We’re sorry to report—or pass along this report—that rideshare vehicles have bedbugs. OK, not all rideshare vehicles, but WFAA in Dallas talked to some exterminators and one in particular says he treats up to 10 rideshare vehicles a week for the pests. You do have to consider the fact that Dallas-Fort Worth ranks 10th (per Orkin) on the list of Top 50 Bed Bug Cities. If your city isn’t on the list, maybe the pest control companies do two a week, or five. Still, gross.
“Quite frankly, they’re not racist and they don’t care about how much money you have,” Don Brooks, owner of Doffdon Pest Control told WFAA. “They’re bloodsuckers.”
Brooks pulls a trailer around that has equipment that burns bedbugs out with 150-degree heat, either in homes or cars.
“Drivers either see bedbugs, someone complained or they were suspicious of a customer and just want to make sure,” said Brooks.
To make things worse, according to Netquote, ride share vehicles were 35,000 times more germy than a toilet seat. Before you freak out completely, the toilet seat usually doesn’t rank in the top 10 of germiest things in your household. If your rideshare were 35,000 times dirtier than, say, your kitchen sponge, you may as well just burn it to the ground.
Brooks will tent and heat your car for $250, or he can spray a car in 15 minutes for a cheaper price.
“I usually do the backseat, the crevices and the carpet,” says Brooks.
Before you delete all of your rideshare apps, even Brooks says he would still use rideshares. Just be wary of cars that don’t look clean.
“If you feel suspicious, just throw your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 50 minutes,” says Brooks, “then it’s best to hop in the shower.”
