Author: ecobedbugmd

Because Bed Bugs Are Sneaky, and So Should You Be!

If you’ve recently undergone a bed bug treatment, you’re probably breathing a sigh of relief. The itchy nights are over, the creepy crawlers are (hopefully) gone, and life can return to normal. Or can it? Here’s the thing about bed bugs: they’re the Houdinis of the pest world. Just when you think they’re gone for good, they could be hiding in the shadows, plotting their comeback.

That’s why follow-up inspections are critical. In this blog, we’ll break down why these post-treatment checkups are your best defense against bed bugs staging a surprise encore.

Why Follow-Up Inspections Are Essential

Bed bugs are persistent little critters. They’ve been around since ancient Egypt, after all, so survival is kind of their thing. Even the most thorough treatments may not kill every last bug or egg. Here’s why:

1. Bed Bugs Are Masters of Hiding:

These pests are tiny, flat, and love squeezing into impossible-to-reach cracks and crevices. It’s easy to miss a few stragglers during the initial treatment.

2. Eggs Are Tough to Kill:

Bed bug eggs are notoriously resilient. Some treatments may kill the adults but leave eggs behind. When those eggs hatch (in about 6-10 days), you could find yourself back at square one.

3. Reinfestation Is Always a Risk:

Bed bugs don’t respect boundaries. They can hitch a ride on a suitcase, a jacket, or even a visitor, and settle right back into your home. A follow-up inspection helps ensure that you’re not dealing with new arrivals.

What Happens During a Follow-Up Inspection?

A follow-up inspection is like a second line of defense, but without the drama of battle. Here’s what the process typically involves:

1. Thorough Examination of Treated Areas:

Pest control experts will revisit all the places bed bugs were initially found, checking for any lingering signs of activity.

2. Monitoring for New Infestations:

Technicians often use specialized tools (like bed bug interceptors or sticky traps) to detect any new movement.

3. Assessment of Adjacent Areas:

Bed bugs are wanderers. If one area was treated, they might have migrated to nearby rooms, furniture, or hiding spots. A good follow-up ensures no new colonies are forming.

4. Re-Treatment if Necessary:

If live bugs or eggs are found during the inspection, targeted treatments can eliminate them before the problem snowballs.

What Are the Signs You Still Have Bed Bugs?

Even with treatment, bed bugs might make themselves known through subtle signs, such as:

• Fresh Bites: Waking up with new, itchy welts could be a clue that some bugs survived the initial treatment.

• Fecal Spots or Blood Stains: Tiny black dots or reddish smears on your sheets are dead giveaways of bed bug activity.

• Molted Skins or Eggs: Finding these in cracks, seams, or corners means the bed bugs might not be gone yet.

How Many Follow-Ups Do You Need?

The number of follow-up inspections depends on the severity of your infestation and the treatment method used. Typically, one or two follow-ups are enough to ensure that your home is bed bug-free. However, some infestations may require ongoing monitoring to guarantee long-term success.

Why Skipping Follow-Ups Is a Risky Move

Skipping a follow-up inspection is like leaving your car unlocked in a sketchy neighborhood—you’re inviting trouble. Bed bugs are experts at bouncing back, and even a single survivor can start a new infestation.

A follow-up gives you peace of mind and ensures that your treatment worked as intended. Think of it as a post-battle victory lap, confirming that the enemy is truly defeated.

ECO Bed Bug: Your Partner in the War Against Bed Bugs

At ECO Bed Bug, we understand that eliminating bed bugs is more than a one-and-done process. Our expert team uses advanced techniques and eco-friendly treatments to tackle infestations from every angle. But we don’t stop there—we emphasize the importance of follow-up inspections to ensure that your home stays pest-free.

With ECO Bed Bug, you’ll get:

• Comprehensive inspections to catch every last bug.

• Expert advice to prevent reinfestation.

• Peace of mind knowing your home is truly bed bug-free.

Schedule Your Follow-Up Inspection Today!

Don’t let bed bugs pull a disappearing act and stage a comeback. Call ECO Bed Bug today to schedule a follow-up inspection or devise a personalized treatment plan. Together, we’ll make sure those sneaky pests are gone for good—no ifs, ands, or itchy bites about it!

Unfortunately, many homeowners unintentionally make the situation worse long before a professional is called. Below are the most common mistakes Baltimore residents make when trying to eliminate bed bugs, along with proven industry guidance to help protect your home and your peace of mind.

