One pest that is sure to make your skin crawl is the bed bug. These pests require blood meals to survive and unfortunately, their favorite treat is a human. Knowing how bed bugs enter your home can help you prevent an infestation. Check out a few reasons why bed bugs could be in your house.
Traveling
Bed bugs love to gather in areas where they have access to their food source. This is why hotels are a great option for them. Bed bugs can crawl into luggage, purses, and clothing. When you head home at the end of your trip, the bed bugs travel with you.
Neighbors with Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are also common in apartments and dorm rooms at colleges. These tiny pests can easily travel between walls. If your neighbor is dealing with bed bugs, there’s a chance they’ll slip into your space too. This is also true when someone visits your house that has a bed bug infestation.
Furniture
Second-hand furniture can be a great addition to your home. Unfortunately, bed bugs can hide on pieces of furniture. When you carry an infested item into your house, bed bugs can spread throughout your home. Even new pieces of furniture can be infested if they were stored in a place with bed bugs.
Visiting a Place with Bed Bugs
Some public places could be housing bed bugs. The upholstered seats in public transportation, like buses and planes, can be a hiding spot for these pests. While it’s less common to get bed bugs from these locations, it’s still possible.
Tips to Prevent Bed Bugs
Though bed bugs like to travel with you, it doesn’t mean you need to welcome them into your home. Check out a few tips for keeping bed bugs out of your house.
- Travel Safely: Before settling into your hotel room, examine the area for signs of bed bugs. Check the sheets, mattress, and furniture. Avoid placing your suitcase on the floor or bed. If you suspect bed bugs, be sure to let a hotel employee know and don’t stay in the room or an adjacent one.
- Wash Your Clothes: After travelling, wash your clothing as soon as possible. Using a high heat setting when drying clothes will help to kill any hidden bed bugs.
- Inspect Furniture: Before bringing furniture into your home, examine it for signs of bed bugs. This will help to ensure you don’t carry these pests into your house.
- Use an Insecticide Dust: Applying a dust, like our Bed Bug Killer dust, can help to get rid of these bloodsuckers. It can be used on mattresses, furniture, baseboards, and other cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide.
The thought of bed bugs in your home is unnerving, but if you know where these pests come from, you can help prevent them from invading. If bed bugs or other pests have taken over your home, we’re here to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution.