how do you get bed bugs

You get bed bugs ( when they hitchhike into your home on belongings, furniture, or clothing from an already infested area. They do not fly or jump, and having them is not a sign of poor hygiene or a dirty house.

Common Ways Bed Bugs Spread

• Travel and overnight stays. Bed bugs are common in high-turnover spots like hotels, motels, cruise ships, and vacation rentals. They crawl into suitcases, duffel bags, and folded clothes left on beds or floors.
• Secondhand furniture and thrifted items. Used mattresses, bed frames, couches, and upholstered chairs are major sources of infestations. Because their bodies are flat like a credit card, bugs and their tiny eggs hide deep inside seams and joints.
• Shared walls in multi-unit buildings. In apartments, condos, and dorms, bed bugs can crawl between neighboring units. They travel along plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, and wall voids.
• Crowded public spaces. You can occasionally pick up a stray bug on a backpack, purse, or coat in places with heavy foot traffic. Common spots include public transit, movie theaters, schools, and offices.
• Visiting guests. Friends, family, or service workers can unknowingly bring bed bugs into your home on their bags or outer clothing.

What Attracts Them Once Inside

• Human warmth and breath. According to Orkin, bed bugs are drawn to body heat and the carbon dioxide you exhale while sleeping.
• Dirty laundry. They are also attracted to the scent of human sweat left on worn clothing.
• Dark hiding spots. The US EPA notes that bed bugs hide during the day in mattress piping, box springs, drawer joints, and cracks near sleeping areas.

Common Misconceptions

• Dirt and clutter do not cause them. While clutter gives bed bugs more places to hide, an infestation only starts when a live bug or egg is physically brought inside. Users on Reddit and Quora consistently agree that spotless homes are just as likely to get bed bugs as messy ones.
• Pets rarely carry them. Bed bugs strongly prefer human hosts and do not live in pet fur the way fleas or ticks do.