
Think That Space Under Your Bed Is Safe? Think Again.
At ECO Bed Bug Exterminators, we’ve seen firsthand how seemingly harmless clutter can turn into a five-star resort for bed bugs. While tossing things under your bed might feel like a tidy shortcut, it can unknowingly create the perfect hiding spots for pests.
Here are 8 things you should never store under your bed—and why even bed bugs would give you a standing ovation for doing so (before they bite you).
1. Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard is a pest’s dream: warm, dark, and filled with hidey-holes. Bed bugs, in particular, love burrowing into corrugated seams and laying eggs in undisturbed areas.
Better Option: Use tightly sealed plastic bins.
2. Off-Season Clothes
Unworn clothes = cozy bed bug condos. If those sweaters were ever in an infested area, even briefly, you may have unknowingly packed up some unwanted hitchhikers.
Tip: Wash and dry on high heat. Store in vacuum-sealed bags or airtight containers.
3. Luggage
Suitcases often return from trips carrying more than souvenirs. Storing them under the bed post-vacation is practically inviting bed bugs to move in permanently.
Pro Move: Store suitcases in a sealed area like a closet—or better yet, the garage.
4. Shoes
Public spaces like movie theaters and buses are hot spots for bed bug transfer. Shoes can pick up eggs, and storing them under the bed can bring the problem straight into your sleeping space.
Try This: Keep shoes in a designated entryway rack or sealed bin.
5. Books and Magazines
Paper absorbs warmth and moisture—just the kind of environment bed bugs love. They’ll happily hide in your latest mystery novel… and the real mystery will be where those bites are coming from.
Solution: Keep bedtime reading to one book at a time. Store others on high shelves away from the bed.
6. Pet Beds or Plush Toys
Fido’s bed under your bed? That’s double the risk. Pet beds, toys, and blankets can harbor bed bugs—especially if your pet snuggles near baseboards.
Pro Tip: Wash pet items regularly and keep them off the floor when possible.
7. Unused Electronics
Old laptops, tangled chargers, and broken gadgets offer lots of crevices for bugs to hide. Heat from some devices may even attract them.
Better Storage: Keep electronics in sealed bins or a tech drawer away from the bedroom.
8. Sentimental Keepsakes
That childhood teddy bear or baby blanket may hold memories—but it could also hold pests if left under the bed in soft fabrics or open containers.
Protect Your Past: Place keepsakes in a sealed, labeled bin stored high off the floor.
Bonus: Signs You Might Already Have Bed Bugs
Even if you’re decluttering like a pro, look out for:
Tiny red or black dots on sheets Musty odor Bites in a line or cluster Shed skins or tiny white eggs Live bugs (small, reddish-brown, flat)
If you’re seeing any of these… it’s time to call us.
Customer Spotlight
“I had no idea storing old boxes and shoes under my bed could cause so many problems. Once ECO Bed Bug came out, they explained everything and got straight to work. After one treatment, the bites stopped—and I sleep so much better now!”
— Marcus J., Baltimore, MD
Declutter Checklist:
- Remove items under the bed
- Replace cardboard with sealed plastic bins
- Wash stored fabrics on high heat
- Vacuum baseboards and floors
- Install bed bug interceptors on bed legs
Call to Action:
Protect your bed. Protect your peace.
ECO Bed Bug Exterminators offers expert inspections and custom treatment plans that work.
Call (410) 929-3420 to schedule your inspection today.






















