Reader Question: how easy is it to spread bed bugs?
By nobugsonme on Oct 12, 2007 in bed bugs, bedbugs, best practices, chairs, clothing, dry cleaning, dryer, laundry, mattresses, sofas, spread, tips, workplace
A reader writes,
Hello,
I found your site and wanted to ask a question. I rent an NYC apartment and it has been confirmed by an exterminator that we have bed bugs. I am wondering about the transportation of bed bugs. For example, I work in a corporate office…What are the odds that I’ve transported the bed bugs to the office? Can they be living on my chair at work? Can they be transported through hugging or close contact with others? I check my clothing and have not seen any bugs walking around on myself or clothing, but can the eggs be transported by any of the above situations?
Thank you so much in advance for your feedback.
Best regards,
bugginINlowerNYC
Hi bugginINlowerNYC,
Sorry for your bed bug troubles. The bad news is that bed bugs can spread. They can catch a ride in your clothing or bag, and hop off somewhere else to start a new life. It’s worth considering this possibility, as you are. The good news is they don’t spread that easily, and it is possible to avoid this using some precautions.
It’s also worth noting that they can bite during the daytime, a fact which some people just don’t acknowledge. If bed bugs are in a school, a corporate office, or somewhere else where people are not sitting or lying down at night, they will bite by daylight.
Let’s take your questions one by one:
I am wondering about the transportation of bed bugs. For example, I work in a corporate office…What are the odds that I’ve transported the bed bugs to the office?
First of all, don’t panic. It happens, but I would say it is a small percentage of people who report this.
Though few people report this happening, we do also encourage people to take precautions against it. If it does happen, not only can you create a stressful situation at work, but you are also likely to reinfest yourself at home, even if treatment at home is going well.
Precautions might include carefully inspecting purses, shoes, etc. and treating them in appropriate ways if necessary; storing them in the home carefully; washing and drying clothing on hot and storing it in sealed containers (e.g. XL ziplocs) before use; showering and dressing in this cleaned-dried-sealed-up clothing directly before going out to work or anywhere else.
If, instead, you sit around at home, then hop up, grab a bag off your (possibly infested) sofa, hop in the car, and go to work (friend’s home, etc.) then you are more likely to bring bed bugs elsewhere.
And while few people have reported taking them to work, many people have reported giving them to relatives, friends, etc.
Finally, this is not your situation, but for others out there, some folks think they have bed bugs at home, where they might actually be bitten at work. Since bite marks and itching seem to appear after one is bitten (anywhere from a few hours to the next day or longer), it is possible to be bitten at work and think you are bitten at home. Keeping a log of when new bites appear might help you pinpoint this. Most people seem to first notice new bites sometime the day after being bitten: in the morning, afternoon, or evening, in many cases. Lots of Bedbuggers notice them after a warm or hot shower, or exercise, suggesting that heat can “bring them out” somehow. That is based on anecdotal evidence; unfortunately, this stuff has not really been studied yet.
Can they be living on my chair at work?
Yes–or, for that matter, a chair at home. Sofas, soft chairs, desk chairs, anything really: if you sit there for long periods (working at your desk, zoning out at home in front of the internet or a movie), you can be bitten. And they are likely to hide out near where they feed.
But remember– in addition to beds or chairs, bed bugs can actually live in the room itself (under baseboards, in floor cracks, around edges of carpeting, even behind electrical plates).
Can they be transported through hugging or close contact with others?
It is possible, but not easy. As per the first answer above, they will “hitchhike” in your bag, or even an item of clothing. If you are wearing washed, clean clothes, and if you take care to store items like coats and shoes properly, then it would be difficult for them to do so. Also, even if they did hitchhike, say in a trouser cuff or bag, they would not likely ride around very long. They want to bite you and then run off and hide inside something that is not moving!
Again, this does not apply to your situation, but we have heard of extremely serious infestations of people who did not bathe or change their clothing regularly, who were walking around covered in bed bugs. This is a rare situation, but it can happen.
I check my clothing and have not seen any bugs walking around on myself or clothing, but can the eggs be transported by any of the above situations?
It is possible a bed bug could have left an egg in your clothing. However, eggs take 6-17 days to hatch according to this Cornell fact sheet.
So if you’re washing your clothing and storing it as we describe during your infestation, this should not be a problem. Washing and drying on hot will kill bed bugs and eggs. If a hot wash will damage your clothes, Dr. Michael Potter has done some research on drying dry items on hot (which should be safer for items not suitable for machine washing and drying together). These FAQs about dealing with clothing should help.
For the benefit of others, I should point out that the precautions are not difficult in and of themselves, but they become moreso if you a lot of people in your home, or live with elderly people, children, people with various disabilities, or even adults who do not want to participate. I do not discount these difficulties, but am simply suggesting what has worked for others.
