Where to Bedbugs Come From?

Bedbugs are tiny little critters that feed on human blood, not too different from mosquitoes but without wings. Their official name is 'Cimex lectularius', and they are called 'bedbugs' because they tend to hide in or near to beds where humans sleep. If you have bedbugs in your home, then do not despair! First of all, these unwanted house guests are very easy to pick up, so don't make yourself feel too about it: even a clean and conscientious home might get bedbugs once in a while. That said, reducing the risk of bedbugs entering your home is very easy once you know where bedbugs come from. Then, you can follow a few simple procedures to ensure that those uninvited guests don't turn up in your bedroom.

So, where do bedbugs come from? Well, the most common way for bedbugs to appear in your home is through contact with another person or house which has been infested by bedbugs. Visiting a friend and spending the night on their sofa or on their spare bed, for instance, can cause your clothing to become infested with bedbugs or bedbug eggs. Then, the next time you lie down in your own bed, you will likely spread the infestation to your own home. Washing and drying your clothing on a very high heat after you have visited friends will help to prevent these types of infestation.

Another tip is to purchase some cheap, eco-friendly disposable sheets which you can bring with you when you stay overnight in somewhere other your home, spread over the bed or couch to protect you from bedbugs, and then discard in the morning.

Bedbugs also regularly enter homes through infested second hand furniture. Bedbug eggs can remain in furniture for a long time, so if you have picked up a new chair or mattress from the thrift store it is good to give it a thorough cleaning before using it. Heat treating your secondhand furniture will kill bedbugs and their eggs, as will some careful vacuuming.

The third main way in which bedbugs enter your home is on the backs of wild animals. Wild animals include creatures like bats or birds, who can fly into your bedroom and leave bedbugs on the linen or carpet. Most common domestic pets, however, like cats and dogs, do not make good hosts for bedbugs. Bedbugs just don't like the taste of their blood, so usually won't be found in their fur. So don't get mad at your cat or loyal pooch if you find bedbugs in your home!