1. Responding With Urgency Instead of Accuracy

When a mysterious bite appears or a tiny bug crawls across the bed, it’s natural to spring into action. But rushing into treatment without confirming the cause often leads to unnecessary expenses, misdiagnosis, and more stress.

Better approach:

Start with a professional bed bug inspection. An inspection reveals whether it’s truly bed bugs or something else (carpet beetles, spider beetles, fleas, etc.), and ensures you’re not fighting the wrong battle.

2. Trying to “DIY Them Away” With Store Sprays

Baltimore homeowners often turn to hardware stores or online solutions first. While it may feel like the quickest route, store-bought sprays rarely eliminate an infestation. In many cases, they scatter bed bugs deeper into cracks, behind walls, or into adjacent rooms.

Better approach:

Only licensed professionals use the proper formulations, placement techniques, and equipment needed to eliminate bed bugs thoroughly.

3. Expecting a One-Step Fix for a Multi-Layered Problem

Every Baltimore home is unique — rowhomes, apartments, condos, townhouses, and multi-unit buildings all require different strategies. No two infestations behave the same.

Better approach:

Work with a professional who develops a custom treatment plan based on the layout of the home, severity of the infestation, and nearby activity.

4. Looking Only at the Bed (While Missing Everything Else)

Despite their name, bed bugs rarely stay confined to the mattress. They travel through:

• Headboards

• Bed frames

• Nightstands

• Outlets

• Baseboards

• Sofas and recliners

• Picture frames

They go wherever their host spends time — not just the bed.

Better approach:

A full-home inspection, including sleeping and lounging areas, is the only way to identify all harborage points.

5. Vacuuming… But Forgetting the “Critical Step” Afterwards

Vacuuming is helpful, but only if the debris is handled correctly. Too often, vacuum bags are tossed into indoor trash bins — still alive and ready to crawl out.

Better approach:

Always seal the vacuum bag tightly in a plastic bag, then place it in outdoor trash.

6. Switching Sleeping Locations to Avoid Bites

A very common mistake in Baltimore homes is moving to the couch or another bedroom when bites begin. This nearly always causes the infestation to spread.

Better approach:

Stay in your regular sleeping location until a professional treatment plan is in place.

7. Leaving the Home Temporarily (And Taking Bed Bugs With You)

Whether heading to a family member’s house in Catonsville or staying with a friend in Parkville, moving out of an infested space can unintentionally spread bed bugs to another home.

Better approach:

Remain in your home, limit travel until the root issue is addressed, and allow professionals to guide you on safe practices.

8. Throwing Away Furniture Too Soon

Baltimore residents often toss mattresses, bed frames, and sofas the moment bed bugs are suspected. In most cases, this is unnecessary — and dragging furniture down stairwells, hallways, or sidewalks can spread bugs along the way.

Better approach:

Consult with a professional before discarding anything. Most items can be treated, and those that must be removed should be properly wrapped and labeled.

9. Ignoring Early Warning Signs

A few bites, a small stain, or a single bug sighting may not seem like much — until it grows into a more complex problem.

Better approach:

Address suspicious signs immediately. Early action typically means fewer treatments and faster relief.

10. Delaying Professional Intervention

The longer bed bugs remain unaddressed, the more they multiply, spread, and settle deep into hiding places.

Better approach:

Bring in a licensed bed bug specialist as soon as you suspect activity. Professionals understand how to identify, isolate, and eliminate bed bugs with precision.

Take Control Early — Baltimore’s Trusted Bed Bug Experts Are Here to Help

Whether you live in downtown Baltimore, Owings Mills, Dundalk, or anywhere in between, ECO Bed Bug Exterminators provides thorough inspections, professional treatments, and long-term prevention guidance.

If you believe your home may have bed bugs:

📞 Call: 410.929.3420

The sooner you act, the sooner you sleep peacefully again.

Bed bugs are infamous for their stealthy behavior, resilience, and blood-sucking habits. If you’re dealing with an infestation—or just trying to prevent one—it’s important to understand the feeding patterns of these pests. When do they feed? How often? What happens between meals? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you identify an infestation early and take effective action.

Let’s delve into the fascinating (and unsettling) world of bed bug feeding patterns to uncover their secrets.

When Do Bed Bugs Feed?

Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active at night. They typically feed between midnight and 5 a.m., when humans are in their deepest sleep cycles. The cover of darkness offers safety, as bed bugs are vulnerable to detection and extermination during feeding.

However, bed bugs are adaptable. If their host is active at night and sleeps during the day, bed bugs can shift their feeding schedule to align with their host’s rest patterns. Their primary motivation is access to a stationary host, regardless of the time of day.

