Bed bugs are one of the most frustrating pests a homeowner or renter can encounter. They are tiny, elusive, and incredibly resilient, and once they show up, they are much harder to get rid of than most people expect.
But before panic sets in, it helps to understand how bed bugs get into your space in the first place. More importantly, knowing this can help you take the right steps, not the risky DIY ones, to protect your home or business. And if you do find bed bugs, the best option is expert bed bug control by trained professionals like Phantom Pest Control.
Where Bed Bugs Come From?
Unlike some pests that invade because of cleanliness or food scraps, bed bugs don’t care how tidy your home is. They hitch a ride into your environment through everyday activities.
Here are the most common ways people get bed bugs:
1. Travel and Luggage
Bed bugs are notorious hitchhikers. When you stay in a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb, they can latch onto your luggage, clothes, or personal items. You might not notice them at all; they’re tiny and very good at hiding.
When you bring your bags home, those bed bugs can spread into your bedroom, living room, or other spaces.
2. Secondhand Furniture or Clothing
Used furniture and secondhand clothing are great for your wallet, but not always great for pest control. Bed bugs often hide deep within couches, mattresses, dressers, or jackets and pants.
If these items enter your home without inspection, the bed bugs go with them.
3. Shared Walls, Apartments, and Multi-Unit Living
If you live in an apartment or condo, bed bugs can travel between units through walls, electrical outlets, or shared spaces. Even if you haven’t travelled or brought anything new home, bed bugs can still find their way in from a neighbour’s space.
4. Visitors and Guests
People visiting your home, friends, family, pet sitters, repair workers, could unknowingly bring bed bugs with them, especially if they’ve travelled recently or stayed in places with infestations.
5. Workplaces and Public Spaces
Bed bugs don’t stay confined to homes. They can be found in offices, movie theatres, gyms, transit stations, and other public places. If you sit on a chair, bench, or couch that’s infested, bed bugs can crawl onto your clothes or bags and be carried back home.
How Bed Bugs Spread Once They’re in Your Space?
Once bed bugs enter your home, they’re experts at hiding and multiplying quickly.
Some things to know about bed bugs:
- They hide in cracks and crevices, particularly around beds, box springs, furniture seams, baseboards, and electrical outlets.
- They feed on blood, usually at night, leaving itchy welts and signs like dark spots or eggshells on mattresses and upholstery.
- They can reproduce quickly, with females laying hundreds of eggs in just a few weeks.
This means that even a small introduction can turn into a larger infestation if not dealt with properly.
Why DIY Doesn’t Work and Can Make Things Worse?
When people discover bed bugs, their first instinct is often to Google “how to get rid of bed bugs yourself.” But this is exactly the step that often makes the problem worse.
Here’s why DIY methods fail:
Bed Bugs Hide Where You Can’t See Them
They don’t stay out in the open. Spraying visible bugs doesn’t reach the ones deep inside walls, furniture, or floorboards.
Chemical Treatments Used Without Expertise Can Be Ineffective
Over-the-counter sprays might kill a few bugs on contact, but they rarely reach the nest or egg stage.
Inconsistent Treatment Leads to Resistance
Bed bugs that survive weak treatments can become harder to kill over time.
Heat and Steam Require Precision
Temperature-based treatments can work, but only if done correctly. Too little heat won’t eliminate the bugs, and too much can damage your home.
Because of how bed bugs behave and how quickly they spread, the only reliable solution is professional bed bug control from trained technicians.
Why Hiring Professional Bed Bug Control Matters
At Phantom Pest Control, we handle bed bug infestations with methods that are:
- Safe for your family, pets, and property
- Designed to reach hidden bed bug hotspots
- Backed by experience in real infestations
- Customized to your specific situation
We don’t spray and hope; we inspect, identify, treat, and follow up to ensure the infestation is truly gone. Our professionals know where bed bugs hide, how to treat those areas, and how to prevent re-infestation.
One of the treatments that sets us apart is Aprehend®. This is the most advanced bed bug treatment available, using a bioinsecticide that targets bed bugs at all life stages, including eggs. Aprehend® works by spreading on surfaces where bed bugs travel, ensuring that even hidden insects are eliminated. It’s safe for your home, pets, and people, and is highly effective when applied by our trained technicians.
Don’t Fight Bed Bugs Alone! Contact Phantotm Pest Control
Don’t let bed bugs take over your home or business. At Phantom Pest Control, we offer reliable bed bug control services in the Metro Vancouver area, including Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, North Vancouver, Richmond, Coquitlam, and surrounding communities. Our experienced team can help identify, treat, and eliminate bed bugs from your space so you can sleep without worry.
Call today to schedule your inspection and get expert bed bug removal with Aprehend® treatment, because when it comes to pests, you deserve a real solution, not a DIY gamble.
