Can Someone Who Has Bed Bugs Bring Them to Your House? A Complete Guide on What to Do

How likely is it if someone has bed bugs that they bring them to your house? If you just found out that your friend has bed bugs, are you at risk too?

We will dissect all of the scenarios for you to fully understand the chances of someone with bed bugs bringing them to your house.

Did you recently have a friend over and then find out they have bed bugs? This article is about how easy it is to get bed bugs from someone else. Learn all about “can someone who has bed bugs bring them to your house?” below!

Are Bed Bugs Contagious? (How transferable are Bed Bugs?)

Bed bugs are not contagious like lice or scabies. When answering the question “are bed bugs contagious?” it’s essential to address the question: “do bed bugs jump?” The good news is that they do not jump, which means they are less contagious than some of the other jumping parasites, like fleas.

However, even though bed bugs are not contagious, they can quickly spread around. The just born baby bugs can get on our clothing or backpacks and quickly spread to another location.

The parasite’s ability to transfer from person to person is due to their elusive nature and excellent hitchhiking attribute.

Just because your friend has bed bugs and came over to your house does not mean you will get them. Bed bugs are not contagious like germs; you do not “catch” bed bugs from other people.

Although if your friend has bed bugs and sits in your car, then there is a chance that your vehicle may have a bed bug in it now.

Can You Get Bed Bugs From Hugging Someone?

Bed bugs do not live on us like lice and other parasites, but they can get on our clothing and transfer to another person. Furthermore, bed bugs are not contagious like scabies.

However, you can get bed bugs from hugging someone if a bed bug crawls from their clothing to yours.

Do Bed Bugs Travel on People?

Yes, they can travel in our clothing, but they cannot jump or fly. A bed bug can travel on a person’s clothing and then get deposited into your home.

However, it’s important to mention that they don’t live on our skin like other parasites. Instead, they hitchhike a ride on our clothing, backpacks, luggage, or other items.

These blood-sucking pests are extremely good at hiding and can squeeze into tiny cracks and crevices. Once they are settled in a new location, they begin to multiply after feeding on our blood.

We will find bed bugs around places where we sleep or sit, but they can hitch a ride into your home on clothing, shoes, luggage, or furniture. If you think you may have picked up bed bugs while traveling, carefully inspect your belongings and look for signs of infestation.

The fact that they can travel unnoticed on our clothing is how you can find one bed bug in your home a few weeks after a trip.

When bringing new items into your home, it’s always a good idea to wash them thoroughly to be safe. Don’t let bed bugs ruin your travels! Be aware of the signs and take steps to prevent them from coming home with you.

What to Do if You Just Found Out Your Friend Has Bed Bugs and They Sat on Your Couch Last Week

Many people are misinformed about bed bugs and leather. A bed bug can live on a leather couch just as quickly as on a cloth couch. Are you at risk if your friend has bed bugs?

• Please don’t panic; ask your friend how many bugs they see and how bad the infestation is.

• Perform a thorough inspection of the couch. Take off each cushion and check the seams and zippers. Peel back any seams and check them all. Next, look at the back of the sofa, flip the couch on its back and look at the underside.

• Place some traps for bed bugs on and around the couch.

• You can hire a bed bug sniffing dog to search your home. Like our K9s at Doctor Sniffs, bed bug detection dogs go through training to sniff out small amounts of bed bugs.

Last month we searched a home because the residents got the news that their recent guests had a bed bug infestation at their own home.

Luckily our dogs did not find any evidence of live bed bug activity in the house. Having the K9 search, everything also gave peace of mind to the residents that their friend did not drop off any bed bugs.

Can Someone Bring Bed Bugs to Your House?

Yes, people can quickly bring bed bugs to your house. If someone with a known bed bug infestation comes to your home, there is a good chance that they bring bed bugs to your house.

What to do if you just found out someone who came over last week now has bed bugs?

• Monitor for bed bugs, like bed bug poop, shed skins, or adult bed bugs.

• Vacuum your entire house with a crack and crevice tool. Make sure to empty the vacuum right away. There are good vacuum cleaners for bed bugs listed here.

• Hire a bed bug inspection company to perform a professional inspection.

