How to get rid of bed bugs and keep them from coming back home

Bed bugs often enter homes by hitching a ride on luggage, secondhand furniture, clothing, storage boxes or cushions, making careful inspection important.

While infestations have occasionally been reported in public places such as movie theaters and clothing stores, people are less likely to bring bed bugs home from these locations, Cornell University entomologist Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann told Good Housekeeping.

A close-up on a bed bug. Photo from Unsplash

Getting rid of an infestation requires a thorough and systematic approach.

All surfaces should be vacuumed carefully to remove bed bugs and their eggs, with the vacuum contents immediately discarded in an outdoor trash bin. Bedding, clothing and other washable fabrics should be laundered and then dried at the highest safe temperature.

For more serious infestations, professional pest control may be necessary, including the use of chemical treatments by a licensed exterminator, according to Revere Health.

Preventive measures can lower the chances of bringing bed bugs into the home. Used furniture, clothing and bedding should either be avoided or inspected thoroughly before being brought indoors.

When staying at a hotel, travelers should check mattress seams and folds for signs of bed bugs and keep luggage on a raised rack or table rather than on the floor or bed.

Removing bird or bat nests around the home can also help, as these areas may provide shelter for bed bugs or closely related species.