How Often Do Bed Bugs Feed?

On average, an adult bed bug feeds once every 5 to 10 days. However, this frequency depends on several factors, including the availability of a host and the bug’s life stage:

    •    Nymphs (Juveniles): Bed bugs in their early life stages must feed more frequently to grow. They require a blood meal after each of their five molts.

    •    Adults: Fully grown bed bugs can survive for weeks or even months between meals, but they prefer to feed regularly if a host is nearby.

A full meal for a bed bug lasts around 5 to 10 minutes. During this time, the bed bug uses specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and extract blood, often leaving itchy welts behind.

How Bed Bugs Find Their Hosts

Bed bugs are masters of detecting humans. They use several sensory cues to locate their next meal:

    1.    Carbon Dioxide: Bed bugs are attracted to the CO2 we exhale while breathing.

    2.    Body Heat: Warm-blooded hosts like humans emit heat, guiding bed bugs to their target.

    3.    Chemical Cues: Bed bugs may also detect certain chemical signatures from the skin.

Once they locate a host, bed bugs crawl to exposed areas of skin, often targeting the neck, arms, hands, and face. Their bites are painless because they inject a numbing agent and an anticoagulant to keep the blood flowing.

What Happens Between Meals?

When not feeding, bed bugs hide. They prefer small, dark crevices close to their host, such as:

    •    Mattress seams

    •    Bed frames and headboards

    •    Behind baseboards or wallpaper

    •    Inside electrical outlets or cracks in furniture

This hiding behavior is why bed bug infestations often go unnoticed until they’re well-established.

Between feedings, bed bugs digest their meal, mate, and lay eggs. A single female can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime, perpetuating the infestation.

Do Bed Bugs Feed on Pets?

While humans are their preferred hosts, bed bugs can feed on pets in the absence of human hosts. Dogs, cats, and other warm-blooded animals can become secondary food sources, although infestations on pets are rare compared to fleas or ticks.

Feeding Patterns: Why Bed Bugs Bite in Clusters or Lines (and Why It Matters)

Ever noticed itchy, red bites on your skin arranged in clusters, straight lines, or even zigzag patterns? It’s no coincidence—it’s the calling card of bed bugs. These tiny pests have a sneaky feeding strategy: they’re cautious diners. Instead of settling down in one spot, they take multiple small “test bites” in a single area, as if sampling a buffet. This behavior leaves behind their signature bite patterns, often found on your arms, legs, or neck.

But here’s the creepy part: it’s rarely just one bed bug doing the damage. In the case of an infestation, you’re likely dealing with dozens feeding simultaneously. That’s why the bites often appear grouped together, almost as if they’ve coordinated their attack. In reality, it’s their collective way of “testing the waters” (or your skin, to be exact).

Why Understanding Bed Bug Feeding Patterns Is Important

Recognizing their feeding habits can help you identify an infestation early and take swift action. Here are some common signs to watch for:

• Bite Marks: Red, itchy welts that often appear in clusters or straight lines.

• Blood Stains: Small, rusty spots on sheets or pillowcases from crushed bed bugs.

• Fecal Spots: Black or dark brown spots near their hiding areas.

• Live Bugs or Eggs: Visible evidence of bed bugs on mattresses, furniture, or other surfaces.

Spotting these signs early can mean the difference between a minor issue and a full-blown infestation. If you’re noticing these patterns, it might be time to call in the professionals—because when it comes to bed bugs, they don’t waste any time settling in!

Tips for Preventing and Managing Infestations

    1.    Inspect Regularly: Check mattresses, bed frames, and furniture for signs of bed bugs.

    2.    Reduce Clutter: Eliminating hiding spots makes it harder for bed bugs to thrive.

    3.    Encase Mattresses and Pillows: Use protective covers to prevent bed bugs from nesting in your bedding.

    4.    Vacuum Frequently: Pay special attention to seams, crevices, and areas near sleeping spaces.

    5.    Call a Professional: If you suspect bed bugs, contact a licensed pest control service immediately for inspection and treatment.

The Bottom Line

Bed bugs may be small, but their feeding patterns and behavior can create big problems. By understanding how and when they feed, you can take proactive steps to protect your home and identify infestations before they escalate.

If you suspect a bed bug problem, don’t wait—address it right away. Contact ECO Bed Bug Exterminators for professional assistance, and reclaim your space from these stealthy invaders. With vigilance and the right approach, you can keep bed bugs from taking a bite out of your peace of mind.

