How can you avoid bringing bed bugs into a new apartment? - briefly
Inspect all furniture, luggage, and clothing before moving in; treat suspect items with heat or freezing. Seal cracks, apply mattress encasements, and vacuum regularly to catch early signs.
How can you avoid bringing bed bugs into a new apartment? - in detail
When moving into a new residence, take steps that stop bed‑bug infestations before they begin. Begin with the premises themselves: request a professional inspection or ask the landlord for recent pest‑control records. If an inspection confirms the unit is clear, keep a written confirmation for reference.
Before transporting belongings, treat all items that could hide insects. For clothing, luggage, and fabric accessories:
- Wash at 60 °C (140 °F) for at least 30 minutes, then dry on high heat.
- Place non‑washable garments in sealed plastic bags and expose them to a portable heat chamber or a dryer set to high for 30 minutes.
- For shoes and hard‑case items, use a garment steamer or a portable heat‑treatment device that reaches 50 °C (122 °F) for 30 minutes.
Furniture and large objects require additional precautions:
- Inspect seams, joints, and crevices for live insects, shed skins, or dark spots.
- Apply a low‑toxicity insecticidal spray approved for indoor use, focusing on hidden areas.
- If possible, arrange for a professional pest‑management service to treat the items before they enter the apartment.
During the move, limit exposure to potential sources:
- Use clean, sealed moving boxes; discard any cardboard that shows signs of damage or infestation.
- Avoid placing items on the floor of the new unit until they have been examined and, if necessary, treated.
- Keep pets away from the moving equipment, as they can carry eggs on fur.
After the move, maintain vigilance:
- Install mattress encasements that are certified to block bed‑bugs.
- Regularly vacuum carpets, baseboards, and upholstered furniture; empty the vacuum canister into a sealed bag and discard it outside.
- Monitor for signs of activity—tiny reddish‑brown spots, shed skins, or live insects—using sticky traps placed near bed frames and furniture legs.
By combining pre‑move inspections, thorough cleaning and heat treatment of personal items, targeted insecticide applications, and ongoing monitoring, the likelihood of introducing a bed‑bug problem into a new dwelling is dramatically reduced.