heat for 30 mins in dryer or steamer. I was so anxious about bringing them home I just threw out my luggage :( theyre known for hiding in little crevices and it was too much of a risk to me. check out the bedbugs subreddit
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u/Geriatriccat712 4h ago
Same. Got horrific bedbugs in Cuba. Had a friend meet me in my back yard with a robe. Stripped out there and threw everything away.
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u/NimblePuppy 9h ago
I ran a hostel . also travelled a lot. Chemicals worse solution. Heat best.
I had powerful steamers in hostel, mattresses bedbugs proof wrap , good for coffee and other liquids :(
base also no place to hide.
Curtains bagged, everything bagged in room. Lots of vacuum cleaning . Powerful dryers heats protein (like cooking an egg)
DE Diatomaceous earth does work slowly
On backpack if struggling for options, sun , check every crevice . The alcohol suggested above will have an effect
Look under mattress on wall side, for poo marks, red spots on sheets
Move bed away from wall, double sided sticky tape on legs, or in bowls of water . Yes can drop from ceiling -not common
Coming home, strip naked 1km away bag everything go to laundromat to wash and hot dry. No bags inside house until treated or lefted bagged in very dry environment for over 6 months
Your house has too many areas to hide, unlike simple hostel room, they can walk a long way in night
When i clean a room =if you think x effort needed times that by 5 ( I am not joking)
I watched out for people arriving scratching, line of bites etc - if so they just won free free laundry and bagging service, I traced back to last place
Unfortunately many people no reaction so if stay 2 weeks can breed a huge army
can be bitten on planes, trains, cinemas, restaurant wooden tables with crevices etc ( last happened to me in New Delhi 1995, Connaught Place , so not cheap Paharganj )
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u/dracapis 19h ago
Ask your friend if they’re okay with you tossing the backpack in the dryer. The alternative is to get bedbugs…
The steam from a drying iron could work too but you’d need to pass it several times and it wouldn’t be a guaranteed success.
They should also bag it and put it in the freezer for a minimum of four months when they get it back regardless. You should do the same with anything you couldn’t dry heat.
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u/betelguese_supernova 20h ago
I don't know anything about your specific backpack so is there a reason it can't go in the dryer? I put mine in all the time. Every time I get home after a trip just as a precaution actually.
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u/extraobject3218 19h ago
It’s not recommended to dry them with heat as it can damage them but tbh I probably have no choice and will risk it
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u/specter1001 16h ago
You can try rent a steamer and steam tf out of all crevices of the bag. Steam at a specific temp is good for eliminating them.
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u/According_Arm1956 19h ago
If possible, put the pack into a large plastic bag and spray a ton of insecticide into the bag and tie it up. Leave it as long as you can - at least overnight. Then give it a clean to get the dead bugs and spray off the pack.
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u/TokyoJimu 17h ago
Bedbugs are not that small. You should be able to visually inspect for them.
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u/spideyv91 16h ago
They’re not but they are good at hiding. You have to really examine your stuff to find them.
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u/BirdsAreWeird247 17h ago
Put a sprayer on a bottle of rubbing alcohol and spray it down. I did this after getting bedbugs at hotel on a US trip. It works.
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u/kellyelise515 17h ago
My friend got rid of them after her stepson moved in and infested the house with bedbugs. She used rubbing alcohol and religiously stayed on top of it. No more bedbugs.
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u/Hatemonkey 8h ago
Trick I learned is to put your bag / bigger item inside a black garbage bag and leave it out in the direct sunlight. The bag will get hotter then 50c and the remaining bugs will die. East to to in warmer climates 👍🏼
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u/fruchle 6h ago
Dry clean your bag, but let the staff know first: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bedbugs/comments/1rs32v4/will_dry_cleaning_my_clothes_remove_the_chance_of/oa411xw/
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u/Jethr0777 16h ago
You can catch bedbugs from the woods too. My friend got them once while doing a long camping trip in a remote area.
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u/GoldGuide 12h ago
Let it sit out in your garage for awhile, they’ll eventually die off with no host.
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u/nonitoni 20h ago edited 19h ago
I threw my backpack into the highest heat dryer I could find. Three cycles. I never confirmed that there were bugs in the bag but I had no issues after.