Neighbors have bedbugs, how to protect your apartment? - briefly
Inspect seams, mattress covers, and wall cracks; seal openings and install protective encasements. Wash bedding at high temperature regularly and avoid direct contact with neighboring units suspected of infestation.
Neighbors have bedbugs, how to protect your apartment? - in detail
If units next door are experiencing a bed‑bug infestation, take immediate, systematic actions to keep the pests out of your living space.
Start by sealing all potential entry points. Inspect baseboards, door frames, and window sills for cracks or gaps; fill them with caulk or expanding foam. Install door sweeps on exterior doors and place weather‑stripping around interior doors that open onto common areas.
Reduce the chance of accidental transport. Store clothing, linens, and other fabrics in sealed plastic containers or zip‑lock bags. When returning from public places, place shoes and outerwear in a dedicated entry mat, then transfer items to a laundry basket that can be washed at the highest safe temperature.
Implement a rigorous cleaning regimen. Vacuum carpets, upholstery, and floor seams daily, discarding the vacuum bag or emptying the canister into a sealed bag before disposal. Wash all bedding, curtains, and removable covers weekly in hot water (≥ 60 °C) and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
Create a monitoring system. Place intercept traps—small containers filled with talc‑coated paper or commercial sticky pads—under each bed, along baseboards, and near furniture legs. Check traps weekly and record any captures.
Coordinate with building management. Request a professional inspection of the neighboring unit and common‑area treatments such as heat‑based extermination or approved insecticide applications. Ensure that any chemical measures follow local health regulations and that ventilation is adequate during treatment.
Maintain documentation. Keep a log of inspections, cleaning dates, trap findings, and communications with landlords or pest‑control services. This record supports any future claims and helps identify patterns if an infestation spreads.
By sealing gaps, controlling clothing and luggage, cleaning rigorously, monitoring with traps, collaborating with property managers, and documenting all steps, you create multiple barriers that significantly lower the risk of bed‑bugs entering your apartment.