Prevent Bed Bugs While Traveling

SERVING ALL OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA & MISSISSIPPI

The holidays mean gathering with loved ones, enjoying delicious meals, and often traveling great distances. During your travels, you may get to see friends and family members, but you could also be picking up some unwanted hitchhikers along the way: bedbugs! Many bedbug problems are often started as an unintended result of a trip. As thousands of people travel through airports, ride in taxis, and stay in hotels, they can often unknowingly bring bedbugs along with them in their suitcases. These bugs can make their way into your luggage and make the journey home with you, if you are not careful.

Tips for Preventing Bed Bugs While Traveling:

• Shut Bed Bugs Out During the Packing Process
  • Bedbugs will not be able to enter your suitcase if you do not allow any way in. You can reduce the risk of picking up bedbugs if you have a suitcase with a hard, smooth outer casing. If you already have a suitcase, it is still possible to make it harder for bedbugs to hitch a ride. Wrap all of your clothing and any other cloth items in plastic bags when packing.
• Research Hotels Before You Book
  • Before you book a room in a hotel over the holidays, check out the online reviews. Look to see if any past customers mention bedbug problems at the hotel you are considering. The hotel itself is not going to be upfront about this information.
• Inspect Your Hotel Room for Bed Bugs When You Arrive
  • Before you settle into a hotel room, even if the location has wonderful reviews, take a moment to inspect the room for signs of bedbugs.
  • These tiny bugs can be very difficult to spot, but it is possible to find signs of their presence.
  • Pull back the bed sheets, and look between the mattress and box spring for any signs of eggs, feces, or skin that has been shed. When you look at the surface of the mattress, you might find tiny specks of blood, where the bugs have bitten previous guests.
• Keep Your Luggage Out of Reach of Bed Bugs
  • Keep your things out of the reach of bedbugs. You can do this by using suitcase racks, keeping your luggage on top of dressers or other furniture, and keeping your luggage in your lap when riding in taxis, airplanes, or other forms of public transportation.
  • Bed bugs can climb into your bag from the floor or from one piece of luggage to another.
• Take Precautions When You Return Home
  • As soon as you return home from your holiday travels, assume that bed bugs could be hidden somewhere in your luggage. Wash and dry all of your clothing, and any other cloth souvenirs, in the warmest settings possible–even if they were not worn during your trip.
  • Thoroughly vacuum or steam clean your suitcase before you store it. Pay careful attention to the lining and any pockets where the bugs could be hiding.
  • This may feel like a lot of trouble, especially after your holiday vacation, but it is much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to bed bug infestations.

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