Petrified landlords instruct tenants to use unusual method to combat new pest

11 October 2023 , 12:52

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Pest control workers treating a mattress in an apartment with a bedbug infestation. (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Growing concerns about the bedbug invasion in France has prompted UK landlords to advise their tenants to use outlandish methods to prevent infestations in their homes. The advice given comes after concerned commuters chose not to sit on the tube as they feared they would see or feel the insects crawling on them.

London Mayor, Sadiq Khan described the issue as a 'real source of concern,' and has said that Transport for London is in contact with the Metro train lines in Paris to prevent London from having a breakout of bedbugs - which would cause mass disruption during busy mornings and busier bus services.

Some of the methods already adopted by landlords start with plausible ways to fight the bedbugs including washing bedding on a hot wash at at least 60C, followed up with a hot tumble dry for at least 30 minutes. Another method included giving homes a thorough vacuum and to empty the bag outdoors when you are finished.

Bedbugs have been spotted in abundance on mattresses and on the Metro in Paris, France. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Bizarre methods included putting affected clothes and bedding in the freezer, for a few hours before washing them as normal. Despite this, bedbugs are able to live up to six months without food and are able to enter living spaces without being noticed, leaving you to not even realise if you have them at all.

With rugby matches still being held in France with Brits travelling to support their teams, there are fears that the outbreak could spread to the UK with the constant back and forth travelling - with England playing Fiji in the quarter-final in Marseille on Sunday, according to the Daily Mail.

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Irked commuters have taken to social media sharing platform, TikTok to share videos of themselves refusing to sit down, once word circulated about possible bedbug sightings and infestations. One video was captioned "Standing for your commute bc you don't want bedbugs." As well as others highlighting the cleanliness of certain tube lines and inciting fear around seeing "bedbug eggs" on seats.

Alleged 'bed bug' spotted on Victoria Line commute in London. (@lassgold/TikTok)

has reported that they are disinfecting seats daily and monitoring reports and train lines after discovering the social media posts as well as the Parisian Metro trying to eradicate the infestation, with the hope that the issue is sorted out by then - as they are set to host the 2024 Olympics in less than 12 months.

Kelis Cassia Edwards