There are many misconceptions about bed bugs out there. Have you heard of any? Here’s how to tell fact from fiction.
Bed bugs are a growing problem in the United States. The fear of bed bugs spreads as rapidly as the infestations themselves. As a result, there is a lot of buzz about bed bugs circulating on the internet. You may not always know where to turn for accurate information.
We want to give you all the information you need to make the best decision possible.
Let’s reveal what is and isn’t true about bed bugs.
Myth: Bed bugs only infest dirty homes.
One of the most widespread bed bug myths is that you can’t get them if your home is clean. But bed bugs are not a sign of poor housekeeping.
They don’t indicate poor hygiene, either. You may think bed bugs prefer dirty homes over clean ones. But that is simply not the case. The opposite is true. Cleaning your home won’t make you less likely to get bed bugs. Dirt and food do not attract them.
You can find bed bugs anywhere people sleep, including in hotels. Make sure you take precautions against bringing bed bugs home when you travel.
Check your home for bed bugs frequently. Always inspect your hotel room upon entry.
Fact: Bed bugs do not care how clean your house is.
Bed bugs infest clean homes as well as dirty ones. Hotels and motels with good housekeeping practices can still get pest infestations.
While clutter provides them the perfect place to hide, they will enter your home whether it’s spotless or in complete squalor. Bed bugs are not fussy about where they live. They can live anywhere you do.
Don’t assume that if your house is clean, there aren’t any bedbugs hiding somewhere! You need to adopt pest control into your daily routine.
Myth: Bed bugs only live in your bed.
Bed bugs can live in any crack or crevice, including the mattress and box spring. They can also live on your couch or chair. Part of the reason bed bugs are so hard to control is that they can hide anywhere in your home.
If you suspect you may have a bed bug infestation, call an exterminator. Do not hesitate. Get rid of them before they multiply and spread throughout your home!
Fact: Bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide.
While you’re sleeping at night, your body releases carbon dioxide. Bed bugs will congregate around those areas while you sleep. It doesn’t mean that every bed bug has to be on the bed itself, though.
If you have a large enough infestation, it could spread throughout your whole house. Bed bugs hide in your dressers and closets. They may also be creeping inside your couch, carpet, or cracks in your floor.
Myth: Bed bugs are invisible.
Despite how you may feel, bed bugs are not invisible. They are not even microscopic. You can see them with the naked eye. Bed bugs have a unique shape and size that you cannot miss.
They are easy to spot when you know how to find them.
Fact: A typical bed bug is about the size of an apple seed.
Bed bugs have flat, oval-shaped bodies. After a blood meal, they take on a reddish-brown color. A typical adult bed bug is about ¼” in size. When they are well-fed, they can get much bigger.
They tend to be inactive during the day, which makes them hard to spot by accident.
Myth: You can’t get bed bugs from a hotel room.
Bed bugs aren’t just a problem in homes. Apartment complexes, movie theaters, you name it—they all have these blood-sucking pests! They’re also a common issue in hotel rooms.
That’s because travelers often bring bed bug infestations home without knowing.
Hotel staff turns over each room before welcoming a new guest. But bed bugs know how to hide. A few pesky bed bugs could easily slip by and make their way into your hotel room- even if it’s spotless!
So don’t assume everything is fine and put yourself at risk.
Fact: You can get bed bugs while traveling.
Bed bugs are tiny and flat, so they can easily hide in your luggage or clothing. They can also travel from one room to another as they move from host to host. Bed bugs may end up in your luggage or clothes if you check into a hotel that has them.
You can get bed bugs using public transportation or from your office.
Stay proactive and make sure you don’t take any home.
Myth: You can’t get bed bugs from a restaurant.
Bed bugs can live almost anywhere, so you can get them from many places. They aren’t specific to just one location or setting.
You can get bed bugs from a friend’s house or a movie theater.
You may catch bed bugs on a bus or train ride home with your co-workers or at restaurants.
Bed bugs are not picky eaters. They will happily dine on human blood in any form they find it. They don’t mind whether that’s at someone’s house or the restaurant where you’re having your anniversary dinner.