Stay bed bug–free this holiday season with 12 simple prevention tips from ECO Bed Bug Exterminators Baltimore. Keep your home cozy, guest-ready, and pest-free with professional advice and proven tools.

🎶 On the First Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me… a Bed Bug-Free Home!

December is full of joy, travel, and family gatherings — but also plenty of opportunities for uninvited guests (the six-legged kind). Bed bugs love warmth, luggage, and cozy homes just as much as we do, which makes the holiday season a perfect time to brush up on prevention.

So instead of caroling about partridges in pear trees, let’s count down the 12 Days of Bed Bug Prevention — your easy, cheerful guide to keeping these pests away all winter long.

🧳 Day 1: Inspect Holiday Luggage

Before and after any trip, check the seams and zippers of your suitcases. Bed bugs often hitchhike home from hotels, airports, and even rideshares. Store luggage in plastic bins or sealed bags — never directly on your bed or carpet.

🏨 Day 2: Travel Smart, Sleep Smarter

Staying in a hotel or rental? Do a quick 60-second bed check: pull back the sheets and look at mattress corners for black dots or reddish smears. A flashlight from your phone works perfectly. If you see anything suspicious, request another room far from the one you inspected.

🛏️ Day 3: Use Mattress and Box Spring Encasements

Encasements seal out bed bugs and make spotting them a breeze. They also protect your mattress investment long-term.

ECO recommends:

• 🛏️ SureGuard Mattress Encasement (Queen)

• 🪲 SureGuard Box Spring Encasement

Install them on every bed in your home, especially guest rooms before company arrives.

🪳 Day 4: Add Bed Bug Interceptors Under Bed Legs

Interceptors are small traps that catch bed bugs as they climb. They’re discreet, inexpensive, and incredibly effective for early detection.

Try:

  •      ECOPEST Bed Bug Interceptors

Check them once a week — if they stay empty, you can relax with your hot cocoa in peace.

🧺 Day 5: Wash and Dry on High Heat

After guests leave or luggage returns home, wash all bedding, clothing, and travel items on the highest safe heat setting. Dryers are your best defense — 30 minutes on high heat kills all life stages of bed bugs, from eggs to adults.

🛋️ Day 6: Check Couches and Recliners

Bed bugs don’t just live in beds. They can hide in seams of couches, recliners, and even behind baseboards. If you’re noticing bites while watching holiday movies, it may be time for a professional inspection.

🧹 Day 7: Declutter Like You Mean It

Bed bugs love clutter — it gives them more hiding spots. Before decorating or hosting, tidy up bedrooms and living spaces. Focus on under-bed storage and piles of clothes or papers. (Bonus: you’ll finally find where last year’s wrapping paper disappeared!)

🐾 Day 8: Be Cautious with Pet Beds

While bed bugs don’t live on pets, they can hide in pet bedding or near crates. Wash your pet’s bedding on high heat regularly, and avoid placing it against your bed or couch.

🧠 Day 9: Know the Early Warning Signs

Early detection is everything. Watch for:

• Tiny dark droppings or reddish stains on bedding

• Shed exoskeletons (translucent shells)

• Clusters of itchy bites that appear overnight

If you’re not sure what you’re seeing, snap a clear photo and email it to ecollcbedbugs@gmail.com or text it to 410-929-3420. ECO’s experts can identify the issue quickly.

🏡 Day 10: Schedule a Preventive Inspection

Even if you haven’t seen activity, a professional bed bug inspection (link placeholder) offers peace of mind — especially before the holidays. Our trained technicians can check every room visually or with canine assistance.

💨 Day 11: Consider a Preventive Treatment

For frequent travelers or households with guests, a bio-fungicide treatment creates a protective barrier that kills bed bugs on contact for up to 90 days.

It’s discreet, safe once dry, and perfect for keeping your home protected throughout the winter season.

😂 Day 12: Laugh It Off (and Stay Vigilant)

Because let’s face it — everyone’s stressed enough this time of year. The key is staying informed, not fearful. Bed bugs aren’t a reflection of cleanliness; they’re just opportunistic hitchhikers.

So pour yourself some cocoa, take a deep breath, and remember: prevention beats panic every time.

And if you ever need a little backup? ECO Bed Bug Exterminators is only a call or text away.

