Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?
Bed bugs spread by hitchhiking on luggage, clothing, and furniture, making hotels, student housing, and second-hand items common sources in the UK.
Bed bugs are found all over the world and can infest anywhere, regardless of how clean your home or business is. They aren’t attracted to dirt or food but rather to warmth, carbon dioxide, and human blood—their main source of food. These elusive pests hide in electronics, box springs, and stuffed toys, making them notoriously hard to get rid of once they settle in.
In the UK, bed bug infestations are most commonly linked to travel and used household items. When you travel, bedbugs get inspired to take their own holiday, crawling into your suitcase, clothing, or personal belongings, spreading them long distances. Buying used furniture, especially mattresses, sofas, or box springs, without proper inspection can also introduce bed bugs into your home.
Once inside, bed bugs nest in clever hiding spots, like loose wallpaper, mattress seams, and upholstered surfaces, only coming out at night to feed. In apartment buildings, they can crawl through small cracks, electrical outlets, and pipes, spreading between rooms and creating a big bed bug problem.
Here’s a look at the common places bed bugs come from in the United Kingdom.
Where do bed bugs come from and how do they spread?
Wondering how you got your bedbug problem? Here are some of the most common ways bedbugs enter your home:
Travel & Hotel Stays
Bed bugs love hotel rooms, hostels, and holiday rentals where they can easily transfer between guests. If you want to avoid bringing bed bugs home, always keep luggage on a suitcase stand, inspect upholstered surfaces and box springs for stains or shed skins, and always give your clothes a hot wash after your trip.
Second-Hand Furniture
Buying second-hand furniture without checking for signs of infestation is one of the most common ways to bring bed bugs into your home. These pests hide in mattress seams, box springs, and even furniture joints waiting for their next food source. If you’re purchasing used items, always inspect for dark yellow eggs, shed skins, and reddish-brown bugs, and if in doubt, it’s better to find another piece.
Flats & Multi-Unit Buildings
In a block of flats, bed bugs can spread through walls, plumbing, and electrical outlets, making them particularly difficult to contain. If you live in a flat or apartment complex, it’s essential to seal cracks, report any signs of bed bugs to your local council or pest control company, and take action quickly to prevent bed bugs from spreading further. Sings of bed bugs include bite marks, skin sheds, and faecal stains.
Public Transport & Shared Spaces
Although rare, bed bugs have been found on transportation, like buses, trains, and planes. They can also infest schools, offices, hospitals, and care homes, especially if people unknowingly transport them in bags or clothing. While they don’t transmit disease, bedbug bites can cause itching, painful swelling, and even health problems for some individuals. To treat bites, keep the affected area clean.
Think You Might a Bed Bug Infestation? Act Now
If you’ve spotted bedbug bites, eggs, or reddish-brown insects, there’s no time to lose. While these pesky critters can survive between 20 and 400 days without feeding, under the right conditions, they’re always looking for their next meal – you.
Regular cleaning and vacuuming can help catch early signs of bedbugs, though they aren’t only found in dirty places. Sealing cracks in walls and furniture prevents them from spreading, especially in residential buildings.
To stop bed bugs in their tracks, encasing your mattress and box spring in a plastic bag can trap them inside. This not only prevents them from feeding on you but will eventually eliminate them. Washing clothes and linens in a hot wash, followed by a tumble dry on a high heat setting, can kill any hitchhiking bed bugs or eggs. Keeping your home clutter-free and vacuuming regularly gives them fewer hideouts, making it harder for bed bugs to settle in.
The best way to get rid of bed bugs completely is with professionals. Heat treatment is the most effective method, using extreme heat to kill all bed bugs, eggs, and nymphs in a single session. If you suspect an infestation, speak to our experts—we’ll help you get rid of bed bugs permanently and keep your home bed bug-free. If you have unexplained bites, be sure to monitor bed bugs.
5 Facts About Bed Bugs:
1.) Bed Bugs are Very Old
Bed bugs have been around for centuries—they originally lived in caves, feeding on bats in the Middle East before spreading worldwide through human civilisation and trade. They later made their way to the Americas with European settlers.
2.) Bed Bugs Like to Travel
They can enter homes in multiple ways, usually by hitching a ride on clothing, luggage, or furniture from an infested location. Whether you’ve stayed in a hotel, taken public transport, or brought home a second-hand sofa, these pests can sneak in unnoticed.
3.) Bed Bigs Love Clean Homes
Clean homes aren’t immune to bed bugs—they don’t feed on dirt, just blood. As long as they have access to food, they can thrive anywhere, whether in a luxury hotel or a shared flat.
4.) Bed Bugs Love Secondhand furniture
Second-hand furniture is a common culprit. Without a thorough inspection, you could bring home an active bed bug population along with your new bargain.
5.) Bed Bugs Don’t Just Live in Beds
Bed bugs aren’t just found in homes—they can spread through schools, offices, colleges, and preschool facilities, anywhere people gather, rest, or leave belongings for long periods. Once inside, they hide in tiny cracks and crevices, emerging at night to feed, leaving behind bites and itchy skin
Though bed bugs are small, they can cause big problems—if you think you’ve spotted signs of an infestation, act fast to stop them in their tracks!
Our Bed Bug Heat Treatments
If you think a bed bug infestation is present at your home or business, it’s vital to take immediate action to address the problem, as bed bugs can multiply and spread rapidly. Professional pest control services are necessary to eradicate a bed bug infestation permanently. ThermoPest always recommends a bed bug heat treatment for effective and permanent extermination of bed bug infestations. Give us a call or pop us an email today- our friendly team is always happy to chat about your pest issues and answer any questions you may have.
Table of Contents
Industry Experts
Leading experts in bed bug control
Emergency Call-outs
Guaranteed quick and rapid responses to urgent infestations
Contract Work
For ongoing problems, use our preventative contracts
Get a quote
- Commercial or Domestic
- Nationwide Pest Control
- Help & Advice on 0808 189 2310
Frequently Asked Questions
Do bed bugs come from dirty homes?
Can you bring bed bugs home from hotels?
Do bed bugs spread through public transport?
Can bed bugs come from neighbours in adjoining flats?
Do second-hand mattresses and furniture carry bed bugs?
Why are bed bug infestations rising in the UK?
Talk to us about Bed Bug Pest Control
Call us on 0808 189 2310 – or complete our quote form below.
Homeowners and Businesses Trust ThermoPest
Speak to a bed bug expert today!
- Commercial or Domestic
- Lines open 24 hours a day 7 days a week
- Nationwide Bed Bug Control
- Technicians work 24 hours a day
- Help & Advice on 0808 189 2310