With the year ending, most of us will be gearing up to travel for the holidays to visit family or have a quick vacation. The stress of traveling can be enough to deal with and the last thing travelers want to encounter are bed bugs! These pests are notorious for hitchhiking through luggage, purses, and even clothes to move from place to place. Luckily, there are bed bug prevention tips all travelers can use before and after their trips to ensure bed bugs don’t return home with you.
Bed Bug Prevention While Traveling
Before you jet-off to your next destination, there are a few things you can prepare to ensure you won’t encounter bed bugs, consider these bed bug prevention tips:
- Consider utilizing hard-cased luggage as it can be more difficult for bed bugs to attach to rigid materials rather than fabric.
- Bring a small flashlight with you to inspect your hotel or Airbnb room for bed bugs when you arrive.
- Before booking your hotel room, check the Bed Bug Registry to see if it has had recent bed bug activity.
Prevent Bud Bugs During Your Vacation
While on your vacation or trip, there are a few mindful things you can do to ensure bed bugs don’t come home with you. Consider these tips:
- Once you arrive at your hotel or Airbnb, thoroughly inspect the entire room with your small flashlight for bed bugs, including behind the headboard, mattress corners, sofas, and chairs.
- Consider placing your suitcase on tile or hard floor surfaces while you complete your quick bed bug inspection.
- Before placing your belongings on a luggage rack, make sure to inspect the room beforehand and then place it on the rack and away from the wall.
- Before leaving your hotel and returning home, examine your luggage and clothing to make sure you haven’t picked up any bed bugs!
Preventing Bed Bugs After Traveling
Once returning home from your travels, utilize these bed bug prevention and elimination tips:
- Unpack your luggage outside and inspect your clothes and items for bed bug activity.
- After unpacking, wash your clothes and bedding in hot water and dry them on high heat as bed bugs cannot survive in temperatures above 120°F.
- Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly before storing it away and consider placing your luggage in airtight trash bags to help avoid bed bugs and other pests from getting inside it.
- If you notice bed bug activity in your home, call your local pest control company to inspect and provide the best bed bug treatment and prevention plan for your home.
