How To Prevent Bed Bugs from Invading Your Home

How to Keep Bed Bugs Away

Bed bugs can be a nightmare. Just thinking about those tiny blood-sucking parasites crawling around your bed is enough to make your skin crawl!

The good news is that with some diligence and preventative measures, you can stop bed bugs from ever gaining access to your cushions in the first place. This article will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to keep those creepy crawlies out of your bed and home for good!

Common Ways Bed Bugs Enter Homes

Bed bugs are master hitchhikers. They spread by latching onto belongings like luggage, movables, clothing, and more. Here are some of the most common ways you can unknowingly bring bed bugs into your house:

  • Used furniture – That cute vintage nightstand you bought may be teeming with bed bug eggs. Always thoroughly inspect and clean used fitments before bringing it inside.
  • Visiting an infected place – Hotels, motels, public transportation, movie theaters and even friend’s houses can harbor bed bugs. The bugs can cling to your clothing and possessions and then infiltrate your home.
  • Secondhand clothing – Buying used clothes is a breeding ground for bed bugs. Carefully wash and inspect all secondhand clothing immediately.
  • International travel – Bed bugs are found all over the world. They can easily live in suitcases and be transported. Be vigilant when traveling internationally.
  • Items under your bed – Stuffed animals, shoes, books and other clutter tucked under the bed furnish excellent hiding place for bed bugs.
  • Shed exoskeletons – Bed bugs shed their exoskeleton five times as they grow. The husks can cling to textiles and persist even after treatment.

As you can see, bed bugs have plenty of opportunities to hitch a ride into your sanctuary. But there are also many ways to thwart them.

How do I keep bed bugs out of my home?

An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure when it comes to avoiding a bed bug situation. You can never completely guarantee that bed bugs won’t get into your house, but you can take proactive steps to minimise the risks.

Tips for Keeping Bed Bugs Out When Traveling

Traveling can quickly expose you to bed bug hot zones. Hostels, trains, buses, cabs and airports can be high-risk places. Take these precautions when traveling:

  • Inspect your room – Pull back the cover, check the bed seams, look behind the headboard, peek under fittings and scan for signs of bed bugs.
  • Keep luggage off the floor – Luggage can pick up bed bugs from an infested room. Place it on a stand, luggage rack or in the bathtub.
  • Vacuum suitcases – Use the brush attachment to vacuum the entire exterior of luggage after your room stay. This removes any clinging bed bugs.
  • Seal belongings in plastic bags – Store clothing, shoes and other items in sealable plastic bags while traveling to prevent bed bugs from getting in.
  • Launder all clothing immediately – Wash clothes in hot water and dry on high heat to kill bed bugs when you get home.

Steps to Take When Returning Home From Trips

Don’t let your guard down once you’ve returned home. Take these steps when you get back from a trip:

  • Unpack directly into the washer/dryer – Don’t place dirty suitcases or clothing around the house. Unpack directly into a washing machine.
  • Wash and dry everything on hot settings – Launder all clothing, stuffed toys, towels and other washables on the hottest settings to kill bed bugs.
  • Vacuum suitcases thoroughly – Give your luggage a good vacuuming before storing it away, ensuring you get into all the cracks and seams.
  • Inspect your belongings – Closely examine all bags, purses, camera equipment and non-washables for indication of bed bugs. Carefully wipe these items down.
  • Seal clothes in plastic bags – Seal freshly laundered clothing into plastic bags until you are confident your home is bed bug free.
  • Isolate and inspect used furnishings – If you’ve purchased used fixtures, keep it quarantined outside or in the garage for a few weeks and inspect closely for bed bugs before moving it in.

Signs You May Already Have Bed Bugs

If you suspect you already have a bed bug infestation, don’t panic! Confirm it is actually bed bugs and then start taking action. Here’s how to inspect for bed bugs:

What to Look For

Bed bugs are sneaky pests but with a trained eye you can notice the marks:

  • Live bugs – The bugs themselves. Bed bugs are flat, oval, reddish-brown and wingless. About the size of an apple seed.
  • Fecal stains – Dark brown or black dots found on pads, bedding and other surfaces. Bed bug poop.
  • Cast off skins – Translucent, empty husks from molting bed bugs.
  • Eggs – Tiny (1mm), white, pearl-like bed bug eggs. Often found in clusters.
  • Bite marks – Red, itchy welts on the body, often in a line or cluster. Some people have no reaction.

Where to Inspect

Bed bugs love cracks, crevices and protected locations. Areas to scrutinise closely include:

  • Tufts, seams and folds of bed and box springs – Especially along the piping or seams which provide convenience for hiding and laying eggs.
  • Bed frames and headboards
  • Under chair and sofa cushions – Carefully remove cushions to inspect all sides, crevices and piping.
  • Inside books, electronics, clocks and phones – Any item on or near the bed is fair game for harboring bed bugs.
  • Under carpets and baseboards
  • Inside luggage, handbags, shoes, coats and other clothing/accessories left on the floor
  • Pictures and decor on walls – Bed bugs sometimes congregate behind wall hangings near beds.
  • Door and window frames

If you do confirm bed bugs, immediately contact a pest management professional. Do not attempt to treat them on your own with over-the-counter products.

Vital Prevention Tips

  • Inspect all used items and furniture before bringing into your house
  • Take precautions when traveling – inspect rooms, limit luggage on floor, bag belongings
  • Unpack carefully – immediately wash clothing, vacuum luggage, isolate items
  • Learn how to identify hint of infestation like fecal spots, derm and bites
  • Focus inspections on beds, appliances and belongings left on floor
  • Consider hiring a pest control professional to apply pesticides if an infestation is found.

FAQ

How long can bed bugs live without feeding?

Bed bugs can survive for several months without feeding. Under cool conditions around 70°F, they can live over a year without a blood meal. This allows them to persist in infested areas even if no one is present.

Can bed bugs come in on library books?

Yes, bed bugs can hitch a ride into your home on library books. To be safe, place books in the freezer for a few days which will kill any bed bugs or eggs. Or inspect thoroughly and clean with a disinfectant wipe before bringing indoors.

Should I buy a protective bed bug mattress cover?

Its encasements are a smart idea, especially if you travel frequently. The covers prevent bed bugs from getting into or out of it. Just be sure the encasement is high quality and completely seals the entire thing.

Can I bring bed bugs back from the movie theater?

Movie theaters can absolutely harbor bed bugs, especially in fabric seats. Inspect your clothing thoroughly after leaving theaters, dinner theaters, buses and other public places. Place exposed clothing into hot dryer immediately upon returning home.

What’s the first sign of bed bugs?

The first evidence is often waking up with strange, itchy red bites, often in a line or cluster. Or you may see blood stains on sheets from crushed bugs. You also may see live insects themselves hiding near seams or piping of pad.

Conclusion

While the thought of bed bugs is creepy, a few preventative measures can help you avoid bringing them into your bed or home. Be vigilant when buying used items or traveling, inspect thoroughly and act quickly at the first infestation. With diligence and the help of a professional exterminator if needed, you can rest easy knowing your home is bed bug free.