‘Bed bugs on a train’ sounds like a poorly written sequel to Snakes On A Plane, but it’s really happening. Train lines are being cancelled in the south-west region due to a bed bug outbreak on the carriages, leaving passengers feeling uneasy about travelling. And who can blame them?
Should you accidentally bring a bed bug home, and it manages to lay its eggs and multiply, you’re facing the mother of all pest problems. But how likely are you to pick up a bed bug on your evening commute, and how can you stop yourself from bringing it home in the first place? We spoke to the experts to find out.
What happens if you bring a bed bug home?
If a bed bug manages to lay its eggs and multiply in your home, you’ll find yourself being bitten at night and likely waking up with itchy, raised bumps in the morning. These bites can be sporadic or clustered, sometimes in lines of three where the same bed bug has taken three meals on route. This is just a few bed bug signs to be aware of.
‘Adult bed bugs are small, flat and oval-shaped,’ says James Rhoades, founder of ThermoPest. ‘They are reddish brown in colour and roughly the size of an apple seed. Bed bugs don’t fly or jump, they crawl surprisingly quickly (around 3-4 ft a minute).’
Bed bugs only come out at night, so there will be no sign of the culprits by morning. They will be hiding in dark, secluded places near to where you sleep, so they could be hidden away in the depths of the sofa as much as the bed frame. Eradicating them completely takes weeks or even months with the right treatment, so you need to keep them out of your home at all costs. Usually, bed bugs are picked up in our suitcases in hotels, but how likely are you to pick them up on a train?
How you can pick up bed bugs on a train
Before you start feeling itchy and paranoid, bed bugs are unlikely to travel directly on the clothes you’re wearing. This is predominantly because they don’t like the constant movement, which will likely shake them off. However, anything you’re carrying alongside that’s got a fabric exterior and sitting on the seat or floor is fair game.
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That includes your coat, your bags, or your suitcase – anything made from a fabric that bed bugs can cling on to.
‘Consider luggage and overhead storage as an example,’ says Greg Baumann, founding partner of Pest Control Warrior. ‘If someone’s bag has picked up bed bugs in a hotel, car, bus or train, the insects will seek hidden areas such as zipper seams, folds, and other hidden areas. If you put your bag next to theirs, the bed bugs can move to your bag. Same with checked luggage or even a bag placed under the seat in front of you.
‘While bed bugs are considered a public health pest, note that they do not carry disease. It is a misconception that bed bugs mean that the train was dirty. Bed bugs infest the cleanest of places so that is not an issue. Just consider the amount of people and their bags going on and off a train in just an hour. Chances of spreading are pretty high. It is also not limited to trains. We have seen infestations in planes, ambulances, hospitals, schools, libraries and retirement homes. So don’t panic; be vigilant.’
James adds: ‘The main thing is awareness. If you actually see a bed bug or obvious signs of activity, don’t sit in that area and alert a member of staff so it can be investigated. I would also avoid placing bags or clothing on to a seat where you suspect bed bug activity.’
How to stop yourself from bringing bed bugs home
First thing’s first, do not throw your coat and bag straight on the bed – you’re giving bed bugs the ideal location to set up shop! Instead, follow these steps if you suspect you’re carrying an unwelcome guest:
1. Remove and contain any infested items immediately
Start by inspecting your luggage and carry-ons. Be thorough, checking seams and pockets as well as the underside of suitcases for visible signs of bed bugs.
Do not bring items you suspect are carrying bed bugs into your home and do not drop them on the floor if you’re in a carpeted hallway. Instead contain the items immediately in a sealed bin bag. As soon as a bed bug touches the floor, your bed, or any surface on which it can travel, it will transfer over.
2. Wash anything that’s infested
Anything that can go in the washing machine should be washed on a 60-degree cycle to kill any bed bugs and their eggs. Stick to a long cycle rather than a quick wash. For added measure, you should also run the load through the tumble dryer on a hot setting for 30 minutes to eradicate any that remain.
3. Freeze those that are delicate
Of course, not everything can go in the washing machine. For items that are delicate and can’t handle hot wash and dry cycles, there’s the option of freezing, too.
You just need to pop the items directly in the freezer, bin bag and all, and leave them for four days for the same effect. This will kill any bed bugs as well as their eggs.
4. Steam anything bulky
As for suitcases, thick coats, or anything that’s too large for the washing machine and freezer, you can alternatively also use a clothes steamer. Steam will kill bed bugs when applied directly, so you just need to run it over the item slowly and thoroughly, front and back, covering any crevices and pockets (be sure to turn out the pockets).
5. Vacuum everywhere else
Take the time to vacuum around the home in case any stray bed bugs have fallen away during the process. Cover all floors (carpets and hard floors alike), rugs, reaching beneath furniture and well into the corners.
If you have thrown items straight on to the bed that you now suspect are infested, pay special attention here, too. You should vacuum the mattress as well as the bed frame and reach into any crevices including buttonholes and seams.
Once you’ve finished vacuuming, take the debris outside to contain and dispose of it immediately.
Follow these steps, and you’re unlikely to bring bed bugs home with you from a train. But, whatever the case, you should always inspect your bed if you wake up with bites you suspect are bed bugs and hire in a professional, if needed, for treatment.
