Moving With Bed Bugs: How to Move Without Bringing Them to Your New Home

TL;DR

• Treat the infestation before you pack. Health Canada strongly recommends a licensed pest control operator.
• The move itself won't kill them. A few days in storage won't starve them, and freezing needs 4 days of consistent cold at -19°C (Health Canada).
• Wash fabrics in water at 60°C and dry them at a very high temperature for at least 30 minutes, as the Quebec government suggests. Bag them straight out of the dryer.
• Seal clean items in clear plastic bags, use new moving boxes, and put encasements on the mattress and box spring before moving day if you can.
• In the new home, unpack on hard floors one room at a time, and put interceptors under the bed legs.
• Need help? Get a quote from a recommended local exterminator through Pest Agent's referral form.

Moving with bed bugs feels like a fresh start, yet a new address changes nothing for the bugs tucked into mattress seams, book boxes and folded blankets. The usual mistake is to pack first and plan to deal with the problem after arrival, which is how one infested bedroom turns into two infested homes.

The order that works runs the other way: treat the home you are leaving, launder and seal fabrics, pack only into clean containers, then unpack slowly and watch the new bedroom for signs. Each of those steps closes a route the bugs would otherwise ride.

Neither a cold truck in January nor a few weeks of furniture in storage will do that work for you, since bed bugs are built to survive both the trip and the wait.

Can Bed Bugs Follow You When You Move?

Moving with bed bugs is risky because bed bugs ride along on whatever you bring. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, they move from an infested place to a new home on furniture, bedding, luggage, boxes and clothing. The City of Montréal puts it simply: if you do not get rid of the bed bugs before you move, you may take them with you. A move is also a time when everything you own is handled, stacked and boxed, which gives hidden bugs plenty of chances to end up somewhere new.

How Bed Bugs Hide in Your Belongings

Bed bugs hide in your belongings because their flat bodies fit into very small spaces. Health Canada notes that they can hide under wallpaper, behind picture frames and in electrical outlets, and that their eggs, about 1 mm long and white, are almost impossible to see on most surfaces. That is why a box of books, a nightstand or a folded blanket can carry bugs you never noticed. Our guide on how bed bugs spread explains the other ways they move between rooms and buildings.

Why Moving Does Not Starve Bed Bugs

Moving does not starve bed bugs because they can go a long time without a meal. Health Canada says bed bugs can live from several weeks to up to a year and a half without feeding. The University of Kentucky gives about 1 to 4 months as a more typical range in heated buildings and says leaving a home empty in hope of starving them is usually impractical. A few days in a storage unit, or a new apartment that sat empty for a week, will not get rid of them.

Why a Winter Move Does Not Kill Bed Bugs

A winter move does not kill bed bugs because cold only works when it lasts. Health Canada says freezing has to be kept up for a prolonged period, 4 days of consistent cold at -19°C, and even then it may not kill every bug. A few hours in an unheated truck in January, even on a very cold Canadian day, is far short of that. Plan your move as if every bug in your things will arrive alive.

Second-Hand Furniture

Second-hand furniture is the other way people bring bed bugs into a new home. A move is often when you pick up a used couch, a bed frame or a dresser. HealthLink BC advises checking furniture and bedding from second-hand stores, garage sales or roadside pickup, and not relying on the word of the seller. The City of Montréal also warns against picking up used items from the curb, and the Government of Quebec says bed bugs can infest mattresses and upholstered furniture left on sidewalks.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs When Moving: What to Do Before You Pack

Preventing bed bugs when moving starts weeks before moving day, in the home you are leaving. If you know or suspect you have bed bugs, the best time to deal with them is before anything goes into a box.

Checking Your Home Before You Pack

Checking your home before you pack tells you whether you are moving with bed bugs or just being careful. Use a flashlight and look along mattress seams, the box spring, the bed frame and headboard, couch cushions and the joints of furniture near the bed. HealthLink BC lists the signs: bite marks, dark spotting and staining on sheets, pillows, the mattress or bed frame, and live or dead bed bugs and their shed skins, and the US EPA also lists dark spots and shed skins. Our guide to where bed bugs hide covers every spot to check.

