How To Keep Bed Bugs Away, According To Experts

The mere mention of bed bugs is enough to send a shiver down the spine. Most people want to know how to keep bed bugs away from their homes because, unlike more harmless bugs crawling around the house, a bed bug infestation is a massive ordeal. You can pick up the blood-sucking critters anywhere people gather, especially when traveling—public transportation, healthcare and senior facilities, dorms, hotels, and movie theaters are all high-risk locations. “But your chances of encountering bed bugs during your daily activities is slim,” says Dini Miller, PhD, professor at Virginia Tech and urban pest management specialist for the state of Virginia. “It’s easy to avoid bringing them home, but you have to know what to look for.”

Don't worry if you don't know how to keep bed bugs away, or how to get rid of them. Ahead, Miller and Eric Benson, PhD, professor emeritus and extension entomologist at Clemson University, share their expert advice for identifying, exterminating, and preventing bed bugs in your home.

Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

Bed bugs have been with us since humans began dwelling in caves. “They’re not part of the ecosystem but live in the human environment,” says Miller. “They need us to survive.” The invasive pests originally lived off the blood of bats, and when humans started sheltering in caves, bed bugs began feeding on them instead. When humans eventually began developing agricultural civilizations, they took bed bugs with them—and they've been traveling the globe on humans ever since.

Perhaps you never heard much about bed bugs when you were growing up. That’s because bed bugs weren’t a problem in the U.S. for much of the last century. “We had control of bed bugs, though we had not eradicated them,” says Benson. “Then in the early 2000s, we saw a resurgence.”

Many theories exist about why bed bug infestations have returned. Increased travel and mobility, less awareness about bed bugs than our grandparents or great-grandparents had, and the fact that bed bugs have developed resistance to insecticides may all play a part, says Benson. They’re also secretive, spending most of their lives hiding out in cracks and crevices while waiting for a meal.

How To Identify Bed Bugs

Before learning how to keep bed bugs away, you have to learn how to detect them. Bed bug eggs are white and about the size of a pinhead. They are almost impossible to see, but they have obvious eyespots if they’re older than five days. Immature bed bugs have a translucent, whiteish-yellow appearance and range from the size of a comma to the size of a zero (0) on a printed page. The adults are flat and reddish-brown, about the color and size of an apple seed. Bed bugs have no wings and must crawl everywhere. “But they’re willing to crawl around all night to find a meal,” says Miller.

Signs Of A Bed Bug Infestation

Bed bugs feed on blood, so a skin reaction from bites is often the first sign of a potential infestation. But while bites may indicate the presence of bed bugs, they’re not a foolproof indicator that bugs are present, says Miller. Reactions to bed bug bites vary widely from nothing to an intense, itchy red rash. And if you’ve been traveling, you may have gotten bitten but not had a reaction until several days later. The good news is that bed bugs do not carry disease. They prefer bare skin, so they usually don’t bite pets because fur is difficult to get through, though they can feed on pet birds, says Miller.

Seeing live bugs is the clearest indication of an infestation, says Benson. When bed bugs aren’t feeding, they’re hanging out together in groups in places such as the seams and mattress tags on beds, in nightstands and other furniture next to the bed, inside drawers, nestled in wood seams, behind wallpaper, and even hiding in recessed screw holes. You also may see shed skins or fecal matter on mattresses, walls, or other surfaces.

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

If you think you have bed bugs, don’t panic. You have a few days to figure out a plan of attack. But you must act because, unchecked, bed bug populations can double every 16 days—and about 80 percent of eggs survive to become adults. “They can move from egg to adult in 37 days if they have regular access to blood,” says Miller. So what do you do to get rid of bed bugs?

Avoid DIY Methods

Bed bug treatment is more expensive than other pest control contracts, but hiring a licensed pest control company is recommended. “With a lot of pests, such as ants or cockroaches, you may be able to take care of them yourself,” says Benson. “But others, such as termites and bed bugs, are very difficult to control by DIY methods.”

