Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bedbugs

Who will take bed buggy furniture?

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:48:22 -0800

Does anyone know a junk removal service in Vancouver, B.C. that will take bed bug infested furniture? Most of it I can get rid of myself in the bin for my building, but I have an old Yamaha organ and a chair that's too heavy to get in there. Suggestions? If you prefer, email me at bedbughell@gmail.com.

Avoiding a bed bugs infestation

grrarrgh00 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:14:13 -0800

I just woke up from a night in my Amsterdam hotel room and realized my bed has bed bugs in it. How do I make dead certain these things don't return with me to the US? Also, what should I expect from the hotel? I've spent the last two nights in a boutique hotel in Amsterdam.

Last night, I came back to my room and relaxed for a while reading on the bed. When I got up, I saw that there were bites down the back of one arm, but I didn't pay much attention; I thought an ant might have gotten into my jacket or something. I slept through the night, but when I woke up, I discovered another bite on my other arm. I suspected something was up, got up immediately, and inspected the sheets. I saw one dead bed bug, and several more live ones crawling around. (Ick.)

I'm downstairs in the lobby now, waiting for the hotel's housekeeping manager to arrive. I imagine I need to get all of my clothes laundered; they were on a seat touching the bed all night. What should I do with my luggage? How do I get into a set of uninfested clothes (I'm currently wearing the outfit I wore last night when I got in)? What other steps can I take?

Also, do you have any tips on interacting with hotel management about this? What should I expect from them? If they offer to launder my things, should I let them?

I had originally planned to transfer to another hotel today (this hotel was covered by the conference I was speaking at; I had previously reserved another room for myself at a place in a different part of town). Should I call them and explain the situation? Is there a chance I could get my things treated well enough today that bringing the infestation with me wouldn't be an issue?

Thanks much for your help with this. These things are so nasty.

Bedbug scare

Anonymous — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:02:51 -0800

How do I avoid bringing the bedbugs into my apartment? I was just on a five hour plane ride and as I was getting up, saw what may have been a bedbug on the leg of the passenger next to me. What do I do to make sure I don't bring those critters in my house? Stripping before I enter my apartment and a shower are already planned. Will washing the clothes I'm wearing do the trick?

I'm not sitting on my couch until I know: can you get bedbugs from a hug?

ruff — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:06:50 -0800

Two minutes after I gave someone a big hug, she mentioned what's been going on for her: trying to figure out if their house is infested with bedbugs. I just got back to my house and -- I am wearing (dry clean only) clothes that I need to wear to a meeting in an hour. I don't have amy other good dressy clothes clean. I could dress down, I suppose.

I'd rather have an annoying afternoon than risk infecting me and my five roommates. That said, I don't want to go overboard.

Should I:
(a) sit on the hardwood floor in these clothes and then (walk?? or okay to drive my car?) to this meeting where I will sit in their conference room chairs?
(b) shower and change and sterilize the clothes? Do I need to, like, boil my long hair?
(c) stop overreacting?

All advice welcome, as I'm googling bedbug info on a handheld while standing in the entranceway trying not to touch any fabrics.

No hitchhikers!

Ohdemah — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:19:22 -0800

I am currently attempting to control a bed bug issue and am moving into a new apartment soon. I need any tips or recommendations to help me ensure that the bugs don't come with me. I've read all the bed bug related threads in AskMe, but there was nothing specifically about moving during a bed bug outbreak. It is pretty much contained to my bedroom now. I am treating the problem with a regiment of steaming, vacuuming and lining the walls with diatomaceous earth, but some are still getting through (Some nights nothing, others between 2 and 5). My mattress and pillow are encased in dust mite covers (but I will throw them out and purchase a new bed and have it delivered to my new place). I figure I'll wash all the clothes I'm taking and deliver them straight to my new apartment, but what about books, appliances and stuff? Is there something I'm missing? Should I just steam everything as I move it? Please help me to get a decent nights sleep for the first time in a long time. Thanks!

Bed bugs on Craigslist?

