Bed bugs are some of the most misunderstood pests in Toronto. Every week, our team speaks with homeowners, tenants, and landlords who are shocked to discover that what they believed about bed bugs was completely wrong.
Misinformation often leads to delays in treatment, wasted money on DIY products, and even shame or embarrassment that stops people from asking for help.
To clear things up, here are the top 10 bed bug myths debunked, based on what we see every day across Toronto and the GTA.
1. Myth: Bed Bugs Only Infest Dirty Homes
Truth: Bed bugs don’t care if your home is spotless or messy.
They are attracted to blood, not dirt. We’ve treated luxury condos in downtown Toronto as well as modest apartments. What matters to bed bugs is whether they can find a place to hide and feed, not how clean the space is.
2. Myth: Bed Bugs Only Live in Beds
Truth: Despite their name, bed bugs can live anywhere close to a food source (humans).
We regularly find them in couches, baseboards, radiators, behind electrical outlets, carpets, curtains, and even inside laptops or books.
3. Myth: You Can’t See Bed Bugs with the Naked Eye
Truth: Adult bed bugs are visible, and are about the size of an apple seed, reddish-brown, and flat.
The challenge is that they hide well and their eggs or nymphs are tiny and harder to spot. Many people mistake them for carpet beetles or other small insects.
4. Myth: Bed Bugs Transmit Diseases
Truth: Unlike mosquitoes or ticks, bed bugs are not known to spread diseases to humans.
However, they do cause serious discomfort: itchy bites, sleepless nights, stress, and in some cases, secondary skin infections from scratching.
5. Myth: Throwing Away Your Mattress Gets Rid of Bed Bugs
Truth: Sadly, tossing your mattress almost never solves the problem.
Bed bugs spread beyond the bed, and into furniture, floors, outlets, and walls. If you replace your mattress without professional treatment, your new one will be infested within days. Leading to a waste of money and time.
6. Myth: You Can Eliminate Bed Bugs with Store-Bought Sprays
Truth: Over-the-counter sprays and “bed bug bombs” are rarely effective.
In Toronto, we see many cases where DIY attempts actually made the infestation worse. Bed bugs often develop resistance to common pesticides, and foggers just push them deeper into hiding spots. That is why we don’t believe in “spraying and praying”. Rather, we follow a strict science-based inspection and treatment plan developed by our entomologist who has more than 15 years of experience within this field.
7. Myth: Bed Bugs Only Bite at Night
Truth: Bed bugs prefer nighttime when we’re still and sleeping. But, they will also bite during the day if hungry enough, or if that is when a person tends to sleep. We’ve seen infestations where homeowners working night shifts were bitten during the day while sleeping.
Truth: Bed bugs cannot jump or fly.
They crawl, but they are excellent hitchhikers. They spread when people carry them on clothing, luggage, backpacks, or furniture. That’s why they spread so quickly in Toronto apartments, condos, and Airbnbs.
9. Myth: Bed Bugs Die Off in the Winter
Truth: Bed bugs thrive year-round, even in Toronto’s cold winters.
Since they live indoors where it’s warm, they are unaffected by outdoor temperatures. They can even survive for months without feeding, making them very resilient.
10. Myth: Bed Bugs Are Easy to Get Rid Of
Truth: Bed bug infestations are one of the most difficult pest problems to solve.
They hide in cracks the width of a credit card, reproduce quickly, and can spread between apartments. Professional treatment with follow-ups is almost always necessary for complete elimination.
Final Thoughts
Bed bugs carry a stigma, but the truth is they can affect anyone, anywhere in Toronto, from downtown condos to suburban homes. Believing the myths often leads to wasted time and more frustration. The best step you can take is to get a professional inspection early. The sooner you act, the faster it is to solve the problem.
At Pest Solution Services, we’ve helped countless Toronto families take back their homes from bed bugs with safe, proven, and science-based treatments. Contact us today, if you suspect you may have a bed bug infestation.
