Can a person who has bed bugs bring them to your house?

Can a person who has bed bugs bring them to your house?

Can a person who has bed bugs bring them to your house? If your friend or neighbor has been complaining about bed bugs infestation, then you might be worried about it.

The biggest question you might be asking is this – can your friend who has bed bug bring them into your house? In this article, we will address your concerns and help you avoid bed bug infestation.

Bed bugs infestation is a big problem no one wants to have. But it can occur, whether we have the cleanest spaces or not. Believe it or not, bed bugs are not attracted to dirt. Bed bugs are attracted to blood and can hike from place to place on clothes, shoes, bags and many more. Product Information…

How can you tell if a person has bed bugs?

Because bed bugs infestation is embarrassing, most people won’t come complaining to you about the problem.  To avoid bringing bed bugs into your home, you must learn to identify the situation. It can be challenging to determine if there are bed bugs in someone’s house, but here are some signs to look out for

  • Bloodstains on bed sheets
  • Bite marks similar to an allergic hive or mosquito bites on your friend’s arm or legs
  • Translucent, pale brown skin  
  • Flat tiny black ink-like spots (bed bug poop)

Can your friend bring bed bugs into your home?

If you can see those signs we listed above, or your friend complained about battling the problem, then, naturally, you are concerned.  By theory, a person can bring bed bugs into your house, but not usually on their person. Bed bugs can’t cling to hair or skin; they don’t have the body parts for such movements. 

But they can move in bags and clothes. So when that friend or neighbor visits your home with a coat, their luggage or backpacks, bed bug might likely come along with them. 

How to avoid bed bugs from people around you?

Even though it is theoretically possible for a person with bed bugs to bring it into your home, there are steps you can take to avoid the problem. Here are some of them:

Talk to your friend

Gently discuss with your friend about their bed bug problem. You can share tips about how they can control the situation. Be kind and empathetic towards their position.

Avoid having them over

The best way to avoid the transfer of bed bugs into your home is by preventing them from coming over. Talk to your friend that you would prefer not having them in your home until they have dealt with the issue. You can offer to meet them at a public space.

Be watchful if they visit

If you can’t avoid having them in your home, then you need to follow these rules:

  • Make them remove outer clothing including shoes, coats and bags before they enter your home. You can put those in an empty closet where you don’t store your clothes
  • Don’t allow them to use your bedroom when they visit
  • Purchase slipcovers for your chairs and couches before they visit
  • Once your friend leaves, wash and dry those slipcovers at high temperature
  • Vacuum the closet where their clothes were stored
  • Be vigilant when you visit

If you want to visit them, you can do so with a few precautions. Visiting your friend isn’t as risky as having them over. Here are some tips you need:

  • Don’t go into their bedrooms since that’s where the bed bugs might be
  • Use a non-upholstered chair in their home, such as the dining chair. 
  • Use a plastic trash bag to store your items when you visit them, so bed bugs can’t crawl into your things
  • Avoid wearing clothes with a lot of places, folds or pockets when you visit. 

So, can a person who has bed bugs bring them into your home? Yes, they can, but it is a rare occurrence. If your friend has bed bugs, avoid having them over to your home until the bed bugs are gone. If they have to visit, make sure you store their items properly to prevent bed bugs from crawling into your home. After they leave, vacuum, wash and clean your house.  Read More…

Written by 

Hi, I'm Lacie. After personally experiencing the headache and frustrations of trying to reclaim my home from bed bugs, I set out to create a useful blog full of all the tips and tricks I learned along the way. You will learn how to fight them off and rid your home of these pests completely and most importantly - Permanently. Thank you for visiting (: