How to prevent bringing bed bugs into your home

Here’s how to avoid bringing bed bugs into your Knoxville TN home:

1. If you are travelling or moving, always check for signs of bed bugs.
2. Prior to purchasing used furniture, check for past or active signs of bed bugs.
3. After a trip, check that your suitcase does not have bed bugs.

Preventing bed bugs after a trip

Bed bug problems often start after a trip or vacation! This makes it important to learn how to prevent bringing bed bugs back with you. Follow these tips to avoid bringing bed bugs home with you:

1. Check the lining and inside of your suitcase before bringing it indoors and unpacking.
2. Wash all clothes (even clean ones) in hot water and dry thoroughly.
3. Vacuum or steam-clean your suitcase before storing it away, ideally above ground.

Keeping bed bugs outside

Unlike many other types of pests, bed bugs won’t just come crawling into your home out of nowhere. Bed bugs spread when they hitch a ride on purses, backpacks, and suitcases. Keeping bed bugs outside your property simply entails staying vigilant about checking for the signs of the bugs at all times. Whether you have upcoming travel plans or a college kid returning home for the summer, it’s simply important to stay proactive about keeping bed bugs away.

Best bed bug prevention for Knoxville homes

To stop bed bugs getting into your home, the best thing you can do is to prevent picking them up somewhere. When staying in hotels, always store luggage up off the floor. In addition, check the beds for signs of bed bugs. When returning home, ensure your suitcase is bed bug-free before bringing it indoors. When buying used furniture, always ensure that it is not infested before making the purchase. 

In addition, it’s wise to get regular pest inspections from an exterminator who knows what to look for.