Telling Your Landlord

Telling your landlord is the first step if you rent and find bed bugs. In Quebec, a tenant must immediately inform the owner of the building, and the owner must promptly contact an extermination company. The City of Montréal asks tenants to notify the owner or manager so the apartment can be treated, ideally before you move. Health Canada also advises tenants to tell the landlord promptly. To understand who pays, see our guide on whether bed bugs are the landlord's responsibility.

Treating the Infestation Before You Move

Treating the infestation before you move is the most reliable way to leave bed bugs behind. Health Canada strongly recommends a licensed pest control operator because bed bugs are very hard to get rid of, and the City of Montréal advises against trying to get rid of them by yourself. The New Mexico Department of Health suggests treating furniture before moving it, or leaving it behind so it can be treated. If you have a treatment booked, our guide on how to prepare for bed bug treatment explains what to do, and you can get a quote from a recommended local exterminator through Pest Agent's referral form if you do not have one yet.

Laundering Fabrics

Laundering fabrics kills bed bugs and their eggs in clothes, bedding and curtains. The Quebec government says washing water should reach 60°C (140°F), and the dryer should run at a very high temperature for at least 30 minutes. Health Canada adds that small items that cannot be washed, and dry-clean-only items, can go in a hot dryer for 30 minutes or more. Bed bugs die at 50°C, according to Health Canada, so the hot dryer does most of the work. Take clean items out of the dryer straight into a fresh bag rather than back into the room.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming removes bugs and eggs from mattresses, couches, carpets and baseboards before you pack. Health Canada recommends a stiff brush and a crevice nozzle on seams and edges. The University of Kentucky warns that bed bugs can survive being vacuumed, so seal the vacuum bag or the contents of the canister in a plastic bag right away and put it in an outdoor bin.

Decluttering

Decluttering before a move means fewer items for bed bugs to hide in and fewer items to treat. The University of Kentucky notes that clutter gives bed bugs many places to hide and gets in the way of inspection and treatment. Sort, donate or discard what you do not need before you start packing, and check anything you donate so you do not pass bugs on. The New Mexico Department of Health even suggests taking fewer items at first.

Mattress Encasements

Mattress encasements trap any bed bugs inside your mattress and box spring and keep new ones out of the seams. Health Canada recommends sealing both in zippered covers, putting duct tape over the zipper because zippers can leave a gap, and keeping them on for about a year. Bugs sealed inside eventually die, according to the University of Kentucky. The US EPA advises a tear-resistant encasement and checking it regularly for holes. Put them on before moving day so the mattress travels sealed. Encasements are also one of the steps in our guide to bed bug proofing your home.

How to Pack When Moving With Bed Bugs

Packing when moving with bed bugs means keeping clean items sealed and separate from anything that may still carry bugs. A clear system matters more than speed.

Clear Plastic Bags

Clear plastic bags let you seal clean items and see what is inside. The New Mexico Department of Health suggests sealing belongings in clear plastic bags, sorted by type (clothes, towels, sheets and blankets), and keeping anything known to be infested away from clean items. The City of Albuquerque suggests labelling bags of laundered items "clean". Health Canada and HealthLink BC suggest light-coloured, heavy-duty bags or plastic bins with tight lids, which can make any bug easier to spot.

New Moving Boxes

New moving boxes are safer than used ones, because a box from a grocery store, a friend or a previous move may have been stored near bed bugs. The National Pest Management Association's guidelines generally tell moving companies to use new packing boxes for each move. Hard plastic bins without seams can be an alternative: the City of Albuquerque suggests inspecting them and washing them with warm, soapy water before the move.

Items You Cannot Wash

Items you cannot wash, such as electronics, books and small appliances, need a different plan. The New Mexico Department of Health suggests keeping them in sealed clear plastic bags and asking a pest management professional how to treat them. Portable heating chambers sized for suitcases are sold for this purpose, but the US EPA notes they are not regulated, so follow the maker's instructions closely. Our guide on bed bugs in electronics covers what is safe to do.

