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

If you are recovering from a bed bug infestation, you likely are wondering where these bugs may have been in your home. Unlike other pests, bed bugs have no interest in your food items. This means you do not need to throw out food after a bed bug infestation.

There are a lot of rumors about what bed bugs have the ability to infest. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs rarely or never infest the following items:

Food items
Electronics
Clothing
Pets

Do Bed Bugs Infest Food?

Bed bugs do not feed on the same food we do. The only sustenance they rely upon is blood! That means you don’t have to worry about bed bugs crawling into your pantry and feasting on your food. When dealing with a bed bug infestation, you very rarely have to throw out items (even your bedding). In fact, if treatment is administered properly by a professional exterminator, you likely won’t even have to throw out your mattress after an infestation.

How Long Can Bed Bugs Live Without Blood?

As frightening as it seems, bed bugs can live an entire year without a blood meal. Depending on the temperature and humidity of their 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 without a blood meal, they will not resort to feeding off of anything else.

Should I Throw Out Anything After a Bed Bug Infestation?

Most pest problems result in needing to throw out infested items. However, when you find out you have a bed bug problem, there’s no reason to panic and throw out everything in your home. It’s actually better to get professional treatment right away. This can help save you from throwing out food, bedding, and more. Always consult your local bed bug exterminators for advice on what to do with infested items.

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