A pest that thrives on movement
Bedbugs have been documented as a human pest for centuries and are found on every inhabited continent. Their resurgence in recent decades is widely linked to increased international travel and the trade in second-hand furniture, which gives them more opportunities to move between locations. Because a single surviving egg can restart an infestation, follow-up treatments are often as important as the initial response.
How bedbugs travel from place to place — and why clean homes are not immune
Bedbugs neither jump nor fly. They spread exclusively by hitchhiking on objects that move between locations: luggage, clothing, backpacks, used furniture, mattresses, boxes, and bedding are all common vehicles. In multi-unit buildings, they can also migrate between apartments through wall openings or utility lines.
A persistent and important misconception is that bedbugs are a sign of poor hygiene. They are not. Bedbugs are attracted to people — specifically to body heat and carbon dioxide — not to dirt or disorder. Even spotless homes and high-end hotels can become infested.
This is why inspection habits matter so much when traveling: checking hotel mattresses and headboards, keeping luggage on racks rather than on beds, and washing travel clothing on high heat after returning home are all practical ways to reduce the risk of bringing bedbugs back.
What actually works: heat, vacuuming, encasements — and when to call a professional
Effective bedbug control requires combining several methods rather than relying on a single treatment. Washing sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and clothing in hot water and drying them on the highest heat setting the fabric can tolerate is one of the most reliable steps, as heat kills both bedbugs and their eggs.
Thorough vacuuming of mattress seams, bed frames, floors, carpets, furniture, and baseboards is equally important. After vacuuming, the contents must be sealed immediately and disposed of outside the home to prevent re-infestation. Reducing clutter also removes the hiding places that make infestations harder to treat.