AaRdVarK — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:21:53 -0800

There's a bed frame I want for a great price on Craigslist. Should I worry about bed bugs? I've been eyeing this bed at Ikea, and I just found someone selling it on Craigslist for a third the price. I was all ready to go pick it up, and mentioned it to some friends who immediately responded with an emphatic "NO." Their concern was bed bugs. I explained that I wasn't getting a mattress, just the frame, but they were insistent that it didn't matter.

I know this is this something I should be concerned about. How concerned should I be though? It's less than a year old and coming from a nice building in the financial district. I'll definitely inspect the apartment and the frame before I make the purchase. Is there anyway I can treat the pieces before bringing them into my apartment to kill anything on them before I bring them in?

I'm some bug's moveable feast

egeanin — Sat, 02 May 2009 10:07:50 -0800

What the heck kind of bug has been biting me?? Sometime in the last 24 hours I've discovered about 12 bug bites (a bunch on my lower legs, three in my groin area, one on my back, a few on my knees) that are itchy as all hell!

The not knowing what caused it is far worse even than the itchiness, so if you could hear out the details and suggest real possibilities for what kind of bug feasted on me, I'd appreciate it. Especially if you have anecdotal experience that matches mine.

1. None of the bites are in a straight line, but some of them are in clusters. I've seen no signs of fleas.
2. I have THOROUGHLY checked my bed for bedbugs, there's no sign of them either on mattress or any linens
3. I have no pets
4. I just moved into an apt with hardwood floors that is very clean, no spiders or dust. All the furniture is clean and in good shape, i.e. we didn't pick up anything off a curb. We did all the moving ourselves, used no hired trucks that could have brought in bugs.
5. It's true I was wearing shorts yesterday, but how would the bugs get up to my groin area?? And the small of my back was covered by a shirt all day. Except--
6. I got a massage at a place I often go, and first noticed the itching sensation about 2 hours later. But I checked online reviews of the place and no one has complained of any bug bites following a massage there. However I did have scented oil on my body for several hours following it, which could have led to attracting bug bites.
7. I did spend some time outside in shorts, but not in high grasses or anything. I didn't sit down in grass or anything, just walked around the neighborhood.
8. My boyfriend has not had any bites, and he shares the apartment with me
9. The bites don't hurt, but they are dime-sized and itchy. I tend to be sensitive to bites.
10. I live in an area that doesn't have a bad mosquito problem, and certainly haven't noticed any flying around.

So was it a spider that roamed all over me while I was outside? Was it some sort of infestation at the Massage place? Are there some sorts of mites or midges that can get under my shorts during the day if they smell scented oil? I don't know how else to check for Bedbugs except the constant looking around the mattress seams, but there's been nothing suspicious there whatsoever.

Thank you for your help!

Please advise! I'm going nuts trying to figure it out. Thanks!

Boston. Bedbugs. Do not want.

sully75 — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:10:07 -0800

I'm moving back to Boston. I hear there is a bedbug epidemic. What can I do to minimize my chances of getting bedbugs? This may be scaring me more than I need to be scared, but I have a friend whose house became invested via their next door neighbors and they may be losing their tenants because of it. Coupled with the This American Life episode from last year, I'd really like this not to be an issue.

My main questions are:
1) are their neighborhoods in Boston where this is a bigger problem than others?
2) Is there a type of building that is less susceptible? My friends have a sort of brownstone...I'm wondering if seperate houses are less likely to have bugs?
3) Is it just stupid now to trash pick furniture? That used to be where all of my furniture came from but now I'm afraid I might get the bugs.
4) Anything I can do when looking at a new place to see what the bedbug chances are?
5) Should I just forget about worrying about it?

who is liable to pay for bedbug treatment?

I like to eat meat — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:50:43 -0800

who's liable for bedbug treatment in san francisco? are we really liable to pay this bill and can we get our deposit back? hello internet. We got bedbugs a few weeks ago, and our landlord treated it after they kept saying no one else in the building complained, and blaming us for bringing them in. they never said anything about us having to pay, but we just got a huge bill for treatment and a letter saying that "the probability someone in your apartment introduced the bedbugs to your apartment is just about 99.9%"

There was nothing about payment discussed or any agreement that we signed agreeing to this, and this bill totally came out of nowhere.

anyone know what our rights here are? Are we legally liable to pay this? If we try to fight this, can they withold our deposit or otherwise get back at us?

