How To Kill Bed Bugs In A Car? Step-By-Step Guide

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
14 min read

If you’ve landed on this website, you undoubtedly want to know how to get rid of bedbugs in your vehicle. This is the correct spot for you! We’ll take a look at the steps you need to follow to get rid of the bedbugs in your car.

What are bed bugs?

Small, flat, parasitic insects known as bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are known to feed entirely on the blood of humans and other animals as they sleep. Reddish-brown and wingless, bed bugs are the size of Lincoln’s head on the coin and may survive without a blood meal for several months.

Where are bed bugs found?

From North and South America through Africa, Asia, and Europe, bedbugs are found. When it comes to bedbugs, many people think of regions like Africa and Latin America, but recent studies show that they are becoming more prevalent in developed countries like the United States. Even at five-star hotels and resorts, bed bugs have been identified, and their prevalence isn’t determined by how clean the environment is.

Near where people sleep, bedbug infestations are most common. Dorm rooms and dorm apartments are also included in this list of places to stay for those who need a place to stay. Even when you’re not looking, they can be found hiding in the seams and crevices of furniture like mattresses and box springs, headboards and dresser drawers, as well as in cracks and crevices in walls and behind wallpaper. Although bedbugs have been observed to move more than 100 feet in a single night, they prefer to stay within 8 feet of where people sleep.

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Do bed bugs spread disease?

There is no evidence that bed bugs can transmit disease. Infestation by bedbugs can cause itching and disrupt sleep, making them a nuisance. Itching can lead to excessive scratching, which may increase the risk of a subsequent skin infection.

What health risks do bed bugs pose?

Each person’s reaction to a bite from a bedbug varies. Depending on the severity of an allergic reaction, bite responses might range from no outward traces of the bite to a minor bite mark. An allergic reaction to multiple bites from bed bugs is rare, but medical attention is recommended if symptoms persist.

Let’s Start With Some Science

The Cimicidae family includes bed bugs, which are little parasitic insects. Because of their flattened bodies, these insects may fit into virtually any crevice in your home, causing a great deal of damage.

In addition to crevices in walls, bedbugs can hide in bed frames, the bed, and even in your car. Yes, bedbugs may travel from your home to your car through those little holes! Scary!

Skin rashes and other allergic reactions can be caused by a single bed insect. These parasite insects can potentially harm the resale value of your vehicle.

Here’s how to get rid of them for good, now that you know what they are and how much damage they can do.

How do I know if I’ve been bitten by a bed bug?

Bedbug bites are difficult to detect unless you see bedbugs or other indicators of infection. In order to keep a person from noticing they have been bitten by bed bugs, they inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant into their skin. One to five days after the initial bite, bite marks begin to develop on the victim’s skin. The bite marks resemble those left by a mosquito or flea and are red, swollen, and itchy. It’s possible that the bite marks will occur in a random pattern or a straight line. Insomnia, anxiety, and skin problems can all be caused by bed bug bites, as can excessive scratching.

Because everyone’s reaction to bed bug bites is unique, it’s possible that you won’t see any bite marks or other telltale indicators of being bitten. The bites of bed bugs might be harmful to persons who are allergic to the bugs. Anaphylaxis, or life-threatening swelling of the bite site, are all possible symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Who is at risk for getting bed bugs?

Everyone who visits an infested location is at risk of contracting bed bugs. The risk of being bitten or spreading a bed bug infestation is higher for those who frequently travel and share living and sleeping spaces with persons who have previously slept in such areas.

Can you get bed bugs in your car?

Your car may be infected with bed bugs if they land on your clothing, furnishings, or baggage. They are unlikely to crawl so far from their sleeping spot on their own. Bedbugs are rarely discovered in big numbers in cars because they must be transported inside the vehicle.

After an automobile has been infested with bed bugs, they might remain there for a long period of time.

Human and other mammalian blood is the primary source of nourishment for bedbugs. They do require food to live, although they can go for lengthy periods of time without it. If left unfed, adult bed bugs and older nymphs can last up to a year.

It is possible for younger nymphs to go several days or even months without sustenance. In order to leave their exoskeleton and advance to the next stage of development, they’ll require blood to do so

Can bed bugs live in a car in the winter?

It is impossible for bed bugs to survive below 46 degrees Fahrenheit. When it’s chilly outside, they’re not going to be able to survive in a car all winter long.

The majority of bed bug species can’t live in temperatures higher than 113 degrees Fahrenheit, but there are a few tropical species that can.

Bedbugs can survive in your automobile for a long period if it is kept at the appropriate temperature.

How to tell if you have a bed bug infestation in your car

Look for physical indicators of an infestation, especially around fabrics and small crevasses where the bugs could hide. These are some of the indications you’ll see:

  • spots that appear crimson because of crushed bed bugs
  • Period-sized black patches that could leak into the cloth (bed bug excrement)
  • bedbugs shed their own skin as they mature
  • eggs or eggshells of a pale golden hue
  • the actual bed bugs

If you notice little, red, itchy bed bug bites, you should do a thorough inspection of your home and vehicle.

