Locating bed bugs is as difficult as eradicating them. They are elusive pests compared to others because they only emerge from hiding to drink blood when people are asleep. Despite their name, they don’t only hang out in beds!
Do bed bugs live in curtains?
Yes, bed bugs can live in curtains, particularly those located near a bed. But curtains aren’t their top choice.
What do we know about where bed bugs like to hide?
- You are likely to find bugs in clothing, beds, dirty laundry, furniture, carpets, and rugs.
- Curtains can harbor bed bugs as well.Â
- They reach curtains by crawling on curtains touching the ground, or climbing walls.Â
Curtains, however, are not where bed bugs prefer to live. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about bed bugs, curtains, and their living habits.
Do Bed Bugs Live in Curtains? Where Do Bed Bugs Live?
Because they are nocturnal insects, bed bugs only emerge at night or when a room is dark. That is because they perform poorly in bright light, are elusive, and always stay away from open regions that could reveal their presence.
Warm, hidden spaces like beds, sofas, and other soft furnishings are where they love to live. Any dwelling, including apartments, hotels, private homes, hostels, lodges, army barracks, and stores, is susceptible to bedbug infestations.
Why Are Your Curtains Infested With Bed Bugs?
There’s a high possibility that you have a severe infestation if bed bugs are hiding in your curtains. They typically prefer to live in fixed settings close to people in order to access blood easily.
Therefore, beds, chairs, cracks in the walls and floorboards, and rugs are their ideal places to live.
However, as the bed bug population grows, it spreads into new areas. Some may climb up from the base of the curtain to live inside the cloth because they are excellent climbers. They occasionally will reside inside the curtain rod.
Is It Common to Find Bed Bugs on Curtains?
Bed bugs will infest curtains, particularly if close to any area where bugs are already present. Most curtains comprise fiber, making it simple for bugs to live there.
Also, bed bugs lay eggs and stay longer as you remain close to the curtains.
Can Bed Bugs Live on Curtain Rods?
Although curtain rods are far from these pests hosts, it is possible to find bed bugs on them if there are many in or around your curtains.
However, bed bugs cannot live where the rod’s material is aluminum or any other smooth surface. If your rod’s material is that which bed bugs can walk on, like wood, they can infest there quickly.Â
In such an instance, you’ll observe these bugs between the rod and the top ends of your curtains.
How to Remove Bed Bugs From Your Curtains
Dealing with a bed bug infestation is a nightmare, and it will take over your life. You won’t know where to sleep, and you be terrified of spreading your infestation to your friends simply by visiting them.
Eliminating them requires a comprehensive strategy, and most likely some professional help.
If you’ve got bed bugs infesting your curtains, it may be easiest to just toss them if they’re not custom or expensive. Sometimes it’s easier that way.
Dealing with a bed bug infestation is a nightmare, and it will take over your life.
But if they are custom, or costly, here are some tips on ridding them of bed bugs.
1. Inspect the Curtains
Make sure that there is a bed bug infestation on your curtains before taking action. Examine the fabric in great detail, giving special attention to the edges.
2. Seal the Infested Curtains and Store them Separately
Once you spot a few bed bugs, you know you are dealing with an infestation. Remove the curtain and seal it in an airtight bag. That will guarantee that bed bugs don’t get out and infest other areas.
3. Clean the Curtains
Clean the fabric in hot water or under high temperatures. A washing machine will be key in doing this. But first, open the sealed bag and insert the curtain into the machine.
Then, put that plastic bag inside another bag, seal it, and trash it. Include a label that says “bed bug-infested!”
Proceed to wash the fabric at a high temperature (above 118°F.) All bed bugs die by combining the heat from the washing chamber, the detergent’s poisoning effect, and the water’s drowning effect.
Wash the fabric at a high temperature.
4. Spray the Rod with a Pesticide before Installing the Clean Curtains
Perform a final check to ensure there are no bed bugs after removing the curtain. You can then spray a pesticide and put the curtain back in place. Ensure the curtain doesn’t contact the floor, so new bed bugs don’t creep up.
Other Preventive Measures To Eliminate Bed Bugs
A bed bug infestation must be dealt with holistically, and it takes a lot of work and time. You can’t just clean your curtains and be done. You need to remove all the bed bugs from your home.
Most likely, you’ll need to hire a professional to help. It’s a lot.
Wash all household textiles, including curtains, in hot water or under high temperatures before drying them.
The curtains might be easier to treat when hanging, so don’t remove them unless the exterminator instructs you to.
If they are not washable, a professional exterminator can treat them. Call for assistance if you spot even one bug on the curtains or anywhere else.
They will tell you what steps you need to take to address the issue.Â
Conclusion
Bed bugs are a painful infestation to experience. If you’ve got them, you’re going to have to go through your whole house with a magnifying glass, hunting for bugs and eggs, and washing everything.
Bed bugs sometimes infest curtains, so you should certainly check them. But curtains aren’t the first bed bugs will infest.
Good luck.
