Many people wonder how bed bugs get spread from room to room, house to house.
Can someone who has bed bugs bring them to your house? Definitely! There are many cases of hosts reporting bedbugs in their homes after hosting guests or parties. It is quite challenging to detect if you have bed bugs since they like to hide in dark places.
It is therefore essential to know:
- The potential ways people can bring bed bugs to your home
- How to control the situation if your home gets affected
- How to prevent guests from bringing them
This review gives insight into these critical factors that ensure you enjoy full sleep.
Can Someone Who Has Bed Bugs Bring Them To Your House?Â
Guests visiting your home can possibly bring bed bugs without realizing that they are doing it. Here are some potential ways these little vampires gain entry into your home.Â
1. Through Clothing
Clothes offer the easiest ways for bed bugs to spread to our homes. These pests are likely to hide in dark areas, and once visitor makes themselves comfortable on your couch, they begin to hide in the furniture and spread to other spaces.Â
Studies show that close contact with guests provides a channel for the bugs to settle in your garments. For instance, hugging visitors and maintaining close contact for a long time increases the chances of bed bugs hitching a ride on your pants.Â
Studies show that close contact with guests provides a channel for the bugs to settle in your garments.
The most common areas these pests hide in are shoes and socks. This is because these areas are often dark, creating the ideal environment.
2. Second-Hand Furniture
Yard sales are a common event in most communities, and what most people don’t know is that used furniture and other goods can spread bed bugs. For instance, one gets a used bed infested with these bugs.
The mattress is the ideal medium for spreading these pests to your space, which is why used mattress sales are usually prohibited. But if you’re infested, just getting rid of the mattress isn’t enough!
3. Luggage
Bedbugs and their eggs can quickly move into your home through a guest’s luggage, particularly if you’ve been in a hotel or AirBnB. Some other ways and mediums that can lead to a bedbug infestation in your home include used books, curtains, vacuums, phones, and radios.Â
How To Prevent Guests From Bringing Bed Bugs
There are two categories to consider, short-term and overnight guests. It is easier to prevent the spread from short-term guests, and there’s no need to discuss the topic with them. You can;
- Use slipcovers to cover the furniture that they will spend time on. After their visit, it is best to throw them into the washing machine immediately. Â
- Request your visitors to take their shoes off and leave them outside or in a designated area.Â
- Wash and dry your clothes or any clothing gifts that they brought immediately after they leave.
- Don’t forget to dispose of the gift packaging correctly.Â
Overnight guests stay a little longer than others, and a few tips to manage overnight guests are:
- Place or store their luggage in containers with lids, off the ground on a luggage standÂ
- Clear out one closet to allow your guests to hang their clothing only.Â
- Cover furniture using slipcovers, and don’t forget to wash them after their stay.Â
How To Control Bedbug Infestation
If you’ve determined that your home or bed is a bedbug hub, the following are some ideal ways to control these bugs to prevent further spread;
1. Wash Everything With Hot Water
Once you’ve determined the prominent breeding spot of these pests, get your washing machine going — on hot! Bed bugs cannot survive the heat of a hot washer and dryer, so one step toward eradication is to turn up the heat.
2. Vacuum and Clean
After hosting guests, vacuuming the floor and furniture can help get rid of the pests. The good thing about vacuum cleaners is that they are versatile and work best on mattresses, boxes, and other surfaces.
Ensure that you properly dispose of them to prevent them from returning.Â
3. Professional Assistance
The best way to control bedbugs is to seek professional advice. The reality is that bed bugs are a challenging foe, and you will need help. It will take a while before your home is in the clear.
Experts in the field conduct careful and comprehensive examinations to determine the extent of the infestation.
After that, they recommend ideal control measures such as using pesticides and other special equipment.Â
The best way to control bedbugs is to seek professional advice. The reality is that bed bugs are a challenging foe, and you will need help. It will take a while before your home is in the clear.
Conclusion
Bedbugs are a menace to any household, and your guests can unknowingly bring them to your space. It is crucial to understand how to effectively control and prevent these unwanted visitors before they spread further.
Contact a professional if you suspect an infestation. Remember, you can bring them over to other people’s homes, too!