• Put on bed bug covers for your mattress and box spring. These encasements will minimize hiding spots and allow you to see evidence quicker.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. At zero cost to you, we will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. The pennies it earns will go into the K9’s treat fund.

What to Do If Someone You Know Has Bed Bugs?

If your friend has bed bugs, are you at risk? You may be at risk if you go to their house or hang out with them often. If someone you know has bed bugs, you should only visit with them outdoors.

Keep in mind that you can get bed bugs from giving someone a ride too.

It’s unsafe to go to someone’s house with a known bed bug infestation. If you sit on a chair or couch, you risk picking up a bed bug.

The best thing to do is not visit a house with bed bugs. If you have no choice but to go there, then below, we will give some actionable advice on what to do if you go to a house with bed bugs.

What to Do if You Went to a House With Bed Bugs?

If you went to a house with bed bugs, here’s what to do:

1. Carefully take off all your clothing before entering your house. This includes taking off shoes, belts, and anything else that might be infested.

Pro tip: if you can’t take them off before entering, grab a plastic bag and walk quickly and carefully to your bathroom. Strip in the bathtub and bag everything. Doing this in the bathtub will ensure that any bugs will drop off in the tub.

2. Place all of your clothing in a sealed plastic bag. Sealing prevents bed bugs from spreading to other parts of your house.

3. Take a shower; it will make you feel better.

4. Place all of your belongings into the high heat dryer. If you don’t have a good dryer, you can also use one of the best bed bug heaters: the Thermal Strike.

The good thing about the bed bug heater is that you can place your shoes, belt, backpack, and anything else. Make sure to dry them for 45 minutes or more in a standard dryer.

How to Safely Have Guests Over if You Are Worried About Bed Bugs

Please be aware that there is no way to prevent bed bugs altogether. Although implementing the tips below will reduce your chances of a bed bug coming in on someone’s clothing.

• You will have to discuss your bed bug concerns with your friends openly. It’s not easy to tell someone that you think they might have bed bugs or that you have a fear of these critters, but it’s essential to do so. The best thing to do is to call or text them and tell them that you are concerned about bed bugs before they come over. Then let them know that you would like them to follow some precautions.

• If you have a bed bug heater like a Thermal Strike, you can have it set up and ready to go for when your friend arrives. You’ll have to ask your friend to change out of their clothing in the bathroom, place their clothes into a bag, and then you can heat treat all of their belongings.

• If you don’t have a bed bug heater, you can ask them to place their backpack or purse into an airtight snap bin that you will have by the door. You can spray their shoes with 91% alcohol as an added precaution.

• Do not place a guest’s coat or bag onto your bed or closet. Ensure you have a separate airtight bin where guests can put their belongings.

• After they leave, thoroughly vacuum your entire house, paying particular attention to any of the areas where they sat.

Doing all of this might make you seem overly cautious. However, if you want to minimize your chances of bed bugs, then it’s better to be extremely careful.

Can You Get Bed Bugs From Walking in Someone’s House?

Technically, it will be tough to get bed bugs from walking into someone’s house. You will be safe if you don’t sit or put your bags down.

We walk into homes with bed bugs every day and have never had bed bugs. If you follow the same precautions as we do, the chances are slim to none. Furthermore, please do not sit down on furniture if you know a place has bed bugs.

Here is what to do if you walked into a house or business with a bed bug infestation:

• Spray your shoes with alcohol or Sterifab when you return to the car.

• After you get home, carefully remove your clothing and place it into a high-heat dryer. If you can’t dry it immediately, then bag it until you can.

• You can place your clothing, shoes, and anything else into a bed bug heating machine as an alternative to the dryer.

• Take a shower; it will reduce your anxiety and make you feel better.

Doing these four things will give you an added layer of protection if you walk into a house with bed bugs.

Final Thoughts for “Can Someone Who Has Bed Bugs Bring Them to Your House”? 

So, can someone who has bed bugs bring them to your house? The answer is a resounding yes. If you spend time in close quarters with someone who has bed bugs, there’s a good chance they will find their way into your house too.

And unfortunately for all of us, bed bugs are great hitchhikers. They can travel on clothing, furniture, and even in the crevices of our cars.

So if you think you may have been exposed to bed bugs – whether or not you have any evidence yet – it’s essential to take preventative steps to avoid an infestation.

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