How to Avoid Bed Bugs When Traveling

How to stay clear of bed bugs when traveling.

As 2021 provides a much brighter outlook due to the lessening pandemic, many of us will be looking to travel with our family and friends just as we have in past years. This means that we’ll need to start being diligent again about the possibility of bed bugs when we travel from one place to another.

The last thing you want is to bring some of these nasty insects back to your home, but the truth is it happens to the best of us every year. Today, we’re going to give you some tips on how to avoid bed bugs when traveling so that you can enjoy your vacation and return home pest-free.

Look Up a Hotel’s Online Reviews

The first lesson you should learn when discussing how to avoid bed bugs when traveling is to investigate the hotel or motel where you’ll be staying. There’s a good chance that a bed bug infestation will be mentioned in online reviews made on Yelp and other such review sites. If they’ve had a problem, pay attention to how quickly and recently they rectified it.

Understand What to Look For

You’ll want to learn the signs of bed bugs, so you’ll know what to look for. The most obvious sign are bed bug bites in the morning, but you’ll want to check before that happens. Look for red stains on the sheets where they’ve been squished and specks of reddish brown which indicates feces. Also, look up a few images on Google so you’ll know what they look like.

Inspect the Room Upon Arrival

Bed bugs are notorious for hiding in cracks and crevices, which can make them very difficult to find. Once you arrive in the room, perform a full inspection of the mattresses and box springs, in addition to any other furniture that’s in the room. While you do this, make sure you do not place luggage on the bed or another piece of furniture until you’re done inspecting the room for signs of bed bugs.

Consider Hard-Shelled Luggage

Bed bugs will often make their way to luggage and then get a free trip back to your home. If this happens and they slip out undetected, it won’t be long before you have an infestation on your hands. Hard-shelled suitcases are much better for avoiding bed bugs because they have fewer creases and folds that these nasty creatures can hide inside. This also makes them easier to inspect during the trip and once you return home.

Don’t Switch to a Nearby Room

If you find evidence of bed bugs in your hotel or motel room, you obviously want to inform the hotel manager right away and move to another room. However, keep in mind that bed bugs can easily make their way to a room that’s next door or below it. If you decide to stay in the hotel and simply switch rooms, make sure that the new room isn’t close to the infested one.

Put Luggage into a Plastic Bag

If you don’t have hard-shelled luggage or want to be extra careful, put your suitcases into a large plastic bag. A kitchen trash bag will suffice, which means you won’t need to go shopping for one. Keep it properly sealed and it’ll be impossible for bed bugs to get inside.

 Pick Up a Few Mattress Covers

Mattress covers are the perfect way to protect you from bed bugs in the event there are some inside the bed and you simply don’t notice during an inspection. As you’ve probably guessed, these covers encapsulate the entire mattress. They’re easy to put on and will ensure that any unwanted “roommates” won’t be able to reach you.

Check Every Plane and Auto Seat

Whether you’re talking about seats on a plane, bus, or Uber, these make fantastic hiding spots for bed bugs. No, they don’t live in these places. They exist as merely a weigh station after hiding in a person’s clothing and moving to the seat during transit. Check the folds of the seat for any signs of bed bugs and you’ll be good to go.

Inspection After Returning Home

When you get back home after a trip, don’t just bring in your luggage and plop it down on the bed. Instead, go through everything carefully to ensure that you haven’t inadvertently brought any of these blood-sucking insects’ home with you. It’ll only take a few minutes and avoiding an infestation will definitely be worth it.

Don’t Forget to Check Your Pets

Bed bugs don’t live on our pets and typically don’t have any interest in them. However, it isn’t uncommon for bed bugs to use your pets as a travel mechanism that will allow them entry into your home. Before you let your furry friends inside your house or apartment, closely inspect their fur for bed bugs just to be safe.

Wash All Clothes in Hot Water

Heat is the absolutely best way to kill bed bugs because they can’t survive high temperatures. As soon as you get home, wash all of your clothes using your laundry machine’s highest setting, including clothes that you didn’t get a chance to wear during the trip. This will kill any bed bugs, larva, or eggs.

Quickly React to Bed Bugs at Home

Even after you learn how to avoid bed bugs when traveling, accidents do happen. Perhaps a few were hiding in the cracks and crevices of your suitcase you weren’t even aware of? Or maybe arriving home was a bit chaotic and the kids were excitable, so something was missed. If you later discover bed bugs in your home, be sure to call a professional immediately.

Contact ProHealth Pest Control to Learn How to Avoid Bed Bugs

Bed bug control is always serious business. ProHealth Pest Control has spent years perfecting our techniques for residential and commercial pest control to ensure that your pest problems are always at a minimum. If you have any questions or would like to set up an organic pest control consultation for your home or business, reach out to us by calling (727) 308-3470 to schedule an appointment for beg bug control in Clearwater.