7 Ways people bring bed bugs to your home

Did you know that one out of every five households has experienced some type of bed bug infestation?

It is a very staggering statistic. It can be very frightening to think that your home might be one of those infested homes.

The instances of bed bug infestations have been on the rise for quite a few years now. Their spread is usually hard to control because they are so hard to detect.

Most people, when they think about bed bugs, only think of finding them in cheap hotels. However, you will be astonished to know that 89 percent of pest control professionals report that the majority of bed bugs are usually found in a single family home.

But another frightening thing about them is that bed bug infestation is not limited to just hotels and single family establishments; they can live absolutely anywhere.

They can quickly spread and thrive in schools, colleges, hospitals, workspaces, dorms, public transportation, private transportation, malls, stadiums, etc.

Basically, they can be found anywhere you might also find a human being.

Though reportedly, the instances of bed bug infestations might be three times as high, they also don’t just dwell urban cities. They are just as prevalent in rural areas. It’s that large population, and compact living spaces are highly contributory factors that help spread more easily.

Thankfully, bed bugs don’t spread any infectious diseases. But doesn’t mean there aren’t health hazards associated with them.

Bed bug infestation has been known to cause severe allergic reaction and hypersensitivity. An anaphylactic shock (from hypersensitivity) can also be life endangering.

Bed bug bit is very itchy. The bitten can’t help but scratch it which, in turn, spreads germs. People who experience bed bug bites regularly also tend to suffer from insomnia due to constant itchiness that won’t let them sleep for the long duration of time.

But the question is, how to enter your home in the first place?

Here are some common ways you might find yourself hosting a bed bug infestation. Hopefully, after reading this, you can effectively make your house bugproof.

1. Hotels

As we mentioned earlier, hotels are some of the most common places to find bed bugs. In fact, hotels are at number three on the list of top most sites treated for bed bugs infestation.

You can take bed bugs with you from hotels by merely walking on dirty carpets, sleeping on dirty sheets or spreading your luggage in an infested space.

2. Luggage

One of the things that make it hard to detect, or eradicate bed begs is that they are very resilient. They can easily survive in any type of environment without feeding for up to five months.

The chances are that bed bugs could be still staying put in luggage you put away way back when you returned from a trip.

Most experts recommend that you disinfect your luggage (and its contents) before you bring it back to the house.

3. Used furniture

It doesn’t matter if you get free used furniture or buy is second hand, there is absolutely no way to guarantee that it won’t come infested with bed bugs.

While some used furniture stores have all the items treated by a professional service, most don’t feel the obligation to do so. And the same goes for people who give used furniture for free.

So next time you might consider getting used furniture, make sure that it bed bug-free bringing it inside the house.

4. Neighbors

It is something that will definitely be out of your hands. But there is a chance that if you live in a place with shared housing, and if your neighbors have bed bugs, then you might be playing host to bed bug infestation too.

Bed bugs can crawl from your neighbor’s place to your place. Or they can even hitch a ride in things you share.

If you suspect your neighbors of having bed bugs, then you can politely ask them to have it looked it before their problem becomes your problem.

 5. Second-hand clothing

Used clothing is an excellent option for people who don’t want to waste a lot of money to diversify their wardrobe. However, they do come with the risk of bed bugs.

It doesn’t mean that you should avoid used clothes altogether. All you have to do is have them thoroughly washed.

If you decide to wash them yourself, then make sure that the water is really hot.

The same rule applies to anything used you get made with fabrics like stuffed toys, bed sheets, curtains, etc.

6. Used household items

If you think bed bugs only cling to clothing or furniture, then you’d be wrong. They can survive in anything you can think of.

They could be lurking within the really old used book you found and you to have. Or they could be hiding within the old blender you got from your mom.

Any dark or hidden crevice within an old appliance can act as their breeding ground.

As a rule of thumb, you should always thoroughly inspect (or have it professionally inspected) before you decide to bring it within your household.

7. Mattress

If you’re moving to a new place, then you might want to consider getting a new mattress. Most experts don’t recommend taking your old mattress with you as it might be already infested with bed bug.

But if you don’t have another option then vacuum it thoroughly, and the pack is, so that is doesn’t pick up any bed bugs during the transportation.

Vacuum the mattress regularly to ensure that it’s always protected from bed bugs.

Final thoughts:

There are so many ways you can accidentally bring in bed bugs within your household. But once you know about them, you can take preventative measures and make your home bug proof.

Another thing you can do is to seek out help from professional bed bug removal services. With their help, you can avoid the nasty health hazards associated with bed bugs and live in a clean and safe space.