Not Sure How They Got There? 4 Ways Bed Bugs Can Get Into Your Home

Posted on

If you've been waking up with small, bleeding sores on your body, and an inspection from a place like Pioneer Exterminating Company determined that you have a bed bug infestation, you're probably wondering how you ended up with them. You might not realize this but bed bugs are busy little creatures, and they can infest your home in a variety of ways. It doesn't matter how careful you are: when bed bugs want in, they're going to find a way. If you're trying to pinpoint the problem, here are four common ways that bed bugs can get into your home.

They Followed You Home From Vacation

If you've recently returned from vacation, there's a good chance that the bed bugs followed you home. This is particularly true if you stayed in a hotel or home that was already suffering from a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs can climb into your luggage and get carried right into your home in the folds of the luggage or in your clothing. The best way to keep bed bugs from following you home is to put your clothing in zip lock bags and wash them as soon as you get home. You should also store your luggage in a black plastic bag. That way, the heat will kill the bugs before they can cause an infestation.

They Were Living in That Hand-Me-Down Couch

If you have a hard time passing up a bargain, and you brought home a used shabby-chic couch, you might have also brought home an infestation of bed bugs. One of the problems of bringing home used furniture – especially the upholstered kind – is that you could be the unwitting recipient of bed bugs. To avoid this problem altogether, never bring used upholstered furniture into your home, especially couches, chairs, and mattresses.

They Came in With Your House Guests

If you had house guests in for the holidays, they could have brought bed bugs with them. Unfortunately, if they didn't know they had an infestation in their home, they wouldn't have a clue that they were passing the problem on to you. To help avoid bed bug infestations caused by house guests, follow a few simple rules. First, encourage your guests to leave their bedding at home by letting them know you have plenty available. Second, utilize air mattresses for their sleeping arrangements. Finally, have your home inspected as soon as your guests leave. If bed bugs were carried into your home, rapid response from your exterminator will resolve the problem quickly and prevent a full-blown infestation.

They Lingered After Your Last Treatment

If you had a previous run-in with bed bugs, and attempted to handle the problem with DIY methods, you could be seeing activity from bed bugs that lingered behind. Now's the time to have a professional pest control treatment performed. That way, you know that the problem is officially resolved.


Share