How Do You Get Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are opportunistic and can move quickly to find a host. They will travel 5-20 feet from a harbourage to feed on a person, animal, or bird.
In some cases, people bring bed bugs home from hotels or other places where they have been bitten. They can also be brought into homes from second-hand furniture or bedding that has been contaminated with bed bug bites.
Keeping your home clean and clutter-free can prevent a bed bug infestation. Wash sheets, pillowcases and other linens regularly at hot temperatures.
If you are a frequent traveller, inspect your clothes and luggage for signs of bed bugs before leaving your home and dry them in the dryer on high heat.
To know more about the causes of bed bug infestation, continue reading.
How Do You Get Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs can be found in a variety of places. They can hide in the seams of upholstered furniture, in cracks on bed frames and headboards, along baseboards, and under loose wallpaper. Here are some main causes of bed bug infestations.
Frequent Travelling
Frequent travel, especially when you’re going from one place to another with stowed-away luggage or other items that bed bugs can hide in, is a common way for them to find their way into your home. Bed bugs are found in many places that people frequent, including hotels and motels. They’re also a common problem in places that have a high guest turnover, like apartment buildings and dorms.
Second-Hand Furniture
Purchasing used furniture is one of the best ways to save money on home furnishings. However, it is one of the main reasons for bed bug infestation. Bed bugs are resilient and can survive for a year without food, which is why it is important to inspect second-hand furniture thoroughly before you buy it. It is also wise to avoid scavenging for furniture from iffy sources like dumpsters or alleyways as they may be destined for the city dump.
Lodging Facilities Like Hotels And Motels
Bed bugs are a big problem for lodging facilities. Even the cleanest and most expensive hotels have been found to harbour these pests. Travellers should always inspect a hotel room before unpacking their luggage, and if they suspect bed bugs are present, they should request a new room or change rooms. Check mattresses and box-spring seams, soft bedding, furniture, carpeting and flooring to look for signs of bed bugs before you stay in any hotel or motel.
Hiding Spots
Bed bugs are notoriously hard to spot because they hide in places we can’t see. They’re almost entirely flat and only about the width of a credit card, so they can squeeze into tiny cracks, gaps, or crevices that you wouldn’t otherwise think would be a good hiding place. They also hide behind mouldings and paintings and in the seams of mattresses and box springs. The best way to detect them is to take your mattress apart and use a flashlight to look for live insects or blood stains.
Conclusion
Bed bugs can enter your home through many sources like luggage, clothes, used furniture, etc. If you are a frequent traveller, make sure you inspect your luggage and clothes. Look for a variety of signs to check for bed bug activity, including small black flecks that resemble blood dots or bite marks. If you have to bring your belongings home from a hotel or motel, it’s important to keep your luggage closed. You can also use a clothes dryer set at high temperatures to kill any bugs that might be on your clothing or other items.