Furniture

Furniture is the hardest thing to move without bringing bed bugs, because seams, joints and cushions are prime hiding spots. The City of Albuquerque suggests cleaning furniture you plan to move with warm, soapy water and having it treated by a pest management professional before the move. The City of Montréal notes that many infested mattresses and upholstered furniture can be treated. Wrap treated furniture in plastic before it leaves the room.

Discarding Infested Items

Discarding infested items safely keeps bed bugs from spreading to your neighbours or the next person who finds them. Wrap them in thick plastic, clearly mark them "bed bugs", and make them unusable: the City of Montréal suggests slashing the fabric of a mattress you are throwing out. Check your city's bulky item pickup rules, and tell your building manager before you carry large items through shared hallways.

Sprays and DIY Products

Sprays and DIY products play a small role in a move. Health Canada says to use only pesticides registered by Health Canada, with a PCP number on the label, exactly as directed, never on cribs, playpens or toys, and to avoid homemade pesticides. The University of Kentucky says diatomaceous earth is messy and will seldom help much to eliminate an infestation. If you want to compare registered products, see our roundup of the best bed bug sprays, but do not count on a spray to clean your belongings before a move.

How to Move Without Bringing Bed Bugs on Moving Day

Moving day is when bed bugs may reach your belongings from a truck, moving blankets or another customer's load, so control what touches your things.

Choosing a Moving Company

Choosing a moving company with a bed bug policy lowers the risk of picking up bugs in transit. The City of Montréal advises asking a mover how it plans to prevent the spread of bed bugs before you hire it. The National Pest Management Association suggests that movers wrap furniture in plastic rather than reuse blankets, or clean blankets between trips. Some movers may refuse a move or ask for a letter from a pest control professional if they know about an infestation, so be upfront.

Checking the Truck

Checking the truck before loading takes a few minutes and is worth it whether you hire movers or rent a truck. The City of Montréal suggests inspecting the truck before moving your furniture and sweeping it with a broom or vacuuming it. Use a flashlight on corners, seams and the folds of any blankets or pads left in the truck, and do not use them if you see dark spots or bugs.

Clean Clothes on Moving Day

Clean clothes on moving day keep you from carrying bugs on your own body. The New Mexico Department of Health suggests that each person shower and change into clean clothes and shoes, then bag the clothes they were wearing for laundering. Keep a sealed bag of clean clothes aside for this, and do not pack it with the rest.

What Should You Do After Moving In?

After moving in, the goal is to confirm that no bed bugs came with you before your things spread through the new home. Take your time with this step.

Inspecting the New Home

Inspecting the new home before you unpack shows whether bed bugs were already there. The City of Montréal suggests vacuuming, especially the bedrooms, throwing the bag out in a sealed plastic bag, and checking cracks, crevices and mouldings in bedrooms with a flashlight. If you find signs, tell the landlord or seller right away, before your belongings go in.

Unpacking on Hard Floors

Unpacking on hard floors makes any stray bug easy to see. Open boxes and bags on tile, wood or laminate rather than carpet, and unpack one room at a time. The City of Albuquerque suggests washing any items not labelled "clean" before you put them away or use them. Break down boxes as you empty them and take them out of the home.

Bed Leg Interceptors

Bed leg interceptors are small cups placed under the legs of the bed that catch bed bugs climbing up. Health Canada notes they are a way to detect bed bugs, and Rutgers University says they may need to be in place for at least a week to catch bugs at very low numbers. Pull the bed away from the wall so the legs are the only way up.

Watching for Signs in the First Weeks

Watching for signs in the first weeks matters because a few hidden bugs take time to show up. Health Canada says a bed bug bite can take as long as 14 days to appear, depending on the person. Check sheets and mattress seams for dark spots, shed skins and live bugs every week or so. If you find any, act early: our guide to bed bug infestations explains the next steps, and our bed bug prevention guide covers the habits that keep them out for good.