✨ Bonus: Quick Bed Bug Prevention Checklist

✅ Inspect luggage before and after travel

✅ Use encasements on all beds 

✅ Place interceptors under bed and sofa legs 

✅ Wash and dry bedding on high heat

✅ Keep clutter to a minimum

✅ Schedule your professional inspection 

💬 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re hosting family, traveling, or cozying up for the season, a few simple habits can make all the difference. These 12 days of prevention aren’t just catchy — they’re your secret to staying comfortable and confident all year long.

Start the new year fresh, safe, and bed bug–free.

🪲 Ready to Protect Your Home?

ECO Bed Bug Exterminators offers expert bed bug inspections and preventive treatments in Baltimore and surrounding counties. Our team specializes exclusively in bed bugs — no gimmicks, no guesswork, just proven results.

Schedule your inspection today and enjoy a cozy, pest-free home for the holidays.

Have questions? Email a photo of what you’re seeing to ecollcbedbugs@gmail.com or text us at 410-929-3420 for quick professional feedback.

When you think about air travel, you probably imagine cramped seats, overpriced snacks, and maybe a crying baby or two. What you don’t picture is bed bugs catching a free ride alongside you. Unfortunately, these persistent little pests may be hitching more flights than most people care to admit.

Recent Reports of Bed Bugs on Airplanes

Bed bugs on planes aren’t just an urban legend—they’ve been making headlines recently. Here are a few notable examples:

    •    Turkish Airlines:

    •    In March 2024, a traveler flying from Johannesburg to Istanbul spotted a bed bug crawling on her seat.

    •    In October 2024, passengers on a flight from Istanbul to San Francisco saw bed bugs falling from the ceiling, prompting seat changes.

    •    On another flight from Washington Dulles to Istanbul, a passenger found bed bugs on her blanket and pillow, resulting in multiple bites.

    •    American Airlines:

    •    In October 2024, a first-class passenger on a flight from New York’s LaGuardia to Detroit reported a bed bug crawling up their leg during the flight.

These incidents highlight the challenges airlines face in preventing and addressing bed bug infestations. With high passenger turnover and quick turnaround times between flights, these pests can easily spread undetected. While such occurrences are relatively rare, they underscore the importance of vigilance when traveling.

The Stowaways You Never Invited

Bed bugs are excellent travelers—better than most of us, in fact. With their small, flat bodies and stealthy habits, they can slip into luggage, clothing, and even upholstery without detection. Planes, with their tightly packed seats and constant turnover of passengers, provide an ideal environment for these critters to spread.

Imagine it: a red-eye flight where the passenger in Row 12 is carrying more than just their carry-on. Bed bugs can crawl from their belongings onto the seat, where they patiently wait for their next unsuspecting host. And no, the fact that you’re flying first class doesn’t make you immune. Bed bugs don’t discriminate—they’re equal opportunity pests.

How Do Bed Bugs Get on Planes?

The answer is simple: people bring them. Travelers unknowingly carry bed bugs in their luggage or clothing from infested homes, hotels, or even airport lounges. Once aboard, the bugs can move into fabric seats, carpeting, and even the cracks between seat cushions. Planes, with their global reach, act as highways for these unwanted stowaways.

Signs You Might Not Be Flying Alone

While bed bugs don’t leave a boarding pass, there are some telltale signs of their presence:

    •    Itchy welts: If you leave the plane with unexplained bites, it might not just be dry cabin air irritating your skin.

    •    Tiny stains: Small rust-colored spots on clothing or upholstery can be bed bug droppings (gross, we know).

    •    Actual bugs: While rare, passengers have reported seeing the bugs crawling on their seats or clothing mid-flight.

How to Protect Yourself

While we can’t guarantee a bug-free flight, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk:

    1.    Inspect your seat: Before settling in, give your seat a quick once-over. Look for signs of bed bugs in the seams and cracks of the fabric.

    2.    Pack smart: Use hard-sided luggage, as bed bugs are less likely to cling to smooth surfaces. Consider wrapping your carry-on in a protective cover.

    3.    Avoid placing belongings on the floor: Use the overhead bin or your lap instead.

    4.    Dress defensively: Opt for light-colored clothing to spot any unwanted stowaways more easily.

    5.    Post-flight precautions: After traveling, unpack your luggage outside your home and toss your clothes in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes.

What If You Discover Bed Bugs After Your Trip?

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, these unwelcome hitchhikers manage to make it home with you. If you suspect or discover bed bugs after your trip, don’t panic—but act quickly. Bed bugs are notoriously hard to eliminate without professional help, and the sooner you address the problem, the better.