Thanks!

Did I pick up a trojan chair?

shaun uh — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:41:29 -0800

Should I be worried that my sidewalk find has bedbugs, and what can I do to protect myself? Or should I just throw it out? I've been wanting a papasan chair for months, but because I'm a cheapskate, I haven't gone out and bought one. So I was excited to discover on my walk home from work a papasan chair frame & mattress sitting out by the trash. After hovering for a while to make sure no one was coming to pick it up and that it was definitely trash, I decided to take it.

However, bed bugs have been a big problem in my area (Cambridge, MA) and now I'm worried about infesting my home. The chair is fairly worn, so maybe it was a rich kid or someone who just doesn't have enough room anymore, but other than that, why else would someone throw out a chair?

I did not take the mattress - only the wood frame, although upon googling, I realize that if one was carrying bugs, the other likely is. The frame is currently sitting out on my back porch until I decide what to do with it, but the weather's been really nasty lately so I'd like to bring it inside ASAP, if I'm going to bring it inside at all.

A few questions:
~ What are the chances that the chair has bedbugs?
~ Is there anything I can do to nuke them, if it does?
~ What would you do in my situation?

stubborn hillocks

nihlton — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:01:52 -0800

possible bed bugs? dermatology question a friend had three bumps on her knee which appeared to be insect bites. they itched like crazy for a week or so. They were pretty abraded due to all the scratching.

she finally stopped scratching them and they healed.. now, almost completely healed, the bumps are returning in the exact same spot. she suspected her last apt had bed bugs so she moved. could these be related?

isn't the bumps returning a bit... odd?

sleep tight and pleeeeaaase don't let the bedbugs bite.

purplefiber — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:49:05 -0800

The upstairs neighbors have bedbugs. My roommate and I really really really don't want them! Are there any preventative measures we can take? Bonus points for non-chemical solutions.

Mysterious rash

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:53:44 -0800

Over the past ten days or so, I've developed a severe rash on my arms and legs. What could it be, and how can I treat it? The rash appears in the form of smallish raised bumps (not always red, but often) clustered mostly around my elbows and kneecaps, but also spreading to the whole outside part of my limbs. The outsides of both arms are especially bad. The itching is not all that bad during the day, but by nighttime I'm scratching constantly. If I rub everything with cortisone cream, it gets a bit better, but only for a few hours. It has gotten noticeably worse since it started last week.

I have psoriasis, but the skin isn't noticeably hardening except on my elbows, and it's always been a fairly mild case. I have no other diseases that I know of. I moved into a new apartment on July 1st, so it could potentially be bedbugs (I live in NYC), but I haven't gotten new (used) furniture since early July. I have been under a lot of stress recently, because I'm essentially working 14 hours a day, but aside from a lack of energy I haven't noticed any other problems. There aren't any other recent lifestyle changes I can think of that could have caused this.

I'm going to the doctor on Monday, most likely. In the meantime, have you ever heard of something like this? I looked up the usual suspects--scabies and bedbugs--but I'm having trouble figuring out why it's only my arms and legs that are affected and nothing else.

I'm an early-20s, sedentary male, average build, shower twice a day.

Could we have bed bugs?

spacefire — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:07:16 -0800

Could we have bed bugs? My wife has a bug bite on her that looks like a bed bug bite. It's two bumps in a red area with splotches of red (possibly from scratching).
It's turning purple.
So, could we have bed bugs? She didn't find any on our mattress, hasn't been bitten since she found this one a couple of days ago, and I wasn't bitten at all...
What else could cause this characteristic type of bite?

Let me mention that we live in Hoboken which is just across the river from NYC which is well known for bed-bugs.

My landlord is a slime bucket and I need to break my lease. What kind of repercussions might I face?

