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Do I Have to Throw Out Food After a Bed Bug Infestation?

Unlike other types of pests, bed bugs have no interest in your food items. After an infestation, you do not have to throw out any food in your pantry!

Do I have to throw out food after a bed bug infestation?

There is a lot of misconception about what bed bugs can infest. Bed bugs are not known to infest any of the following items:

  • Food or food crumbs
  • Electronics
  • Clothing items
  • Pets

 

 

Can Bed Bugs Infest Food?

Bed bugs are not interested in the food items in your pantry. They live and rest near their meal source, which is you! That means you don’t have to worry about bed bugs crawling into your pantry, which is definitely possible. When dealing with a bed bug infestation, you very rarely have to throw out items. If you receive professional treatment from an exterminator, you shouldn’t have to worry about any ruined items at all.

What do Bed Bugs Feed On?

Everyone knows that bed bugs live off of blood meals. One frightening fact about bed bugs is that they can live for an entire year without feeding if they need to. Depending on the temperature and humidity of its surroundings, adult bed bugs have known to survive for anywhere from 20 to 400 days without feeding. This means that bed bugs can technically live in your home for more than a year. Even when they don’t feed on you, they will not leave to feed on your pets or other items in your home.

What Should You Throw Away After Bed Bugs?

As mentioned earlier, you don’t need to throw out items after a bed bug problem. When you find out you have a bed bug problem, never jump to the conclusion that you need to throw out your bed or any other item for that matter—doing so could contribute to the spread of bed bugs.

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