Last Updated on December 8, 2022 by Rose Morah
If you already have bugs in your car, I’m sure you already know how challenging it is to get rid of them, considering that they can live in the car for as long as the conditions are right.
Bed bugs are very stubborn and can be stressful to get rid of, especially if you spend most of your time in the car.
But no worries, if you can’t get a pest control company to fumigate your car for whatever reasons, you will find the DIY steps below to be very helpful.
Steps to get rid of bed bugs in your car
The following steps will help you get rid of bed bugs:
1. Inspect to confirm the infestation
You don’t need to buy any equipment to help you determine a bed bug infestation in your car. What you need is to check for signs of bed bug infestation on your body such as bites, sores, irritation, itchiness, and so on.
Bed bug bites affect each person differently. If you closely monitor your body you will definitely notice the effects.
2. Take action (treat the car)
Let’s take a look at how to get rid of the bed bugs in your car during the summer and winter seasons.
How to get rid of the bed bugs in your car during summer
Step 1: Thoroughly clean your car’s interior
To thoroughly clean your car’s interior, I’d recommend you remove everything from your car. This may include:
- Floor mats.
- Seat covers
- All your stuff e.t.c
| NOTE: After removing everything from the car, place the items in a different location to prevent them from getting contaminated after you have cleaned them. |
After doing the cleaning, I’d recommend you leave everything under direct sunlight exposure for an extended period.
Additionally, if the sun is very hot, after cleaning the interior of the vehicle, roll up the windows and close the vents and let the bed bugs bake! Give it a minimum of 2 hours.
See also:
Can You Sleep In Your Car In A Parking Lot?
Is it illegal to sleep in your car in the US?
Read This Before Sleeping In A Car At A Truck Stop.
Step 2: Get rid of the remaining bed bugs
Even after letting the bugs bake inside, that will not entirely get rid of all the bed bugs.
This explains why you may start to notice the bedbugs if you do this after some days.
So, the next step is to kill those that hid in the parts of the car that did not quite get the hot temperatures.
To kill the bed bugs, I use the Nuvan ProStrips. It releases a vapor that effectively kills the remaining bed bugs on contact.
I’d recommend you dedicate a whole weekend to this treatment for it to be fully effective.
| NOTE: This bed bug treatment is mostly recommended during the summertime because that’s when it’s more effective compared to using it in the winter season. |
You can get it on Amazon. It comes with 12 stripes but I recommend you only use two or three strips.
Hang them on the different parts of the car, including in the trunk, then immediately lock the door before it starts to release the vapor.
| CAUTION! 1. Don’t inhale the fumes of this bed bug treatment as it can be very toxic.I’d recommend you open the doors and windows to air out and allow clean air in the car after treating it with this product. Don’t drive if the car has not aired out completely! Keep in mind that the vehicle is a small enclosed space. That means the risk of overexposure to pesticides is much greater than in most other spaces like your house, office, etc. 2. Properly dispose of. |
How to get rid of the bed bugs in your car during the winter season
Steaming is considered one of the best ways of killing bed bugs on contact. When steaming, it is recommended that you go through all the cracks, hidden parts of the car like under the carpet and the edges of the car, crevices, and e.t.c
See also:
How to Sleep in a Car During Winter (5 Things You Should Know).
11 Best Cars To Sleep In (Tips From Avid Campers).
Other effective ways to get rid of bed bugs in your car
- ThermalStrike Ranger Bed Bug heater is another great option for killing bed bugs in the car and even at home.
- Diatomaceous earth (DE) is also often recommended for dealing with bedbugs, but I personally haven’t used it. If you decide to use it, use it with caution because inhaling it may be toxic.
Step 3: Treat your house
In order to completely get rid of the bed bugs you will need to treat your house as well, especially your bedroom, because chances are you might have carried them to the house.
You may have gotten rid of them in your car, but they may slowly start to crawl back into the car if you don’t fumigate the house.
In Conclusion
If you decide to use chemical treatment (pesticide) to kill the bed bugs, be sure to read the instructions and avoid inhaling it or being in direct contact!
All the best and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more tips!