How to treat(clean sanatize etc) cosplay Wigs,when you have a Bedbug Infestation?

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  • This is one topic,I'm sure noone has covered yet,

    I'm in a situation,My house is being sprayed,for bed bugs,pretty soon,and I have no clue how to treat (clean santaize) my wigs during this situation

  • sorry to hear that, bedbugs suck

    if its anything like lice treaments the chemicals go inert after a time
    after which you should be able to wash your items with the normal methods
    for that item

    but id get a second opinion about that

    i know that things like bedding or food contact surfaces its a "wash it and youll be fine"
    type deal
    but im not certain for something thats in such contact as a wig
    or the materials properties

  • First, check thoroughly for any signs of bedbugs. If they have any signs, throw them out. Sorry, but bedbugs really is a "Your entire life is gone" situation they're so hard to remove (On top of multiple sprays there's absolutely nutso amounts of vacuuming on a daily basis into every last crack and cranny of your house and furniture, throwing out an enormous amount of items like books, LPs and papers if they can't be treated chemically or with heat and having to keep doing followups...). If they seem clean, wash them thorougly, then seal them WELL in plastic (NO holes or spaces, sealed off with multiple layers of waterproof tape) and leave them be for a very long time, in the warmest area they can tolerate before damage. Wigs can't tolerate a lot of the heat-treatment methods that will kill bedbugs on things like paper and clothes, and bedbugs live a LONG time (the reason they're so nasty- they can just go into a hibernation state for several months if there's nobody to feed off of, especially in a cold room). It takes roughly an entire year sealed and unable to get any food whatsoever unless they're kept constantly at at least 85F- which reduces it to about two months if there were no reproducing bedbugs in it- before they'll be dead for certain. I suggest the same for any cosplays you can't wash and dry and steam-iron on high heat.
    Also- if you're going to travel to conventions, GET A NEW SUITCASE and keep it OUT of the house (and if you can't keep it right out, unpack the items outside and seal it in plastic before you bring it indoors until you're sure the infestation is over). Do not even BOTHER saving the old one. The hotel will thank you.

  • Thanks for the help

  • I had to deal with a bed bug infestation myself.
    After doing too much googling, I found out that on a hot summer day, in a car, after 3 days all of the bed bugs, in any life stage, are killed. I have used this many times. Even when i was being eaten alive, I never found a single bed bug in my car.

    I took all of my cosplay stuff, especially the delicate pieces that I could not wash in a machine, and left them in my car in the hot sun for a week. After that I gently hand washed the things I wanted to keep and let them air dry, like I would any other time.

    Even though the bed bug situation sucks, I used it as an opportunity to clean out my closet of things and cosplays that I would not wear again, and not worth saving or selling.