Where did aphids on my plant come from?

Question

I bought a plant from Home Depot a few weeks ago, and I keep it on my desk at work. I don't know what type of plant it is, but it seems to be growing and healthy. But when I came back on Tuesday after the weekend, I found little yellow things all over the top leaves... ewww! At first I thought it had something to do with growth process or maybe that it was natural, but then every day this week, more little yellow things appeared and then they had little gray leg looking things sticking out. I took a napkin and wiped them off, and after researching, I learned that they are aphids and that they will come back:( Where did they come from and what do I have to do to make sure they don't come back?

Answer 1

They could have come from the soil or may have been on the plant as eggs.

Use seven dust, and lightly dust the plant, outside. Then bring it back in.

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Answer 2

The aphids either flew over from another plant or came with your new plant.
Aphids are soft bodied, sap sucking insects and easily removed with a stream of water. This will clean the plant then use a soap spray to kill any you missed.
The commercial insecticide soap sprays are the best to use but home made sprays will work well & cost less. But some plants are harmed by soap. Begonias, impatiens, ferns, african violets, palms and succulents are sensitive to soap and may 'burn'. It is best to place a few drops on the plant after washing and watering it. Test one leaf overnight for toxicity.

2% solution
4 tsp of liquid dish soap- Dr Bonner, ivory, Murphys OIl Soap, or pure castille soap just not detergent.
1 quart distilled water or soft tap water
Pour that into a sprayer and shake well. Spray to cover the aphids on the plants because the spray only kills in contact. Be sure to get under the leaves. Once dry the spray is harmless unlike insecticides. This will prevent exposing yourself and coworkers to insecticides.