I hope other readers will comment with additional suggestions, questions, or comments.
content rss
lieutenantdan | Oct 12, 2007 | Reply
Hi bugginINlowerNYC,
Sorry about your situation, I understand what you are going through.
Two people that I work with had bed bugs before I did. I did not know this until after I discovered my infestation. Did I bring bbs home from work, I actuall made a list of thirty or so ways that I could have become infested so we will never know. I have my own office so I contacted facilities and they had an exterminator spray once, a crazy PCO showed up at three in the afternoon, I told peolpe that I saw a mouse which we have had people complaining about which kind of saved me, keeping my secret. Weeks after the spray I brought in my steamer and steamed twice a week for a couple of weeks and sprayed with the stuff that the PCO left for me to use. I would stay late and after most people left I would battle the possible bugs. I also spread Food Grade FreshWater DE in tactical areas. I still use Steri-Fab on my chair but do not steam the office now but I have thought about steaming again. You are probably in for a long hard war just remember that you must fight and win, this will take much work and hardship but take no prisoners. This country is experiencing a bed bug epidemic and those who have not experienced an infestation yet may experience an infestation in the future.
This site will help you through this.
nobugsonme | Oct 12, 2007 | Reply
I did not get the impression buggin thought s/he had gotten bed bugs from the office, and in the absence of a strong feeling that s/he had (as LtDan had in his case), I would not rush to treat it.
I also think that treating your office yourself can be a bad idea. Others in the office may have allergies or chemical sensitivities you are not aware of and so spraying “stuff the PCO left” or that you buy could be harmful, even if used correctly. People have a right to know what is being sprayed around them, and even though the PCO may not notify every employee, they are licensed to apply the substances properly. Steam is not dangerous but can cause mold growth, and I think there’s a big difference between doing this stuff to your own home, and doing it in a place where others are working.
If you really think there are bed bugs at work (you’re bitten, see them, or as in LtDan’s case, a co-worker tells you they had them at home and then you get them at home, where work does seem a likely possible conduit), then I would press for better professional treatment at work. The plus side of talking to co-workers and making sure everyone knows what’s going on is that they will be more alert should they see or feel anything strange.
It’s been a few years from the Anthrax scare, too, but if I saw little DE trails and such at work, I would be a bit freaked out, to be honest, and angry my co-worker was doing this. LtDan, I don’t really want to get into an argument about this–you have stated your position and I have mine. So let’s leave this point for others to comment on.
Winston O. Buggy | Oct 12, 2007 | Reply
While yes you can transport little cimex from the office, compared to the number
of folks who have had the cuddly critters and also work it just does not seem that
prevalent. In order for take your bed bug to work day to be a success for the bed bug it first has to end up being removed from the home. Second they have to make the trip in without being side tracked or side swiped. Once at the office they will crawl off not hop (no bugs u know better) and then they will stay in the area of either the cloths closet, cubicle or work station. Obviously clutter as at home is your enemy. They will eventually look to hook up with a meal which may be with the one who brought the little sucker in. As it makes itself at home and if it’s a female it may raise a family of adventurous young instars who will explore the great beyond.. your space. Then you have to go through a reverse process of bringing them home.
While monitor traps and tape are not the best they are a tool USE THEM. I have
dealt with folks in the social service sector who have clients they know have
bed bugs and they take steps according to the threat level. Bagging items,
at work and at home. hanging coats in travel bags, using attach e cases instead of
fabric bags etc. As far as pesticides at work, if you can see it it is probably in the wrong spots for bed bugs. Also application in an office is legally limited to certified technicians and applicators. While material like Steri - fab may work it must be done after hours and is flammable, can discolor and cause ink to run. DE would not be recommended in a work environment and would certainly invoke the attention and ire of those around you as well as other employment and airborne contaminant issues.
Obviously the closer contact you have with co workers or their belongings the
increase in possible hitchhiking.. Hey how about coats at a party not likely
but possible now lay them on the bed, increase in possibility, but that doesn’t mean they are going to run out and get on the coats, now if you lay on top of the coats…
hopelessnomo | Oct 13, 2007 | Reply
Right, problem is it’s all speculative.
What would a bedbug do if it manages to crawl onto your jacket? What does it do as it finds a seam and settles in? You leave home, get on the subway, hang up your jacket… why would it leave your jacket? Once it’s on the hanger or, let’s ratchet up the tension, over your chair, does it stay put or does it decide to come out? Why?
