My friend has bed bugs and sat in my car, what do I do? Bed bugs are microscopic insects that live on people and feed on their blood. They are known for being hardy and can live in many different places, which makes them hard to get rid of. If your friend has bed bugs and sat in your car, the bugs could have come with them on their clothes, luggage, or even on their bodies.
This detailed guide will show you the steps you need to follow to deal with this problem and stop it from spreading to your car and home.
My friend has bed bugs and sat in my car
Don’t be upset if your friend has bed bugs and sat in your car. Do these instead:
1. Take a look at the situation
First of all, don’t freak out. Bed bugs are annoying, but no one knows that they spread diseases. Be cool and figure out what’s going on. Think about these:
How long your friend was in your car?
If your friend simply sat in your car for a brief time, the chances of bed bugs getting into your car are low. But the risks of infestation went up if they stayed in the car for a long time or left their things behind.
How bad the bed bug problem is at your friend’s house?
If the bed insect problem at your friend’s house is small and confined, the chance of you getting it is reduced. If the infestation is bad, there is a higher chance that bed bugs will catch a ride on your companion.
Bed bugs can stick to clothes, luggage, and other personal goods. If your acquaintance had any of these things with them, bed bugs are more likely to get into your automobile.
2. Carefully inspect your car
“My friend has bed bugs and sat in my car,” that’s OK. Check your car interior right away for any symptoms of bed bugs. Keep an eye out for the following signs:
a. Live bed bugs
Bed bugs are petite, oval-shaped, and have a reddish-brown color. They hide in the cracks, seams, and folds of car seats, floor mats, and upholstery. Look for them with a flashlight.
b. Bed bug fecal matter
Bed bugs’ waste is microscopic, dark, and looks like little pellets. Look for these on your car seats, floor mats, and other places where bed bugs might hide.
c. Eggs
Eggs of bed bugs are quite small, whitish, and cylindrical. They are commonly seen in groups, and it might be hard to find them. Look for them in folds, seams, and other places where they can hide.
d. Shed skin
Bed bugs shed their skin as they mature. This is called molting. Look for small, clear skins that have been shed in your car.
Move on to the following step if you notice any symptoms of bed bugs due to your friend sat in your car and has bed bugs. If not, keep an eye on your car for a few more weeks to be sure there are no bed bugs.
3. Clean your car and treat it
If you think or know for sure that your car has bed bugs after your friend sat in it, do the following to get rid of them:
a. Vacuum your car interior
Use a vacuum with a hose attachment to clean the inside of your automobile, paying special attention to seams, folds, and cracks where bed bugs might hide. To stop the spread of bed bugs, throw away the vacuum bag or its contents in a sealed plastic bag.
b. Clean with steam
Bed bugs can be killed at every stage of their lives, even when they are just eggs. You can clean your car seats, floor mats, and upholstery with a steam cleaner. Make sure the steam gets to at least 120°F (49°C) for the bed bugs to die. Findings published by the National Library of Medicine show the lethal time estimates for 50 and 99% mortality of bed bugs exposed to temperatures below the lethal temperature of 48.3 °C for adults and 54.8 °C for eggs.
c. Spray insecticides
Many insecticides on the market are made just for bed bugs. Choose a product that is safe to use in cars and carefully follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Make sure there is enough airflow before, during, and after application.
d. diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a natural powder that can kill bed bugs by destroying their outer shells.
Dust the inside of your car, paying special attention to seams, cracks, and other places where dirt can hide. Leave the diatomaceous earth in place for a few days before you vacuum it up.
Items in your car should be put in plastic bags and washed with warm water and soap. This will stop bed bugs from spreading to things like car seat coverings and floor mats that can be taken off.
Bed bugs and their eggs can be killed by washing these things in hot water and drying them on high heat.
Check for bed bugs after some time and treat again if any are still there. After cleaning and treating your car, keep an eye out for any symptoms of bed bugs. If you see any more evidence of an infestation, you should repeat the operation.
Meanwhile, vinegar may not be the treatment option you need for bed bugs in your car.
4. Keep bed bugs out of your house
After you cure your car, it is also important to stop bed bugs from getting into your home. Take the following measures into consideration to stop bed bugs spread into your car:
1. Change your clothes before you go inside
If you’ve been in your automobile, change your clothes before you go inside. Put the garments that could be contaminated in a plastic bag and seal them. Then wash them in hot water and high heat.
Do not walk into your home wearing the same clothes if your friend has bed bugs and sat in your car.
2. Check your personal belongings and clean them
If you’ve kept things in your car, check them for symptoms of bed bugs. Vacuum or wash objects as needed to get rid of bed bugs or their eggs.
Do not underestimate the need for proper cleaning of personal items, especially those your friend handled.
3. Inform your friend and family
Tell your family and friends everything you know about bed bugs so they can recognize the hazards and take the right steps.
If possible, let your friend know about the development to help them determine if they have a bed bug infestation in their home. Be polite when informing them about possible bed bug infestation in their home; it can be embarrassing though.
4. Stay alert
Check your home often for symptoms of bed bugs. If you see any of these indicators, you should act swiftly to solve the problem and stop the problem from getting worse.
Keep checking your car regularly for any sign of bed bug return after the treatment.
Final thought – friend has bed bugs and sat in my car
While your friend may be the source of bed bugs in your car, it’s also possible that they may not be the source. So, make sure you correctly determine the source to help your treatment adventure.
Also, don’t hesitate to inspect your home for signs of bed bugs. And when the control is beyond your DIY skills, talk to a specialist exterminator for advice and help.
