Moving house should be a fresh start, not a chance for your bed bugs to come along for the ride. If your current home has an infestation, the very last thing you want is to unpack them in the new place. The good news is that a bit of planning before you load the van makes all the difference.
Bed bugs have a fearsome reputation, and it is well earned. Once they settle into a home they are stubborn and quick to spread, which is exactly why so many people assume a house move will solve the problem on its own. It will not. Bed bugs travel happily in furniture, mattresses, bedding, sheets and soft furnishings, so anything you take with you can carry them straight to your new address.
Treat the problem before you pack
The single most reliable way to leave bed bugs behind is to clear the infestation while you are still in your current home. A professional treatment, booked before the move, gives you the best chance of arriving bug-free. Our bed bug team can assess how far the problem has spread and deal with it properly, rather than chasing it from one house to the next.
Alongside professional treatment, there is plenty you can do yourself. Wash all your clothing and bedding on the hottest setting the fabric allows, then dry it on the highest heat too. The high temperatures kill bed bugs and their larvae hiding in the weave of your clothes and linen.
Watch out for old packaging
Once the infestation is gone, do not undo your hard work with the boxes you pack in. Old suitcases and used cardboard boxes are easy to overlook, yet they are a favourite hiding spot for bed bugs. Pack into new, clean, sealable bags instead, and keep them well away from any room that was previously infested. It is a small change that closes off one of the most common ways bed bugs sneak into a new home.
If you spot bed bugs in your current home or in the place you are moving to, get in touch with our team. We will talk through what you are dealing with and recommend the right approach for your home. We are open every day except Christmas Day, from early until late.