Contact ECO Bed Bug Exterminators immediately for expert assistance. We specialize exclusively in bed bugs, offering thorough inspections, effective treatments, and follow-up plans to ensure your home becomes—and stays—bed bug free. Our trained technicians know how to handle even the toughest infestations, so you can rest easy once again.

The Bottom Line

While the idea of bed bugs on planes may sound like the plot of a bad horror movie, it’s a reality we shouldn’t ignore. These pests are resilient, sneaky, and opportunistic. The good news? A little vigilance and preparation can go a long way in keeping your travels bug-free.

So, next time you settle into your window seat, take a moment to inspect your surroundings. Bed bugs may be seasoned travelers, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them join your journey! Safe travels—and remember, if bed bugs make an unwelcome appearance, ECO Bed Bug Exterminators is just a call away.

Short answer: Absolutely.

Slightly longer answer: Unfortunately, bed bugs aren’t picky about where they catch a ride — if there’s a seat and a shadow to hide in, they’re hopping aboard.

At ECO Bed Bug Exterminators, we often get asked, “Is it really possible to get bed bugs from a car?”

The answer is yes — especially when it comes to vehicles purchased from independent used car dealerships.

In fact, we recently helped a customer who purchased a used vehicle from a local independent dealer — only to discover clear evidence of a full-blown bed bug infestation.

During our inspection, we found live bed bugs, eggs, droppings, and shed exoskeletons inside the headrest, behind the seat, and hidden in the seat tracks — and they can also be lurking deep in the seams, under the mats, and tucked into the seat frames.

(Unfortunately, that wasn’t listed under “Features & Benefits” on the window sticker.)

Here’s the reality:

At some independent used car lots, vehicles are not always thoroughly cleaned before being put out for test drives or sale.

That means you could be test-driving — or even buying — a vehicle that comes with more than you bargained for.

Why Would Bed Bugs Be in a Used Car?

Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers.

If a previous owner had an infestation at home — or if the car was used heavily for rideshares, rentals, or transporting luggage — it’s very easy for bed bugs to crawl into the fabric, carpeting, or even the seatbelt mechanisms.

And here’s the tricky part:

Without a mattress or couch to settle into, bed bugs cram themselves into tiny, hidden spaces — making them harder to detect until you’re already bringing them home.

Signs of Bed Bugs in a Used Car

If you’re shopping at an independent used car dealership, be sure to check for:

    •    Tiny black specks (bed bug droppings) around seat seams and fabric folds.

    •    Pale yellow eggs or tiny white eggshells tucked into cracks and crevices.

    •    Shed skins — small, translucent shells left behind as the bugs grow.

    •    Actual live bugs, especially hiding in seat crevices, carpet edges, or under mats.

Bonus clue:

If you start feeling itchy after a test drive, it’s probably not just excitement about getting a great deal.

Are Bed Bugs in a Car a Health Risk?

While bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, their bites can cause itchy, allergic skin reactions, significant sleep disruption, and mental stress.

If you unknowingly bring them from your vehicle into your home, you could be facing a much bigger (and far itchier) problem.

How to Protect Yourself When Buying a Used Car

If you’re shopping for a used car — especially at an independent dealership — take a few smart precautions:

    •    Bring a small flashlight and inspect under seats, around floor mats, and inside seat crevices.

    •    Look for black spots, shed skins, or tiny white eggs tucked into hidden areas.

    •    Be cautious with vehicles that have an overwhelming “chemical clean” smell — sometimes it’s more about masking odors than cleanliness.

    •    When in doubt, schedule a professional inspection before making the purchase.

Pro Tip:

If you wouldn’t buy a used mattress without inspecting it, don’t buy a used car without checking the seats!

What to Do If You Suspect Bed Bugs in a Used Vehicle

Don’t panic — but act fast.

Bed bugs won’t stay confined to your car.

Once they hitch a ride into your home, you could face a full-blown infestation that’s much harder (and more expensive) to eliminate.

At ECO Bed Bug Exterminators, we offer specialized vehicle treatments including:

    •    Bio-fungicide spray treatments to target and eliminate bed bugs safely.

    •    Professional steam treatments for deep, high-heat penetration into fabrics and hidden areas.

    •    Follow-up inspections to ensure your vehicle stays bed bug-free.

Because when you buy a car, you should be driving off with horsepower — not hitchhikers.

Think Your Car Might Have Bed Bugs?

Don’t wait until your car — and your home — become infested.

Contact ECO Bed Bug Exterminators today at 410.324.6223 for a professional vehicle inspection and treatment.

(We’ll bring the flashlights. You bring the coffee.)