How to Prevent Bed Bugs From Entering & Spreading In Your Home

How to Prevent Bed Bugs When Travelling

Ever worried about bringing home bed bugs after a holiday? It’s a real fear for travellers.

Bed bugs love to hitch rides in your luggage, so how can you stop that? Here’s what I do:

• Inspect the hotel room before you settle in. Check the mattress seams, headboards, and bedside tables for any signs of bed bugs.
• Keep your luggage off the floor – use luggage racks instead. Bed bugs usually crawl on floors and furniture, not racks.
• Store your clothes in sealed plastic bags inside your luggage. Bed bugs won’t get through the plastic.
• Wash and dry all your clothes on high heat as soon as you get home. The heat kills any stowaways instantly.

How To Prevent Bed Bugs After Travelling

Back home? Now what? You can still prevent bed bugs from sneaking into your house after a trip.

• Unpack your luggage outside, or in the garage. Don’t bring your suitcase straight to your bedroom.
• Wash & dry your clothes on hot. 
• Vacuum & disinfect your suitcase thoroughly, inside and out.
• Place your luggage in sealed bags for storage if you don’t plan to use it for a while.
• Inspect souvenirs or any other items you bought. Bed bugs can hide anywhere, even in the folds of fabric souvenirs. Place items in the freezer for 4 days if you cant wash them.
• Use Diatomaceous Earth (DE) on your bed frame. One application will be active for years unless you remove it.

Avoid Second-Hand Furniture to Prevent Bed Bugs

Buying second-hand furniture might save you money, but it can also cost you a bed bug infestation.

Here’s how to avoid that nightmare:

• Don’t pick up furniture left on the curb – it’s there for a reason.
• Inspect second-hand pieces closely for signs of bed bugs, like dark stains, eggs, or shed skins.
• Steam clean or vacuum any furniture you buy before bringing it into your home.
• Use bed bug traps on furniture legs, especially on beds and couches.

How To Prevent Bed Bugs on Your Bed

Your bed is their favourite target, but you can fight back.

• Apply Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Dust your bed frame with DE.
• Set up bed bug traps on each bed leg. These traps catch and kill bed bugs before they get anywhere near you.
• Isolate your bed away from walls and other furniture. Bed bugs love climbing walls to sneak into beds, so give yourself some space.
• Use a protective mattress cover to seal the mattress. If any bed bugs are inside, they won’t get out, and any new ones won’t be able to hide.

How To Prevent Bed Bugs from Infesting Your Mattress

A mattress cover can be your best defence against bed bugs. Here’s why:

• It completely seals off your mattress, trapping any bed bugs inside.
• Makes them easy to see. The white covers mean they cant hide and are easier to inspect.
• Bed bugs can’t bite through the cover, so you’re safe from their nasty bites.
• It’s easy to install and doesn’t require any special tools.
• Works perfectly with bed bug traps and Diatomaceous Earth. It’s like creating a fortress around your bed.

How To Prevent Bed Bugs from Neighbouring Units

If you live in an apartment, bed bugs can crawl through walls from neighbouring units. It’s sneaky, but you can block them.

• Dust Diatomaceous Earth (Bed Bug Killer Powder) in every crack and crevice in walls where bed bugs might slip through.
• Focus on areas near pipes, electrical outlets, and shared walls.
• Seal any gaps you find with caulk after dusting the DE for extra protection.
• Use bed bug traps on your furniture to stop any invaders that make it through.

How To Prevent Bed Bugs from Public Spaces

Public places are prime spots for bed bugs, especially places like cinemas or theatres. You don’t want to bring any unwanted guests home.

• Leave your handbag at home or use a smaller bag you can keep on your lap.
• Don’t place your bags on the floor. If you must bring a bag, keep it off the ground.
• Check your clothing and bags after leaving a public place. Bed bugs can latch onto fabric, so be mindful of where you’ve been.

Prevent Bed Bugs from Spreading in Your Home

Bed bugs spread quickly, especially when treatments are not fully effective. Here are key reasons they spread and how to prevent it:

• Ineffective Home Treatments: Essential oils and chemical treatments may only repel bed bugs temporarily, causing them to scatter and find new hiding places rather than eliminating the infestation.
• Pregnant Females: Female bed bugs, especially when pregnant, will seek out new locations to lay eggs, contributing significantly to the spread throughout your home.
• Partial Solutions: Using incomplete treatment plans can lead to the infestation worsening, as bed bugs migrate to different rooms.

To prevent them from spreading, a comprehensive treatment that includes both instant and long-term protection is crucial.