Chances of bringing bed bugs home!

[BenHolland]

Hi all!

I stayed in an apartment in london for 2 days last week. Now have what looks like bedbug bites!

I had my bag on the floor close to the bed and washed my clothes when i got home. But didn’t know there were bed bugs!

Just hot washed all sheets and cant see any signs. Anyone got any experience of this? What should I do?!

Thanks!!!!

This is one of my nightmares so I sympathise!

Do they look like bedbug bites? Are they in a line? Do you have lots? If you have only a few hopefully it wasn't a bad infestation and it's unlikely you would have brought some home.

I've read everything about bed bugs (thanks obsessive anxiety) and if you haven't already I would isolate your bag/suitcase (double bag it in plastic) or steam every nook and cranny.

I would probably also tumble dry the clothes you took with you as washing isn't always enough, you need proper heat if there were eggs in them.

If you are really worried you could buy diatomaceous earth and sprinkle lightly near the bed. Please wear a mask and look up instruction videos as it needs to be a very thin layer. That way if the odd bed bug made it into your home they'll be killed before an infestation starts.

If you are not that worried, just carry out bi-weekly/monthly inspections of your bed so if you do get some you can catch the infestation early. Good thing is that you react to the bites so you'll know before it gets too out of control.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info! I have bagged up my bag. Hope my clothes don’t shrink too much in the drier.

Will just continue to check the beds. Think that is a good plan and enough for now.

Bites are awful! Way worse than mozzies / fleas. Resorted to pinching my daughter’s sudocrem…that helps with the itching!

Sorry to hear you're suffering! If your clothes are dry they shouldn't shrink. Alternatively you can freeze for 4 days. Hope this helps!

Great tip with the dry clothes! Thank you!

You should never keep your bag on the floor!

Next time bags are staying far away from the bed!

I always put my bags/ cases furthest away from the bed, maybe bathroom or rack. I then check the bed for tell tale marks.
I don’t hang anything up until I am sure there is no bedbugs.
it’s not your fault, hopefully you haven’t brought any home, if you think you have, ring pest control for advice.

carpet beetles are bad enough 😩

Bed bugs, like cockroaches can’t tell if you are in a 2 or 5 star hotel 😩

A chap who had a bedbug sniffing dog ( it was amazing how sensitive the dog’s nose was ) and checked London hotels for bedbugs also said The Northern Line and other Tube train routes also especially bad.

Bugs hitch a ride in clothing.

On Dog walks I have to be wary of ticks - Bed bugs on the Tube are a nasty thought.