Carpet cleaning businesses go from house to house cleaning carpets. Because of this many people wonder whether or not they could get bed bugs from a carpet cleaner or rent a carpet cleaner.
In this blog post, we will go over whether or not you can get bed bugs from a carpet cleaner.
Answer To The Question Can You Get Bed Bugs From a Carpet Cleaner:
Bed bugs can live in a carpet cleaner. Many people rent carpet cleaners for this exact reason. In most cases, carpet cleaners surround bed bugs with so much water that it drowns them, but in some cases, the bed bugs will climb into the machine and survive.
They can’t live forever within a carpet cleaner, but they will surely find their way out of it if they are given the chance. That’s why it may be a good idea to go and buy your carpet cleaner, so you don’t have to worry about getting bed bugs from a rental.
What If You Already Have Bed Bugs, Should You Use a Carpet Cleaner to Get Rid Of Them?
A carpet cleaner may kill some, but the thing is, bed bugs don’t just live within your carpet. They can be in couches, beds, and other places within your home.
Also, the odds that you get rid of every single bed bug even in your carpet is low. Some of the bugs may hear the noise the machine makes and hide elsewhere.
Bed bugs are tricky creatures, so it’s best to hire a professional to get rid of them. A professional will know how to properly treat your home and furniture to make sure that all of the bed bugs are gone.
Although we think you should hire a professional, you may try and do it yourself. If you’re someone that wants to give it a go, let’s go over the methods you can use to get rid of bed bugs.
The First Method Is Heat
Heat is a known killer of bed bugs. With the combination of heaters and fans, you can raise the temperature of a room to over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
The problem with this method is that it can be hard to maintain such a high temperature for an extended period. Also, if you have many items in your home, it could take a while to heat everything.
Pros Of Using Heat
- No chemicals involved.
- Very effective.
- Can be done relatively cheaply.
Cons Of Using Heat
- May take a while to heat up everything in your home.
- Can be hard to maintain such a high temperature for an extended period.
- The Second Method Is Chemicals.
Use a Steamer
On surfaces like beds, sofas, and chairs, you can use a steamer to kill bed bugs and their eggs.
Some steamers could get very hot, and obviously, the hotter the steam, the better. But be careful not to burn yourself.
Pros of Using a Steamer For Bed Bugs
- No chemicals are involved.
- Very effective.
- Can be done relatively cheaply.
Cons of Using a Steamer For Bed Bugs
- You have to be careful not to burn yourself.
- May take a while if you have a lot of furniture.
Clothes Dryer
If you think some clothes have been affected by bed bugs, you can put them in the clothes dryer on high heat for about 30 minutes. This will kill any bed bugs or eggs that may be on your clothing.
Make sure that you then put all the clothes in the wash all over again because the dryer will kill the bed bugs, but won’t clean the clothes.
Pros of Using a Clothes Dryer
- It’s relatively easy.
- You probably already have a clothes dryer.
Cons of Using a Clothes Dryer
- Only works for clothing.
- Won’t clean the clothes, just kill the bed bugs.
The Third Method Is to Call a Professional
This is probably the best option because professionals know how to properly get rid of bed bugs. They will also be able to offer you a warranty in case the bed bugs come back.
Pros of Calling a Professional
- They will know how to properly get rid of the bed bugs.
- Warranty in case they come back.
Cons of Calling a Professional
- It will cost you money.
- You may have to wait for an appointment.
How Do Bed Bugs Get Into Your Home?
In many cases, bed bugs make it sound like you’re dirty and don’t take care of things. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are many ways that bed bugs can get into your home, lets’s go over every single one and see if there are any ways it could be prevented.
Used Furniture
Are you one of those people who like to browse the Facebook marketplace for different items, especially couches and other pieces of furniture? Well, you’re not alone.
Many people do this because it’s a great way to save money. However, one of the things you need to be aware of is that you could be bringing bed bugs into your home without even knowing it.
If you do plan on buying a piece of furniture from a different home, make sure you check out the piece of furniture for bed bugs before you bring it into your home.
Apartment Buildings
The more people within the building you’re living in, the greater the chance of bed bugs. If even one person in the building has them, it’s only a matter of time before they spread to other apartments.
Dirty Laundry
Keeping your dirty laundry on the floor could cause bed bugs to be attracted to your home.
It’s best to keep the laundry in a sealed laundry basket until you’re ready to wash them.
Luggage
If you’ve stayed in a hotel or hostel recently, there’s a chance you could have brought bed bugs into your home without even knowing it.
When you’re packing up your suitcase to come home, make sure you check it for bed bugs. Also, when at hotel rooms, make sure you don’t keep the luggage open.
Before you leave the hotel inspect everything, also have them do the laundry if possible right before you leave, which will kill any bed bugs that may be in your clothing.
Used Clothing
This is the same concept as used furniture. If you buy used clothing, there’s a chance you could be bringing bed bugs into your home without even knowing it.
The best way to avoid this is to inspect the clothing for bedbugs before you bring them into your home.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Can bed bugs be spread through vacuum cleaners?
Bed bugs can be spread through vacuum cleaners, this is because when you suck up bed bugs themselves, or eggs and bring the vacuum to another room, once they find their way out they will start to lay eggs and repopulate.
How can you spot bed bugs on your carpet?
The best way to spot bed bugs on your carpet is to look for fecal spots, which are small brown or black dots. You can also look for molted skin, which will be small white eggshells.
You may even spot bites on your skin before you actually spot the bed bugs themselves. If you have bites that appear in a line or cluster, it’s likely from bed bugs.
Conclusion
We hope this blog post answers the question can you get bed bugs from a carpet cleaner. If you think you may have bed bugs, the best thing to do is call a professional to come and take a look.
Also take the steps to prevent them from coming into your home in the first place, such as inspecting used furniture and clothing before you bring them into your home.
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