As upsetting as it can be to require treatment, try not to panic or feel ashamed. “Anyone’s home can become infested with bed bugs, so don’t be embarrassed,” says Benson. With perseverance and professional assistance, you can get rid of bed bugs in your home.

Research Local Pest Control Firms

When hiring pest control specialists, take a few days to do some research. Get two or three estimates from local firms, and ask about their suggested treatment plan and how often they disinfest bed bugs. Be wary of any bids that dramatically differ from others, especially any that are very low, says Benson.

Expect Repeated, Concurrent Treatment Methods

Be aware that bed bugs are resistant to many insecticides, and no single chemical will do the job. The pest control company must utilize a multi-pronged approach, which may include bed bug monitoring devices, mattress encasements, steaming, vacuuming, and insecticide applications in the form of sprays, aerosols, insecticidal dusts, and desiccant dusts, says Miller. Repeat visits will be required once new eggs hatch.

How To Keep Bed Bugs Away

You don’t have to be paranoid that you’re going to bring bed bugs home every time you leave your house, but Miller and Benson suggest these tips for anyone wondering how to keep bed bugs away:

• Inspect your bags after visiting places where bed bugs might be found. This could include your purse, computer bag, gym bag, or backpack—thoroughly examine any bags before bringing them into your house.
• Carry an extra-sticky lint roller. If you suspect you’ve been somewhere bed bugs are present, use a lint roller to run over your shoes and clothes, paying special attention to shoe laces, shoe treads, cuffs, and seams, before getting in your car or entering your home.
• Inspect secondhand items before bringing them home. Furniture, books, upholstered pieces, and other household items from garage sales, thrift stores, and antique shops should be examined before you purchase and transport them.
• Don’t buy refurbished mattresses or sofas. You should never buy secondhand bedding either.
• Use protective mattress coverings. Encasements eliminate hiding spots. They're also often white, which makes spotting bed bugs easier.
• Regularly wash and heat-dry clothing and linens. Heat kills bed bug adults, immature stages, and eggs.
• Use plastic hampers at the laundromat. Cloth bags are harder to inspect for bed bugs.
• Vacuum frequently, especially after returning from public places. In the event that you pick up bed bugs, vacuuming can help suck them up before they get into your furniture. After each sweep, empty the tank in a sealable bag and dispose of it in an outdoor garbage bin to prevent bed bugs from escaping back into your home.
  
• Reduce clutter. Tidy environments offer fewer hiding spots for bed bugs.

Do Repellants Keep Bed Bugs Away?

Unfortunately, no chemical products or natural essential oils have been found to repel bed bugs. Many different repellants have been tested, but bed bugs ignore them. “Their desire to feed on you overrides the repellants,” says Benson. Sonic repellants also have no science to support their use.

Travel Precautions For Bed Bugs

Travel is one of the most common culprits of bed bug transportation. For frequent travelers wanting to know how to keep bed bugs away, Miller and Benson suggest a few tips for mitigating the risk:

• Do a quick sweep of your hotel room or vacation rental upon arrival. “You don’t have to spend an hour, but take a few minutes,” says Benson. Use your phone’s flashlight to look at the head and foot of the bed, pulling back the sheets to look for evidence on the mattress or covers. Telltale signs include fecal stains (groups of black or rusty-looking spots), cast-off insect skins, or the bugs themselves. Don’t stay if you find them!
• Don’t put your suitcase on soft surfaces. This includes the sofa, chairs, and bed. The bathroom or bathtub is generally a better choice for suitcase storage because bed bugs don’t like slippery surfaces, says Benson.
• Inspect the luggage rack before using it. Pay special attention to where the straps attach to the bars, says Miller.
• Keep your clothes in your suitcase. Don't unpack your items in hotel dressers or nightstands.
• Unpack your suitcase immediately when you return home. The best places to unpack are a mudroom or garage.
• Launder everything immediately. Alternatively, put clothing in the dryer for 30 minutes.