Bed Sheet Colors May Prevent Bed Bugs?

It’s been said that you are one of two types of people: those who have had bed bugs and those who will get bed bugs. But surely there’s something you can do to avoid bed bugs, right?

Even when experts are saying we can pick up these nasty pests nearly everywhere, you may be able to make your bedroom less hospitable by doing something as simple as changing the color of your sheets.

Colors That Attract & Repel Bed Bugs

A study recently published in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that bed bugs are drawn to dark colors, such as red and black, and shy away from bright colors, namely yellow, green, and white. Researchers believe this is because red mimics the colors of the pests, and since these are pack animals, so to speak, they’re drawn to where they think other bedbugs live. Black offers the perfect shield as a hiding space for the bugs that spend 90% of their lives in crevices and hiding places.

While the research was completed more to design appropriately colored traps for collecting and monitoring bedbugs, this knowledge can definitely be applied to repel bugs at home.

The other benefit of lighter colored bed sheets is that evidence of bed bugs, such as reddish stains, is more obvious when the sheets show red well.

Researchers also suggest that this color tool can be applied to luggage as well. Since a large percentage of bed bug infestations can be tracked to hotel rooms, it’s smart to use hard-sided luggage and keep them away from beds and couches.

If you have a garage or patio, that is the ideal staging area for packing and unpacking items. For good measure, you may want to put clothes directly into the washer following your trip to kill any bugs or eggs.

Color Therapy Isn’t the Only Answer for Bed Bugs

While knowing that certain colors aren’t liked by bed bugs is good, it’s not enough to help keep the pests out of your bedroom. These buggers are very effective at hiding, and you may not discover them until it’s too late. It’s a good idea to conduct a visual inspection of bedding and the bed frame after any hotel stays and randomly as well, since bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and can find their way into your home via multiple methods.

If you suspect you have bed bugs, you will need professional help. This is not a battle you can win by yourself.