I’m sure the answer is nobody knows. Has it been stressed by exposure to pesticides and therefore in some bedbug spiral of erratic, self-destructive behavior that is guaranteed to get it smushed under a kleenex? Has it fed? Does it smell another bedbug on your co-worker’s coat? If so, does it smell the “it’s safe here, come on over–and get this, there’s actually four of us here!” chemical or the “danger!” chemical? If none of these are particularly relevant, can it simply need to check out the new environment in order to find a better harborage? Cause we know it’s not a stupid bedbug and it already figured out that your weirdly moving coat ain’t it. But nobody is sleeping yet. Unless it’s got the munchies right then and there…
The guess that kept me sane was that it would stay put and I would just end up taking it back home. Wishful thinking, no doubt, but I don’t see a bedbug leaving its harborage, however temporary and new it may be to it, without good reason.
Here’s the problem. People bring all kinds of crap from home to work. And then leave it there. For days and days. They get their ebay “finds” shipped to the job, naturally. They collect their dry cleaning and forget it in the closet. Or it’s suddenly warm out and they leave the stupid jacket in the closet. For months.
You can take care of yourself if you have an infestation but there isn’t much you can do about the situation in general. There will be others who don’t yet know they have an infestation. And others who know they have an infestation but haven’t figured out the ways to minimize risks to others. Or don’t care.
Not much you can do, really. And when there’s only a limited number of things under your control, you have to relax about the situation or go crazy.
Of course, one thing you can do, maybe, is to sabotage nap time for those annoying power nappers in your midst. Honestly, get them to wake the hell up.
hymenoptera | Oct 13, 2007 | Reply
I say we all wear bed bug t shirts and have people ask
about them and then you can wake them up.
freakingout | Oct 28, 2007 | Reply
I have not confirmed I have bedbugs, but am quite sure I am beginning a livin nightmare. I have children and a dog. I am already concerned that I have passed bugs on to loved ones as I’ve had overnight visits recently. Once with a big bag of dirty laundry. I am terrified to tell them. Quickly coming out of denial though. I’ve notified my landlord and he is sending an exterminator tomorrow. Please offer any advice as I begin this battle. I can’t isolate my children. I’m prepared to toss everything. I fear the infestation is grand as I found an engorged bug on my bed. Itchiness began a couple of months ago, but no notable bites on any of us. Strange smell in recessed cabinet has loomed for awhile. Smelled must and I thought I didn’t get some things clean enough. I became suspicious when I read Apartmentherapy; only because I felt itchy. I didn’t notice any other signs until the other day when itchiness persisted. I looked in the bed to find casts and then a day later the bug. Do I begin by telling all?
nobugsonme | Oct 28, 2007 | Reply
freakingout,
sorry you are going through this.
Do NOT panic, do not throw your stuff out. Not now. The PCO will need to inspect before you remove all evidence, and will also tell you if things need throwing out or not. Most things don’t. Read the FAQ on choosing a PCO and try to help your landlord choose a good one, if s/he does not already have one in mind. Get the PCO’s prep sheet and follow it. At minimum, this involves washing all clothing on hot / drying on hot. Our FAQs cover what to do if items can’t be washed/dried on hot. Do NOT move your stuff around, or you may spread them. Do not throw things away, unless it is stuff you would throw out anyway (and then make sure it is sealed in an airtight manner). If you dispose of other things, I can almost guarantee you a neighbor will take them, labelled or not, and use them, and by doing so, bring them into other parts of the building (if it’s a multi-unit). Read the FAQs. If you have questions, post them. If you need support, click the “Forums” button at top right (blue bug).
hymenoptera,
the bedbugger.com t-shirts are coming, sooner than you think. i expect they’ll be popular :-).
Felicia Valentin | Apr 8, 2008 | Reply
quick question how fast do bed bugs multiply??
nobugsonme | Apr 9, 2008 | Reply
Pretty quickly. If you’re thinking about putting up with them for awhile, don’t!
Susanne | May 7, 2008 | Reply
I live in my dad’s downtown apartment that he uses during the week for work, before going home to my parents’ house on weekends. We caught our infestation early, but the first spray wasn’t enough, and we are getting our second today. I was pretty confident that the infestation was confined to my couch and my room, but I have still been forcing my dad to be very careful about what he brings home to my mom! I wash and bag his clothes for him, and have bought him a metal fold-up chair to elevate his small suitcase off the ground/bed.
Just today, I found a dead nymph in his bed as I was striping it for spray number 2. Out of all the bedbug sightings I’ve experienced in the last couple weeks, this was the scariest because it means his room isn’t as “safe” as I’d (naively) thought it was and my biggest fear is him infesting my parents house! My mom and dad do not understand the problem fully, and I do not know if they will handle it well.
My PCO told me there was only a 10% chance of him infesting the house, does this seem accurate?
nobugsonme | May 7, 2008 | Reply
HI Suzanne,
That 10% number seems pretty random and meaningless.
Chances of spreading bed bugs would seem to depend on your/ (your dad’s) behavior, how many bed bugs you have, where they are, and luck. You can probably only control the first item in that list, but it can make a big difference.
We have some FAQs on travel which give tips on how to avoid spreading bed bugs.