Fact: You can get bed bugs in restaurants that use reclaimed chairs and booths and don’t keep them clean.
If you’re sitting down to eat at a restaurant and notice something looks off about the chair or booth you’re sitting in, ask your server if they’ve checked for bed bugs recently (and if not, ask them to).
Don’t sit down if there’s even the slightest possibility that a restaurant has a bed bug infestation!
The best thing for you to do is take your business elsewhere until better practices are put in place by management.
Myth: Bed bugs spread diseases.
You might worry that bed bugs spread diseases because you’ve heard this before. Some pests can spread diseases, like ticks or mice. So, it makes sense that you’d be afraid of the same thing happening with bed bugs.
.If you are sensitive to bed bug bites, you may experience an allergic reaction.
But, other than that, there is no confirmed threat of disease.
Fact: Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease.
There are no confirmed cases of bed bugs spreading any diseases. But just because you’re not at risk for diseases does not mean bed bugs don’t impact your wellbeing.
As mentioned, you may be allergic to their bites. But that’s not all. Imagine how difficult it is to sleep when you know you’re going to be a host to blood-sucking insects the moment you close your eyes. Living like that for too long will take a toll on you.
Myth: Bed bug bites are just like mosquito bites.
Because bed bug bites can be itchy and red, they are often mistaken for mosquito or other insect bites. But you can tell them apart when you know the characteristics.
Bed bugs tend to bite in clusters or straight lines. They go for accessible areas of skin, like the back of your neck or arms. Hives could appear if you are allergic to bed bug bites.
Fact: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the reaction to a bed bug bite varies from person to person.
Bed bugs may not trigger an allergic reaction in you. But they could still appear as red, itchy welts on your skin. Or you may not react at all.
But if you do have an allergic reaction to bed bug bites, consult with your doctor.
Myth: Heat kills bed bugs.
Heat can kill bed bugs, but it’s not the magic wand that some people seem to think it is. Heat should never be the sole method for exterminating bed bugs. But it is an effective tool if you know how to use it.
Bed bug heat treatments require very high temperatures for long periods. Unfortunately, bed bugs are intelligent. They can hide from extermination and signal to one another if they are in danger. That allows them to escape, survive, and infest your home again.
Heating your whole room is unlikely to have much of an effect on your bed bug infestation.
Fact: Applying a blast of heat above 113°F for 90 minutes will kill any bed bugs exposed to it.
While heating your entire room may not get rid of bed bugs, there are ways you can use heat effectively. Using an industrial-strength steamer can eliminate bed bugs hiding inside your furniture where bed bug spray can not reach.
Wash your clothes and linens on the highest possible setting. Bed bugs cannot easily escape your washing machine. Use a bed bug laundry detergent to ensure the best possible results.
Myth: Only pesticides are effective against bed bugs.
If you discover bed bugs in your home, you will want to get rid of them fast. But bringing harsh chemicals into your home is not always the answer. You can apply the highest intensity spray all over your home and still not get results.
Fact: You need comprehensive treatment to get bed bugs. Using harsh chemicals is not always the answer.
Bed bugs are developing resistance to many chemical pesticides. So you should use a combination of methods to kill bed bugs and prevent them from returning.
BedBug911 is a leader in bed bug control. We developed an innovative 3-Step Process to eliminate bed bugs from multiple angles.
Step 1: Preparation
While other exterminators expect you to prepare your home for bed bug extermination by yourself, we take care of everything. Our bed bug prep methods eliminate up to 80% of the infestation before bed bug spray is ever applied.
Step 2: Treatment
We combine several natural bed bug extermination methods to help you eliminate bed bugs. Our non-toxic bed bug spray fights bed bugs without risking your health.
Step 3: Prevent
You can’t 100% prevent pest infestations. But you can take the proper precautions to protect yourself from bed bugs. We will provide you with everything you need, including follow-up treatments and inspections every two weeks.
If you think you might have a bed bug infestation, don’t be afraid to speak to a professional. Our bed bug experts are standing by to help you get rid of bed bugs 24/7.
Give us a call. 718 517 2227