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How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Car

There’s always a textbook method to accomplish anything and a genuine way to do the same thing.

In the event that you just Google “How to get rid of bed bugs in your car,” a number of blog posts will pop up. In order to get rid of bedbugs from your car, they all recommend different approaches. To be fair, they spend a lot of time talking about what you should or should not do and the many ways you can use, but they don’t quite get the job done entirely.

We believe you should be informed! For starters, it takes more than six steps to get rid of bedbugs permanently. Your yelling “Darn you bed bug!” won’t be necessary now. You’re a never-ending piece of…… Ahem. We’re sure you get what we’re getting at.

According to personal experience and the removal of bedbugs from our own vehicles, we’ve chosen to weigh in on the matter. We’ll show you how to get rid of bed bugs from your car in this article. Are you ready to face your fears? What are we waiting for?

Step 1. Inspect your car for signs of bed bugs.

This is a no-brainer, in a way. To ensure that you don’t have bedbugs in your car, the first step is to make sure you don’t have them in the first place. It’s a waste of time and money to treat an automobile for bed bugs when there aren’t any bed bugs inside.

Be on the lookout for little dark patches of their excrement while searching for bedbugs. You can learn how to find bed bugs by reading this article.

When searching for bed bugs, an LED flashlight is a helpful tool.

Step 2. Clean out your car.

It’s time for some serious cleaning if you discover a bed bug infestation during your inspection. It’s time to clear up the clutter in your vehicle. Toss that hamburger wrapper in the trash! It’s possible that there’s a bug in there!

In a cluttered environment, bedbugs are able to conceal themselves since it is so easy for them to do so. Preventing an infestation of pests like bed bugs is easier if you clean your car regularly.

It’s time to get rid of any clothing you’ve stored in your car if you suspect it has bed bugs. Your clothes in your car could be a free ride for bedbugs to enter your home.

If there’s only one bed bug, it won’t be a big deal, right? A single bed bug in your car can produce between 200 and 250 eggs during her lifespan, and those eggs hatch in six to ten days. Those bedbugs can live for up to 11 months if left unchecked.

Step 3. Prepare your car for bed bug treatment.

Following a thorough inspection, if you discover one or more bed bugs, the next step is to get your vehicle ready for treatment.

Remove the seat covers, rugs, carpets, and whatever else you can find that you can get to. These things may be infested with bedbug eggs or larvae. In addition to vacuuming properly, you should also clean under the seats. Some of the bed bugs will be trapped and killed as a result of this.

Step 4. Wash the floor mats and seat covers.

Before vacuuming, make sure you wash anything you took out of the car. Dry your floor mats and seat covers at a high temperature to destroy any bed bugs that may have survived the washing process. Before reinstalling them in your vehicle, make sure they are free of damage.

Washing your floor mats and seat coverings on a regular basis will destroy any pests hiding in your car, including bed bugs, if you aren’t already doing so. Start washing now.

Step 5. Dry everything thoroughly.

Bed bugs can be destroyed by exposing any infested upholstery or rugs to direct sunlight for an extended period of time. Placing these products in black plastic bags and exposing them to direct sunshine is a better option.

Step 6. Use an interior heat treatment.

Heat is arguably the best approach to get rid of bed bugs. You may not be able to kill pests as effectively as a professional, but a steam cleaner can get close.

Make sure the steam machine you’re using has a temperature of at least 118.94°F (48.3°C) before using it. The only way to get rid of any bed bugs that escaped cleaning is to use this method. A fabric attachment with a cloth cover can be used to control the amount of steam that is applied.

Step 7. Kill the bed bugs with diatomaceous earth.

Cockroaches and bed bugs are among the many insects that Diatomaceous Earth is successful at eliminating. Use it around pets and people without fear of causing harm to them.

On the internet or at your local hardware shop, diatomaceous earth is available for purchase For optimal effects, sprinkle this all over your car and leave it there for at least three days. Vacuum any dead bed bugs out of your automobile after that.

For optimal results, repeat this procedure every two weeks.

Step 8. Fumigate your car.

Fumigation is one of the best ways to get rid of an infestation in your home. The same holds true for cars infested with bedbugs.

Before fumigation, use a tarp to cover and seal your vehicle. There’s no better way to rid your car of bedbugs quickly than this.

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How to prevent an infestation

Bedbug infestations can be prevented by frequently inspecting your home for signs of the pests. Other techniques to keep an infestation at bay in your car are as follows:

  • Before bringing used furniture into your house or car, be sure it is safe to use.
  • Having less clutter in your automobile will make it more difficult for bed bugs to hide.
  • Regularly clean the interior of your automobile with a vacuum and a hose.
  • If you use a common laundry facility, put your items in plastic bags and bring them in and out of the facility.
  • Avoid bringing bedbugs back with you from your travels.. Your hotel room should be checked before you leave on your trip, and you should also review all of your bags and clothing before you leave the hotel for the day.

Conclusion

Each of the eight steps can be used as a stand-alone treatment. When used together, they can help you get rid of all of the bedbugs in your automobile swiftly and effectively.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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