It’s certainly not the most pleasant lesson, but understanding how to prevent bedbugs—and detect them too—can save you time, money, and stress, so it’s an important thing to know. After all, bedbugs aren’t picky: They’ll choose any house, anywhere, no matter how clean or maintained it is. And as a reminder, bedbugs (scientifically called Cimex lectularius) are blood-sucking insects and because they like to stay close to their food source—that’s us, unfortunately—they usually nest in blankets, pillows, and mattresses. However, they also find shelter in other dark places and furniture, including appliances, bookshelves, cupboards, armchairs, sofas, and carpets. The bottom line: this is one house visitor that you should do your best to never let in. Below, learn how to prevent and detect bedbugs.
Where do bedbugs come from?
In recent years, bedbug infestations have been on the rise in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. The Environmental Protection Association (EPA) cites a number of causes for the increase in the US: people traveling more, lack of knowledge about preventing infestations, increased resistance to pesticides, and ineffective pest control. Bedbug infestations are often introduced to homes via:
- Luggage
- Second-hand purchases
- Neighboring homes
In any place with a lot of foot traffic, and especially places where people spend the night, bedbug infestations may occur. This includes hotels and other overnight lodgings. If you spend the night somewhere that is infested, you may then take the insects home with you through your luggage and risk an infestation of your own.
Another common cause of bedbug infestations in homes is second-hand goods. Whether it’s furniture from a flea market, a vintage store, or the Internet—if bedbugs are hiding in it, they can enter your home. However, it’s not just furniture that can be a source of bedbugs. Other secondhand goods such as clothing, books, and electrical appliances can also be sources of bedbugs. The pesky insects can survive for several months without eating, so even things that haven’t been touched in ages can be a vessel for the bugs to enter your home.
If you live in an apartment, bedbugs can also enter your home through your neighbors’ luggage and their second-hand purchases. In their search for food, the insects can spread to adjacent units.
What do bedbugs look like?
Bedbugs are reddish-brown, wingless insects that are usually between four and seven millimeters—about the size of an apple seed. They’re oval shaped with six legs and two antennae. Keep in mind that there are other insects that can be easily mistaken for bedbugs including fleas, lice, and baby cockroaches.
How do you know if you have bedbugs?
Whether it’s your home or not, it can be difficult to notice if bedbugs have taken up residence. Often, people notice the bugs’ bites on their skin, which are usually arranged in lines or clusters. It’s possible, though uncommon, to spot bedbugs in search of a meal roaming freely on the floor or walls. And in the case of an extreme infestation, you may notice a bitter, unpleasant odor.
In general, the easiest way to identify a bedbug is to find them in their hiding places. If you suspect a possible infestation, check beds, furniture, light switches, and the wall space around your bed. In addition to the bugs themselves, you will likely see black excrement and red-brownish shedded shells.
If you suspect a bedbug infestation but haven’t found a nest, a professional pest control company can aid in determining whether you do, in fact, have a bedbug problem and then pinpoint their location if you do.
How to prevent bedbugs
The best way to deal with bedbugs is to never get them in the first place. Since the creatures often hitch a ride on luggage or second-hand goods, consider these tips when traveling or buying vintage items.
When traveling, always inspect the hotel room you’re staying in for a possible infection. Check the corners, creases, and underside of a mattress, and look for both the actual bedbugs and small spots of blood, which can indicate they’re present. To prevent taking bedbugs home with you, keep your suitcase closed whenever possible and don’t put it on the bed. Once you get home, wipe out your suitcase and wash any clothes or other fabrics that were packed in it.
If you have reasons to think you may have returned home with bedbugs, take your laundry in a closed bag directly from your suitcase to your washing machine and wash it with hot water. You can also empty your suitcase over your bathtub first. You may be able to spot the red-brown insects against a white background.
If you have bought a used item, check it thoroughly as soon as you get home, if not before. A magnifying glass can help you spot bedbugs. Second-hand items should always be cleaned before being worn or used and any fabric items should be washed in water that is as hot as possible.
How to get rid of bedbugs
Remember, bedbugs can get into your house through no fault of your own, especially if you live in an apartment building. If you do see bedbugs, it’s usually best practice to call in a professional exterminator. Attempting to eliminate them on your own runs the risk of not getting rid of all the insects, and before long their population will bounce back. You—and your family and pets—can also become physically ill if you use pesticides incorrectly. Professional exterminators will not only eliminate the infestation, but they can often determine what caused it. For example, if bedbugs are found in your home, but there is no sign of a nest, it may be that they are entering from a neighbor’s apartment. If you attempt to control bedbugs without help, it will most likely only be a matter of time before a new infestation breaks out.
Though professional help is always the most advisable option, there are some home remedies you can put to use as soon as you suspect an infestation. If you think you have bedbugs, place clearly infected items in a sealed plastic bag while waiting for the exterminator. This ensures that the insects can’t escape and continue to spread.
The EPA offers some additional guidance on controlling infestations. Small infested items that you want to keep and that cannot be treated with insecticides can either be placed in a bag for at least three days in the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or in the oven at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The items must, of course, be resistant to cold or heat. If you own items that can’t undergo a cold or hot treatment, place them in a sealed plastic bag and store them away for one year, at which point all bedbugs should be dead. Infested clothing should be washed at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. And always discuss your infestation management plans with your exterminator in order to reduce the risk of bedbugs returning.
