Bed Bugs in Orlando
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Orlando is one of the busiest tourism cities in the country, with hotels, vacation rentals and a large renter population. Heavy travel is one of the main ways bed bugs reach homes, and Florida's warm climate means they are active all year.
Your first week
- Identify the bug. A sealed bag with a specimen, plus photos of droppings along mattress seams, gives a professional something to confirm.
- Report it to whoever manages your building, in writing, and keep a copy. In a small building the owner may be close by; in a larger one, go through the management office.
- Contain your own belongings. Wash and dry bedding on high heat, and keep clean items in sealed bags away from the infested room.
- Tell the units next to yours if you have good relations with them, or ask the landlord to. Early notice limits the spread.
Apartments, vacation rentals and houses
In apartment complexes, bugs can move between units through shared walls and hallways, so treatment is most effective when neighboring units are inspected at the same time. Vacation and short-term rentals have frequent turnover, which makes it harder to know where a problem began. In a single-family home, the problem usually stays within one household.
If you rent, report it to management or the owner in writing and keep a copy.
Tourism, travel and year-round warmth
If you travel, or if guests stay with you, inspect luggage and unpack on a hard surface. Wash and dry clothes on high heat. Florida's warm weather means there is no off-season for bed bugs, and a licensed professional can treat year-round.
What to ask a local exterminator
- Are you licensed to do structural pest control in Florida?
- Are you licensed for structural pest control in Florida, and do you offer heat treatment?
- What is the written guarantee, and what do I need to do to keep it valid?
- What preparation do you need from me, and can I get it in writing?
Official resources
For help with a rental, start with your city or county's housing or code enforcement office, and check your state's pest control licensing agency to confirm an exterminator's license. A local legal aid group can tell you what your lease and local rules say about pest problems. This site is not legal advice.
Related guides
- How to tell if you have bed bugs
- What bed bug bites look like
- How to prepare for treatment
- How heat treatment works
- How much treatment costs
- DIY versus a professional
- Where bed bugs come from
- Checking a hotel room
- Bed bug guides for other cities
Request a match with pest control companies serving Orlando and compare quotes before you commit.