The 5 Most Common Ways Bed Bugs Enter Your Home

No one wants the grim realization that their home is infested with bed bugs. They may not directly spread disease, but they feed off of human blood – your blood. When we see little spots of blood in our bed, it’s usually from where we’ve rolled over and squish them in our sleep, or from their waste. Not a great mental image, right? 

When it comes to these unwanted little critters, forewarned is forearmed, so it can help to know how they get into your home, so you can act quickly if it happens to you.

I keep my home clean and tidy! How do bed bugs get in?

1. School and work. Schools are some of the best locations for pests, bacteria, and viruses. Bed bugs can hop onto your child’s backpack or school clothes. Similarly, workplaces are also popular among bed bugs, particularly communal environments or one in which you come into contact with others’ belongings.
   
2. Hotels, apartment stays, and even neighbors. Bed bugs may hide in a hotel mattress or on a hotel’s luggage stand strap, easily hopping onto your clothing and suitcase and following you back home. The same goes for any house guests who come to your home having recently stayed at hotels or motels. 
   
   
3. Second-hand materials and fabrics. While buying clothing and furniture from thrift stores or vintage shops have their advantages, you can’t always account for where it’s been. And it’s not just the old stuff; new items can become infected if transported in a truck alongside old furnishings. Wash any second-hand items in water that’s at least 122 degrees Fahrenheit to kill off the bed bugs.
   
4. Other used items. You’d think it was just clothing and furniture that potentially spreads bed bugs, but unfortunately, bed bugs can survive for months without a meal pretty much anywhere. Second-hand books, coffee makers, electronics, and plant pots all provide secluded places for bed bugs to hide, so always check your items thoroughly before bringing them home. 
   
5. Adjacent apartments. It’s always nicer to give your neighbors the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes it’s safer to check for unwanted guests. If you live in a block of apartments and one household has bed bugs, you may need to check your apartment. Bed bugs can slip through wall cavities, electrical boxes, and outlet covers. They also like to hang out in secluded shared areas such as lobbies, reception areas, or laundry rooms. If you find them, make sure you talk to your building manager immediately.

As children, many of us heard the phrase, “good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!” which sounded like a cute bedtime rhyme, but in reality, bed bugs can be the source of huge stress and inconvenience.

What to do if you find bed bugs in your home

Some of life’s problems can be ousted by home remedies, but bed bugs are not one of those problems. At Convectex, we are North America’s primary distributor of professional bed bug heat equipment. We’ve combined many years of bed bug treatment with the science of thermal convection to provide bed bug heat products that you can count on. We’ve made it possible for you to hire your own heat treatment unit to treat your home at your leisure. Click here to shop all our products or contact us today!

Frequently Asked Questions About How Bed Bugs Enter Your Home

How do bed bugs usually get into a home?

Bed bugs usually enter a home by hitchhiking on luggage, clothing, backpacks, furniture, bedding, and other belongings. They do not need a dirty environment to survive, and they can be brought into even very clean homes after travel, work, school, or contact with infested items.

Can bed bugs come home with you from a hotel?

Yes. Bed bugs can hide in mattresses, bed frames, upholstered furniture, and luggage areas in hotels. They may crawl into suitcases, clothing, or other belongings and then be carried home. Inspecting hotel rooms and keeping luggage away from beds can help reduce the risk.

Can children bring bed bugs home from school?

Yes. Bed bugs can hitchhike on backpacks, coats, clothing, and other belongings. Schools do not typically become infested in the same way bedrooms do because bed bugs prefer to stay close to sleeping hosts, but individual bugs can still be transported home on personal items.

Can used furniture bring bed bugs into your home?

Yes. Used mattresses, couches, chairs, bed frames, and other furniture can harbor bed bugs and eggs in seams, cracks, joints, and upholstery. Carefully inspect second-hand furniture before bringing it inside, especially items that have upholstered or concealed areas.

Can bed bugs live in electronics, books, and other used items?

Yes. Bed bugs can hide in small cracks and protected spaces in books, electronics, appliances, boxes, and other belongings. They are not attracted to these items specifically, but they may use them as hiding places when they are near an infestation.

Can bed bugs come through the walls from a neighboring apartment?

Yes. In apartments and other multi-unit buildings, bed bugs can move through wall voids, utility openings, cracks, electrical boxes, and other pathways between adjoining units. If bed bugs are found in one apartment, nearby units may also need to be inspected.

Does keeping your house clean prevent bed bugs?

No. Cleanliness does not prevent bed bugs from entering a home. Bed bugs are attracted to access to a blood meal rather than dirt or clutter. However, reducing clutter can make them easier to detect and can reduce the number of hiding places available.

How can I reduce the chance of bringing bed bugs home?

Inspect luggage and belongings after traveling, carefully examine used furniture before bringing it indoors, avoid placing luggage on hotel beds, and pay attention to signs of bed bugs in shared living spaces. Catching a hitchhiking bed bug early can help prevent it from developing into a larger infestation.