Discovering bed bugs in your hotel room is a nightmare scenario that no traveler wants to live through. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or preparing for a spring break getaway, don’t let these clever stowaways come home with you. Bringing home bed bugs would be a distinct possibility after a vacation, especially if your trip included a hotel stay or airplane travel.
Four Tips to Prevent Bringing Bed Bugs Home After a Vacation
For frequent travelers, the fear of bed bugs can easily go from an abstract thought to a frustrating and expensive reality. A bed bug infestation can have serious consequences for your home if these notoriously hardy parasites are allowed to thrive in your home unchecked.
To prevent a bed bug infestation and reduce the likelihood of bringing them back after a trip, consider the following tips:
- Educate yourself on what bed bugs look like and what signs they leave behind. Adult bed bugs measure about the size of a small apple seed. They are usually brown and bear a likeness to cockroaches. Their feces look like black dots, and when squished, they leave behind rust-colored spots.
- Before traveling, the first line of defense is to protect your luggage. Begin your trip by enclosing your bags in plastic.
- Once in your hotel room, place your luggage in the bathroom or a similarly tiled area. Do not place your luggage on the carpet, bed, or even the luggage rack.
- Consider washing your clothes before returning home. You can use the laundry in your hotel if available. If you can’t wash your clothes before returning, place your laundry directly into the wash when you return home. Bed bugs can easily latch onto fabrics that survive a hot-water wash, so follow up a hot-water wash with a drying cycle at medium-to-high heat for at least 20 minutes.
With these tips and advice, you can make sure that your next vacation is bed bug-free. If you think you brought home bed bugs on your last trip, call Pest Pros Pest Solutions for expert assistance removing these pests from your home or workspace.