Bed bugs on photographs - how to deal

[Gloree]

Hello, Everyone.
Can bed bugs attach themselves to photo albums and to loose photos? If so, can I put the photos in the dryer or will it ruin them? Thanks!

----
Admin message:
To identify and get rid of bedbugs, consult our professional guide.

[Chuck]

Bed bugs have small claws, so are able to grab / attach themselves to a variety of surfaces. There is a limit; for example, I've never seen one climb glass. But certainly they can cling to photo albums and loose photos.

You can put the photos in the dryer. Depending on the period since it was last run, there is likely to be a lower level of humidity in the dryer than in the surrounding air, thus would then draw moisture from the photos, which in general is good.

Use caution turning on the dryer though.

If you hear "whump whump whump" that's kinetic energy being transferred to the dryer. Assuming you have a traditional drum dryer, as the drum rotates it increases the potential kinetic energy in the photos. Eventually Newton's Law of gravity overcomes centrifugal force and friction, and the photos will head for sea level. When they meet the drum of the dryer the potential energy becomes kinetic energy which is transferred to the dryer.

Meanwhile, the dryer imparts thermal energy to the photos.

For both the kinetic energy and thermal energy, potentially undesirable outcomes may occur. You'd have to know the type of photos (e.g., tin types, Polaroid Instant, on Kodachrome, or injet on copy paper) as well be able to calculate the kinetic energy and thermal energy generated by the dryer, most of which can be calculated from technical specifications found in the user's manual.

Are you in California or NYC?

[Gloree]

Wow. That is scientific!!!! My mom passed away in California. Her apartment manager is going to send her photos to me in Michigan. She had mentioned that she had bed bugs. That's why I'm asking. Thanks for your answer by the way.

[livingplanet3]

Hello, Everyone.
Can bed bugs attach themselves to photo albums and to loose photos? If so, can I put the photos in the dryer or will it ruin them? Thanks!

Probably the best and safest option for killing bed bugs on small items, especially things that would be damaged or destroyed by heat, would be to seal them up in plastic bags and put them in a freezer for at least several days -

https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/bed-bug-con ... s/freezing

[Symberry]

I always put mine in small coin envelopes with labels and store them upright in a plastic box. Keeps them flat, safe, and easy to flip through when I need something.

[adamcotton]

Probably the best and safest option for killing bed bugs on small items, especially things that would be damaged or destroyed by heat, would be to seal them up in plastic bags and put them in a freezer for at least several days -

https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/bed-bug-con ... s/freezing

Note that if you freeze the photos in a sealed container (plastic box or bag) you must place the whole package in the room WITHOUT OPENING for 24 hours so the temperature will equalise. If you open the package straight out of the freezer the cold photos will become wet from condensation (water vapour in the air) and will likely be ruined.

I suspect that actually there will be no bed bugs on the photos, normally they will stay in or near the bed. There may possibly be other insects such as Psocids (book lice) but it is highly unlikely that bed bugs will be present on most of your mother's belongings. Sorry to hear of your loss.

Adam.