Bed bugs are famously known to find their way around to new victims. These appleseed sized pests are constructed to be discreet and hide in the smallest overlooked places. We generally hear on the news how another hotel has become a victim to bed bugs, a school, maybe even a library that has been shut down with an infestation. But what you do not hear on the news is how bed bugs end up in taxis or ride-shares, such as Uber or Lyft, but strangely enough this is how people end up with bed bugs in their home!
Disclaimer: Getting a bed bug infestation is of no fault of Uber, Lyft, or any Taxi Service. Bed bugs do not care whether your car is dirty, clean, brand new, or 20+ years old. How did a bed bug end up in my Uber?
As noted in the disclaimer, bed bugs do not have any bias toward their victims. It is merely being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Many people do not realize that they have bed bugs until its a full blown infestation. By that time, bed bugs might have hitchhiked their way to their workplace, their car, or even other people’s homes or cars. With the constant rotation of people in ride-share vehicles, there is a higher potential of someone with bed bugs entering the vehicle. Now, this doesn’t mean that the next person to get into the car after someone with bed bugs just left is bound to get bed bugs. The last person could have sat on it, it could have gone to hide in the seats, or it could have not left their belongings all together. Even if one or two bed bugs make into the vehicle, it must be a recently fed female in order to start laying eggs and start an infestation.
I think I was in a Lyft with bed bugs.
There are a couple of things that need to happen if you think you were in ANY vehicle with bed bugs.
Step 1: Inspecting any handbags/purses/clutches for bed bugs. Pay special attention to the seams. If you do find any bugs on your belongings, either put it in the dryer on high heat for a couple of hours, or spray it down with 90% alcohol. If you catch it right away, there might not even be enough to warrant those actions, just squish them. BUT, it may be worth calling a bed bug exterminator to inspect your home in case it wasn’t the fault of the ride. Step 2: Do not sit down anywhere in your home, until you have put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for at least an hour or two. Step 3: Keep a close eye on your mattress for any signs of bed bugs for the next couple of weeks. If you believe you found evidence, call a bed bug expert right away.
I am a Taxi Driver, how do I prevent bed bugs?
If you drive for a ride-share service, it is important to keep your car clean and free of clutter. Cleaning your car must include vacuuming daily, especially hitting the seams of any upholstery in the vehicle.
The use of a Bed Bug Repellent product, such as CimeX86 Spray or CimeX86 Repellent Pads are a very good idea! https://www.bedbugwarehouse.com/collections/repellents/products/cimex86-bed-bug-repellent https://www.bedbugwarehouse.com/collections/repellents/products/cimex86-bed-bug-repellent-pads We would also recommend inspecting your vehicle for bed bugs every couple of days to ensure there is not an infestation beginning. If you are vacuuming on a daily basis, you will be doing this in the process.