Bed Bugs And Traveling: What You Should Know To Protect Yourself
A fear of bed bugs shouldn't prevent you from traveling and doing what you want to do. Bed bugs can be found anywhere, but it doesn't mean they are everywhere. Just because you stayed at a hotel doesn't mean you are going to end up bringing bed bugs back home with you in your suitcase. You should be aware of what to look for in hotel rooms, and how to protect yourself against bed bugs to actually prevent this from happening to you. Read on for tips to help protect yourself against bed bugs while traveling.
Take A Good Look Around
Your hotel room may appear clean, but is it really? You should always take a close inspection of your hotel room before you begin unpacking your belongings. If you spot smudges on the walls that look like blood smears, it may be from bed bugs. If you see skin sheds or dead bugs along the wall edges, or on the counters, these may be from bed bugs. You may also see tiny black spots on the mattress or on the sheets, which could be feces from bed bugs. If you see any of these signs, or you see live bed bugs in drawers or on other furniture in the room, take yourself and your belongings back to the check-in counter and report it. Then find a new hotel.
Keep Your Belongings In Your Suitcase
It always feels good to unpack and to not have to live out of a suitcase, but this is actually a better idea when protecting yourself against bed bugs. Keep your suitcase zipped up and your belongings secure inside the suitcase, rather than in the furniture. Just because you didn't spot bed bugs with your eyes doesn't mean they aren't present. You could have missed something. It's just best to keep your things inside the suitcase.
Wash Everything Upon Returning
When you arrive home, keep everything in your suitcase for a few days before bringing it all inside of your home. This way anything that may have come back with you will die off after a few days. Bring your suitcase inside and give it a good wipe-down, then wash everything inside. Even things you didn't wear on your trip should be washed. Everything that can be washed should be laundered.
If you are worried about bed bugs while traveling, it shouldn't stop you from your travels, but you should know how to protect yourself. If you do come home with these pests and they begin to take over your home, call a pest control company for help.
For more tips, reach out to a bed bug exterminator in your area.