Our previous blog told you about the most common ways bed bugs can enter your home. The most common, of course, is when people head to a hotel and leave their suitcase on the bed, where the little suckers climb in or on and then are brought home—time for some bed bug spray. 

There's also the chance that your guests bring them in when they stay with you, so it's essential to check for bed bugs as soon as they leave. Unfortunately, even a guest over for a few hours can bring in bed bugs with their backpacks or purses. Putting some bed bug traps or spray next to your door is always a good idea to catch the bed bugs entering your bedroom.

You should know those things when trying to keep bed bugs out of your house. But when it comes to bed bugs, people's imaginations run wild, and they start worrying about many other ways they might sneak in.

We're here to give you some good news: the bed bugs won't get into your house in any of the following ways...probably. (We've put some disclaimers below to let you know it might happen, even though it won't.)

 

High-Altitude Transference

The underbelly of a 747 would be a great place for bed bugs to move between suitcases. But there are three big problems with that. First, there is light down there, and most flights are during the day, so the bugs might realize it's daytime and not come out. Second, the luggage compartment tends to be pretty cold, meaning they have no heat signatures to follow. Even more importantly, there aren't any humans down there breathing CO2, which is one of the primary things that alerts them to come out. They'll stay in place on someone else's luggage instead of seeking out yours because there's no reason for them to get out and about.
  

But…

Luggage is tossed around like crazy when the lower part of a plane is loaded. Luckily, the bed bugs will dislodge and fall to the tarmac. However, there's always a chance that they'll get jostled out of one suitcase and onto the top of another, and they don't care which one they end up hiding in after that. 

 

On Clothes

Luckily, clothing isn't usually the place that bed bugs want to hide. Bed bugs need something to grab onto. Moving clothes usually causes them to work loose and fall to the ground long before anyone brings them into your house. So even if a guest lays out their clothes on their bed and picks up a bed bug, it's not very likely that the bed bug will ever make it onto your couch once they arrive.

But…

There's always the chance that a bed bug will find its way into a pocket, such as that of a winter coat. A bed bug could transfer if a guest brings a coat and you toss it on the bed in a dark bedroom while you play board games. Chances are slim for the same reason as the cargo hold of a plane: if there aren't humans around, nothing entices them from their hiding place.

  

In a Car

Cars aren't a congenial environment for bed bugs. After all, bed bugs are most likely to drink the blood of sleeping people, and there's not usually much sleeping done in a car. 

But…

There's no doubt that bed bugs can travel in vehicles, often after being dislodged from a suitcase on the way back from the airport. From there, they might make their way into a car's cabin (drawn by your breath), but it's unlikely that they could breed.

If you want to ensure that bed bugs don't come in with your next load of groceries, put your suitcase in the trunk with some luggage covers.

 

On Pets

Pets can bring in ticks and fleas, so it's not surprising that people wonder if they could also be transferors of bed bugs. The good news is that it's not something to worry about. First, Cimex Lectularius is the bed bug species that, like humans, isn't that fond of other types of food. Second, it has trouble hanging onto and traversing an animal's fur. Cimex lectularius truly loves the bare skin of humans. Or, as one veterinarian put it, "What I tell my clients, though, is they will walk over 50 cats and dogs to get to us."

But…

In heavy infestations, bed bugs might reside in a pet's bed so they don't have to fight other bed bugs for their human meal. Such incidences are rare, and most people have dealt with such a problem long before the bed bugs bother pets.

Are bed bugs something to worry about?  Absolutely. We hope we've put your mind at ease about some situations you don't have to worry about. Still, having some bed bug spray on hand is always a good idea, so you don't have to wait for shipping.

 

 

Our natural, plant-based Bed Bug Patrol Killer Spray provides an all-natural solution to infestations of bed bugs, as well as fleas, spiders, and other common indoor bugs. Our 100% natural solution is made in the USA. It relies on the power of natural ingredients like citric acid, clove oil, and peppermint oil to naturally deter these bugs from living in your furnishings and upholstery. Just spray our solution on affected surfaces twice per day, and it will get to work on exterminating your bed bugs and preventing their return. To keep you safe from bed bugs on your travels, arm yourself with our Bed Bug Blasting Travel Spray, which comes in a handy, TSA-approved travel-size bottle for your convenience.