‘Tis the season to visit family and friends! We all want to avoid bed bugs on holiday travels, but how do you check for bed bugs in hotels and living quarters? They hide in trains, planes, and hotel rooms. These tiny blood-sucking pests will hang out anywhere people sit for long periods of time. And unfortunately, they don’t stay put. Bed bugs will latch onto you, your luggage, purse, or backpack and hitch a ride with you to infest your next location.
Bed bugs are known for being resilient, so staying vigilant is a surefire way to help prevent an infestation. Take these precautions to keep bed bugs from ruining your travel plans this Thanksgiving.
Cover Your Luggage
It’s not uncommon to see bed bugs on planes, trains, and other modes of transportation. So before you head out on your travels, consider protecting your luggage. Use a garbage bag or other sealed cover and place your luggage inside to help keep out any potential hitchhiking bed bugs.
Inspect & Check for Bed Bugs
Regardless of where you’re staying, you’ll want to inspect and check for bed bugs. Bed bugs don’t discriminate when it comes to living quarters. Pull back the bedsheets, paying particular attention to the mattress seams as you look for bed bugs, spots, and stains. Bed bugs are small, about the size of an apple seed and their eggs look similar to a grain of white rice. Additionally, don’t forget to check chairs, headboards, nightstands, and other furniture. Bed bugs will hide out anywhere people sit for long periods of time.
If you do notice bed bugs or eggs, contact management right away and ask for a room that’s not adjacent to the infested room. Bed bugs have been known to travel by way of housekeeping carts, wall sockets, and suitcases.
Check For Bed Bugs in Luggage Upon Returning Home
Upon returning home from your travels, carefully inspect your luggage. Place suitcases and travel bags on a smooth surface, like your garage floor, as it is difficult for bed bugs to climb out of a smooth surface. Next, vacuum and hand steam your suitcases or bags before storing them.
Dry Your Fabric Items
To stay extra vigilant, before storing away your clothes, put them in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes, even if you didn’t wear them. This also includes blankets, towels, and any stuffed animals.
If you do check for bed bugs, and find them, you can attempt DIY methods, however, professional intervention is almost always required for complete bed bug control and eradication. It is best to contact a professional pest control company like United Pest Solutions, as bed bugs not only multiply quickly, but they are also very resilient.