Bed bugs can survive anywhere if their host is available every day. What if I have bed bugs in my car? For months, I struggled with bed bug infestations in my car.
From using smelly insecticides to avoiding my car for months, I tried many ways to get rid of them. I have finally found out the best way to prevent the bugs in my car. In this article, I will walk you thru all the ways that helped me get rid of them.
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What If I have bed bugs in my car?
Follow these steps given below to check your car for bed bugs:
- Remove all trash and clutter from areas where bed bugs could hide.
- Examine all areas of the vehicle thoroughly, looking for bed bugs along with the seats, seams in your car seats, in the glove compartment and console, and even in the ceiling panel above the seat.
- Inspect the area around your seats, floor mats, and rugs with double-sided tape or a lint roller. Tape or a lint roller should be pressed into all crevices.
- Pull the seat back and inspect it for any bed bugs. Baby bed bugs may be difficult to spot, so keep an eye out.
- If you discover signs of an infestation in your vehicle, take quick action.
How Did Bed Bugs Get into Your Car?
Bed bugs can enter your vehicle if they get onto your clothing, furniture, bags, or other items that you bring with you. They are rarely found in large numbers in cars because they must be brought in. They are unlikely to crawl that far away from a sleeping area on their own.
You might probably be the reason they get into your car. Bed bugs are able to survive in a car for an extended period. Thus, it is necessary to get rid of them as soon as possible before they develop an infestation.
What will drive bed bugs away?
Bed bugs generally hate the smell of strong scents. They often avoid places where there is a strong odor. The following are some of the scents that drive bed bugs away. You can repel them using these household items;
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Tea Tree Oil
- Lavender Oil
- Blood Orange Oil
- Powdered Pepper
- Lemon
- Cinnamon
How to tell if you have a bed bug infestation in your car?
Looking for physical signs of an infestation is the simplest way to tell if you have a bed bug infestation in your car, particularly around fabrics or small crevices where the bugs could hide.
Bed bugs leave dark spots the size of grains of sand. These are the spottings of bed bugs, and their skin shedding is the clue as to whether you have an infestation or not.
Check your home and car for bed bugs if you start getting small, red, and itchy bed bug bites.
Steps that help to get rid of bed bugs in your car.
These are steps that I followed to get rid of bed bugs in my car.
Steam cleaning
Bed bugs can be killed using both wet and dry steam cleaners. They cannot tolerate higher temperatures and will be killed instantly. They can also get into cracks and fabrics in your car, where bed bugs may be hiding.
When using a steam cleaner, make sure the airflow isn’t so powerful that it scatters the bed bugs rather than killing them.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, which are tiny aquatic organisms. The skeletons of diatoms are made of silica, a mineral. It’s found in various products and, in powder form, can be used as a pesticide.
Diatomaceous earth absorbs fats and oils from the exoskeletons of bed bugs. As a result, they get dried out and die. It must sit undisturbed for an extended period in order to dry out the bed bugs.
After using diatomaceous earth, thoroughly clean the inside of your vehicle. While diatomaceous earth is safe to use, breathing it in can irritate your nose and throat. When using it on your car, use caution.
Heat
Temperatures above 113 degrees Fahrenheit are capable of killing bed bugs. If you park your car in direct sunlight on a hot day, it may get that hot, but you will most likely need assistance to raise the temperature of your vehicle.
Before parking your car in the sun for several hours, try covering the windows with dark fabric or plastic garbage bags. You could also use a portable heater.
Car fumigation for bed bugs
Fumigation, particularly in confined spaces such as a car, can be hazardous. Never attempt to use chemical pesticides or fumigation in your vehicle on your own. Speak with a professional if you believe your vehicle may require fumigation.
How to prevent an infestation
The foremost way to avoid an infestation is to regularly check for bed bug signs. Other methods for preventing an infestation in your car include:
- Make sure it is in good condition before putting used furniture in your car or home.
- Reduce the amount of trash and clutter in your vehicle so that bed bugs have fewer places to hide.
- Vacuum and clean the inside of your vehicle regularly.
- If you use a shared laundry facility, transport your clothes in plastic bags to and from the laundry.
- Avoid bringing beds and blankets from a vacation. Inspect your sleeping areas. Use a luggage rack at hotels instead of putting your bag on the floor or bed, and thoroughly inspect your luggage and clothes before leaving for home.
How to Stop Bed Bugs From Infesting or Re-Infesting Your Car?
Following the methods mentioned earlier can stop infestation and re-infestation by maintaining a clean environment. It is mandatory to always check the car after getting rid of the infestation. regular measures will put you at low risk and prevent bed bugs infestations
What do you do if you find bed bugs in your car?
Do not panic if you find any bed bugs in your car. Always try to look for the signs of infestations such as spottings and skin shedding. This helps you to find their hiding place in your car. After this step, You start taking the required measures to get rid of them from your car.
Can bed bugs survive in a car?
Bed bugs are the naughtiest pests, and they try to hide in the narrowest places possible. They can survive in the car for about a few months without feeding on their hosts.
Once they are in regular contact with the host, they start developing an infestation that worsens it. Thus, You should always inspect your car been if you do not find any signs of infestations.