Sloop John B — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:28:31 -0800

My landlord is a slime bucket and I need to break my lease. What kind of repercussions might I face? Over the last year and a half, I've had some problems with my landlord. Leaky roofs, heat and hot water that randomly stop working, mice, roaches, and, most recently, bedbugs. Although it turned out that we didn't have a full-on infestation, the landlord has refused to have the whole building inspected, and I don't trust him to stay on top of the problem. In short, I want to break my lease and leave the apartment. I have a feeling that he'll let me out of the lease, but his security deposit policy is a bit whacked out. His policy is to release the security deposit a full 30 days after you move out. Plus, in order to break my lease, he may try to get me to sign something that would allow him to take my deposit. Basically, he's a slimy, slimy man, and I don't trust him to actually give me my deposit back. What I want to do is move the hell out and tell him to keep my security deposit in lieu of last month's rent. If I do this, what can he do to me? Can he mess up my credit? Can he sue me? Would he sue me? Do I have any recourse, other than spending lots of money on a lawyer?

Thanks for the help.

Possible bedbug infestation

Sloop John B — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:22:37 -0800

I think I just found a bedbug. What should I do? Is there a place I can go in NYC to have a bedbug positively identified? I just found what appears to be an adult bedbug on my bed. I checked my mattress and blankets and such and didn't see any further evidence of infestation. Furthermore, I haven't had any strange bites or anything recently.

I haven't done anything recently that would bring bedbugs in - I haven't brought in any furniture off the street or anything.

Should I be freaking out? Is there a place in NYC that will look at my specimen and tell me if it's a bedbug? How likely is it that I have a full-blown infestation? At this juncture, does it make sense to call the exterminator and go through all the stuff you're supposed to go through to get rid of bedbugs?

ugghhhh... such stress and strain.

Bedbugs and traveling responsibly

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:52:33 -0800

How to responsibly stay at a hotel for a night when I think my home has bedbugs? So, I'm going to visit family this weekend. I don't want to stay with them because I have gotten a few suspicious itchy bumps recently, picked up the mattress and am sure I saw a bedbug. I'm living in NYC in an area where many of the buildings have recently had problems with the bugs (though I'm under the impression most or all of NYC has problems with them right now). I'm not staying at a hotel to avoid my own home or anything like that. I just don't want my lovely family to have to go through what it sounds like can be an agonizing process of extermination.

I want to spare my family. So, I'm planning to stay at a hotel.

I also don't want hapless travelers after me to get bedbugs if I happen to bring one or two along for the ride, and I don't want the hotel to have to deal with the bedbugs either. Family comes first for me, but I want to be responsible to others as well.

1) What can I do myself to minimize the chance of spreading bedbugs to the hotel?

2) Should I notify hotel management? How, and when?

I wouldn't want the hotel somehow suing me for bringing bedbugs down upon them, should they get one from my luggage. I'm going to Syracuse, if it matters, and I don't know how understanding a hotel there would be since I don't know if they are as pervasive a problem up there as down here. It will probably be a place like a Hampton Inn or Fairfield, if how upscale the place is might affect how they will react or how I should broach the topic. I want to believe that I have a minor infestation and that I killed any bugs I did have yesterday when I sprayed the hell out of my mattress, frame, and moldings, but I also know that bedbug sufferers sometimes are in denial about it, so I realize that while I don't want to think I could bring bedbugs with me, I might. Hence the concern about being responsible about it and doing the right thing, while having the necessity stay somewhere upstate for a night.

Thanks for any advice.

What is NYC doing about pests?

Drohan — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:43:08 -0800

[NYCFilter] What steps has NYC taken to deal with vermin? And what isn't it doing that it could? What city initiatives exist to deal with pests in NYC apartments? Like the NYC Rodent Academy? Are there similar initiatives for bedbugs, cockroaches, assorted other vermin? And what are some things the city could/should do that it hasn't to address bug & rodent problems? I heard about some legislation introduced last year to forbid the sale of reconditioned mattresses as a means of preventing bedbugs spreading but I don't know if it ever got passed.

Product that will kill bedbug eggs?

annabellee — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:02:12 -0800

What can I spray on flea market/thrift store furniture to make sure I kill potential bedbugs at all life phases? Can you recommend a product with which I can spray furniture I buy at a flea market that will stay potent long enough to kill any unhatched bedbug eggs that may be lurking in cracks? I'm looking for something that doesn't become ineffective after killing any live bugs, but something that will kill the eggs as well.

