How do bed bug infestations spread from house to house?
Bed bugs don’t fly or jump, but they can walk and they will climb into your belongings. If you live in a townhouse, condo, or apartment where you share a wall with your neighbor, bed bugs can easily travel through vents, across pipes, and between electrical outlets and walls.
If you live in a detached home, it’s less common for your neighbors to spread bed bugs to your home but not impossible. If you have pets that roam around your property, kids that play together, or you are friendly and visit with one another, you can potentially pick up their bed bugs.
Precautions to Take to Reduce the Risk of Getting Your Neighbors Bed Bugs
There are general precautions you should take all the time to help prevent the spread of bed bugs.
These include:
- Examine belongings when returning home from traveling and unpacking in your garage or laundry room.
- Wash belongings in hot water when returning from traveling, college, or tourist spots.
- Be cautious when using public transportation, traveling, or staying in hotels. Inspect your room for signs of bed bugs before settling in.
- Know how to identify bed bugs and their warning signs.
Should you discover that your neighbor has bed bugs there are some additional precautions you can take:
- Seal cracks around outlets, around pipes, and close vents and ducts.
- Avoid visiting until you know they’ve had professional bed bug treatment.
- Get your own home inspected for bed bugs immediately.
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