Bed bugs and Vinted etc

[Rainforests555]

have the bed bug headlines made you think twice about ordering clothes or anything fabric-based from websites or apps like Vinted and eBay ? I was looking at some baby items, but now I’m wondering if it’s not worth the risk !

I hadn’t give it a second thought…until now!

I believe putting items in the freezer for several days can kill them. You could stick items in there (in a clean bag) if you are concerned.

I have over 300 sales on vinted I wouldn't worry about it!

I think you’d be more likely to get scabies than bed bugs. Just make sure you wash everything before you use it.

I buy and sell lots of secondhand clothes and it never really crosses my mind tbh.

Put stuff in the freezer for a week, wash it and you're fine.

I would hope if someone knew they had bed bugs that they wouldn’t then sell their items to another person knowing the impact it could have?!

Never thought about it until this very second

Surely that the same risk as a friend coming for coffee and potentially leaving a bed bug behind.

I've never given it a thought tbh

Given the number of parents who send their children to school with permanent headlice, I wouldn’t put too much faith in other people’s self policing when it comes to bed bugs.

Yeah, I think bedbugs are the next pandemic and we're probably all going to end up with them pretty soon anyway. Hopefully they'll figure out an easier and cheaper way to get rid of them than the current methods. In the meantime I won't be buying secondhand furniture and will think twice about using Vinted/ebay/charity shops also (and will do the freezer thing if I do).

I've become paranoid about them lately. My son is in RAF & up until recently you could take your own bedding. Now he's heard that if you're new going into a base you are not allowed to anymore.
It's certainly made me think about the spread of them.

Yep, even new clothes tbh. I once caught scabies from a new pair of jeans. Now creepy-crawlies have got so resilient, I've been fighting a mild paranoia about unwanted visitors arriving with my purchases!

I'd forgotten about freezing them. Good call, thanks ❄

Freezer, washing, steamer, hoover, throw out bag, repeat. Contemplating investing in some more Indorex and the white earth stuff I can never spell but will have to use those when cats in cattery. We had bed bugs when I was at university 30 odd years ago, the university had to scrap loads of beds and mattresses. This year we've had carpet beetles which were a pig to eradicate. I'm sincerely hoping we don't have to do the same with ruddy bed bugs....

Didn't occur to me until now 😭

Oh thanks for that one OP! 😂

Bed bugs are unlikely to survive in a postal bag for several days and anyway wouldn't you wash it before giving to your DC?

Just a non issue.

As an aside what is the reporting like in the UK that people are so terrified of bed bugs calling them the next pandemic?

I bung all charity shop/Vinted/eBay finds in the freezer as soon as they are in the door. Freeze for 7-10 days depending on freezer space and then wash. Kills bedbugs and moth larvae

Also , please bear in mind that the current bed bug panic has been stoked by Russian troll farms .

Yes, I thought about this about a month ago. I don’t use vinted/buy used but DC does.

TBH I’d rather help them to buy something new anyway because spending £30 on a party dress from Monsoon that doesn’t fit and that you can’t return is a waste of £30. Especially when you can buy the new equivalent for £50 on offer.

Bedbugs has given me the excuse/reason to make that happen.

As an aside what is the reporting like in the UK that people are so terrified of bed bugs calling them the next pandemic? Confused

I haven't heard this at all. I think you need to watch better / more sensible news or have a break from social media.

Me?? I'm going by the responses on this thread.

Obviously nobody wants bed bugs.

Ah well this is a tiny snippet of people who may or may not be based in the UK! 😊

The DM and other fake news sites would have us believe in an infestation invading us from Europe. It suits the anti Europe propaganda and keeps us from noticing the real news.

I'm inclined to agree, certainly not seen anything on the odd occasions I've looked at news website but I do avoid the DM & other similar rags.
I must live in a bubble of ignorance as (aside from watching a pest controller's YT video once showing an absolutely minging infestation of bedbugs) I've never actually seen a bedbug IRL.
I do often use Vinted, mostly for books & household things but have always washed any clothing or soft furnishings before use.