(I know buying used furniture is risky re: bedbugs.)

DDT for bed bugs?

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:01:20 -0800

Using DDT for bed bugs? I recently found out that I have bed bugs in my new apartment. Obviously, this is extremely upsetting to me, as I’m a college student and work a lot so I don’t have the seemingly endless amount of time or money needed to get rid of them. I have contacted my landlord about the bed bugs but they are not being very forthcoming about helping me. They say they will only pay for what seems to me to be a crappy exterminator. I’m afraid that this will only make the problem worse.

My parents are seriously upset about this. They want me to move out right away. I keep telling them that that won’t solve anything; it will just spread the problem. They live outside the US, and my mom is coming to visit in a week (she’s not staying with me). She excitedly called me this morning to inform me that she bought DDT which she is planning to smuggle into the states in a shampoo bottle. I’m on the fence about using this… I’ve heard conflicting reports about how bad it really is. I’m mostly worried about the fact that it may cause breast cancer, and that bed bugs may be resistant to it. On the other hand, my first reaction is that I should spray it EVERYWHERE. How bad is it if used responsibly? How do I use it responsibly? I know that I have to dilute it, but how much?

So far, I have built up supplies to treat the problem on my own (caulking material, mattress cover, diatomaceous earth, and bed bug spray that kills on contact) but I’m not sure where I should start, or if I should event attempt to do it on my own. I’ve read bedbugger, but I don’t really have a set plan. I want to use DDT because it has a slow half-life and I’m sure other apartments in my building are infested. If I use it smartly, along with caulking every crack that I can find, I can lower my risk of being reinfested, right? Am I being really irresponsible by doing this?

I’m not sure how bad my bed bug problem is right now, I’ve seen three bugs, and I’ve gotten around 10 bites that I know of. I also can’t isolate my bed as it’s a loft bed.

I know this is long but I just have one more thing to add: I also have a mouse problem. I think there’s only one, but I know that they can act as an auxiliary food source for bed bugs. I want to get rid of it before I start treating, and then caulk up the hole that I think it has been coming from, but my traps weren’t working so I got sticky traps. Again, my landlord was supposed to come but he didn’t (three days and counting). If a mouse gets caught on the trap how do I get rid of it? I’m terrified…

I read the on bed bugs but I want to know if using DDT would even be worth the health risks. I’m afraid I’m being really shortsighted but this is my first apartment ever and I haven’t been able to sleep or eat very well for the past week (midterms+stressful work+ bed bugs+mice=HELL). I feel like I need a set plan so that I can feel like I’m actually doing something to control it, I’ve been avoiding dealing with it for far too long.

I want to nuke the place from orbit and never look back

Gamblor — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:13:36 -0800

How do you combat a bedbug problem with a new baby present? When we first moved into our new apartment one month ago, I killed a small bug that I thought was a young cockroach. Looking back, I'm pretty sure it was a bedbug. About two weeks ago, I woke up with what I thought were a couple of mosquito bites on my hand. Then, the next day, a couple more on my leg. I keep getting one or two a night. I just realized what's going on this morning when I found a single, small black smudge on the side of our box spring. I haven't shared this with my wife yet. She already hates the apartment, hates bugs, and is under enough stress taking care of the baby. She's going to lose her shit over this (and who can blame her?). I need to come up with a concrete plan of attack before I spring this hell on her.

Before this mess, we had already decided to leave the apartment and move out of state to be closer to our family, so I don't really care about long-term eradication. I just want to figure out how to leave with our things clean.

Here's my biggest concern: We have a two month old baby. He's been sleeping with us in the bed (He cries if we put him in his crib). So far, I'm the only one that's been bitten, thankfully, and obviously he's not staying in the bed anymore, but I don't know if it's even possible to spray for the bugs with a baby in the apartment.

This happened as soon as we moved in. I can't believe that the previous tenants never had any problems. I'm furious that they knew about this and didn't say anything. I don't know if the landlord had any prior knowledge, but she'll probably deny it, even if she did.

This is an old building with lots of woodwork and old hardwood floors with lots of crevices. I don't know the degree to which the place is infested, but I know we just moved in, so our bed can't be that bad off yet. We recently purchased a new, king sized bed and I don't want to have to get rid of it, if possible.

-Is it possible to combat a bedbug infestation with a baby in the apartment?
-Who's responsible for the cost of the exterminator and treatment? The tenant? the landlord? What about all the other expenses?
-Can a one bedroom apartment be considered livable while being treated?
-What kind of recourse do I have against the former tenant and/or landlord?
-Is this something you can break your lease over?
-Can you save your bed?
-How do you pack an entire apartment and ensure you don't carry the bugs with you?
-My father is supposed to visit on Monday to see his new grandson. Can he still stay with us?

This is in NYC.

Oh crap! So much for trying to be frugal.

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:51:05 -0800

Can you get bedbugs from thrift store clothes? So I was on the train home tonight from a successful trip to the thrift store when I felt something itchy on my thigh. I looked down and there was a tiny, barely visible orange bug crawling on me. I flicked it off and didn't think much about it until a minute or so later I had another itchy feeling on my arm. I looked and there was a larger, nastier looking, but still orange bug on my arm. Weird, right?

A minute later a lightbulb goes off and I'm wondering if the bugs are coming from my bag of loot from the thrift store.

When I get home, I immediately dispose of the bag outside, strip and wash both my thrift store items (a top and a skirt) and everything I was wearing except for my backpack in hot water and detergent. Then I put myself into a very hot shower and shampoo my hair thoroughly (since I was pulling clothes over it in the dressing room).

I googled bedbug and the picture looks just like what I remember seeing on me on the train.

Questions: How likely is getting bedbugs from thrift store clothing? Assuming it's possible, do you think I'll be okay, given the actions i took immediately after retuning home? And finally, do you think once the clothes are washed and dried it's okay to keep them or is that a really bad idea?

Bed bug bites

jp021272 — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:54:49 -0800

Is there anything that I can do to prevent bed bugs from biting me? We have a bed bug problem in our flat and it is being dealt with by the council. Is there anything in the mean time that I can spray or rub on my body, to prevent the bugs from biting me? I can't find any information anywhere on that. My boyfriend doesn't seem to get bitten, but they love me, and the itching is driving my crazy!

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!

Not another bedbug question

kraigory — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:08:37 -0800

Not another bedbug question: Unidentified bugs in bed, officially not "bedbugs". Can you help me identify them? Okay, so I found a bug scurrying around under the sheets of a bed that is rarely used in an old house that has a history of bug problems. The bed is on the second floor near a wall.

The bug was about a half inch long, very low to the ground and flat. It was a dark grey color. It looked like its eyes were at the end of antennae, and it had lots of antennae, at least two or three at both ends of the body. It also was not very wide- at first I thought it was a really short centipede or something, but it did not appear to have a segmented body.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Could I have bedbugs even though I don't itch?

fermion — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 10:40:42 -0800

Could these small, non-itching red welts be caused by bedbugs? I returned from a trip to New York City about a month ago. Having heard about bedbug problems there, I took precautions--chose a hostel with no reports of bedbugs (and no signs visible when I checked my bed), kept my suitcase in a plastic bag when I wasn't using it. After about two weeks at home with no sign of bugs, I figured I was safe.

A few days ago I noticed a few small red bumps on my skin. I didn't think anything of them for a while, as they don't itch at all. It occurred to me yesterday, however, that I should rule out the possibility of infestation. After doing some research, I've concluded that the bites show some characteristics of bedbug bites, in that they're located mostly on my torso, neck and upper legs, and some of them are in clusters of two or three. Contrariwise, they're small--half a cm in diameter or less--and as mentioned, they're not itchy, painful or irritated in any way. There are perhaps eight or nine bites total.

I don't relish the prospect of going into full scorched-earth bedbug-eviction proceedings without being certain that it's necessary, so I'm hoping AskMe can provide me with more data points on this issue. I've had trouble finding resources on bites that don't itch, since presumably no one is much troubled by them.

As a side question, since any infestation would necessarily be less than three or four weeks old, can I try more moderate tactics before throwing out my mattress and shrinking all my clothes in a hot dryer?