In the summer months, risk of bed bug infestation grows significantly. Not only do temperate climates speed up their reproduction, but the seasonal increase in tourism and travel also aids their spread from place to place. Adaptable to a wide range of environments, these small, parasitic insects can quickly overwhelm a home once inside, often resulting in the occupants feelings of anxiety, shame and worry over treatment expenses. While Batzner Pest Management can help remove any trace of infestation, the best course of action is to prevent the bed bugs from entering in the first place.
The following three travel tips can help reduce the likelihood you bring back any bed bugs form your summer vacation:
1. Travel with a duffel bag or luggage encasement. A luggage encasement is a protective plastic covering for your luggage. Bed bugs have the ability to attach themselves to clothes and bags and can remain unnoticed for long periods of time. Just having your suitcase placed alongside an infested piece of luggage on a flight could cause you to unknowingly bring bed bugs back into your home. With a luggage encasement, you can significantly reduce this risk.
Alternatively, you may wish to use a duffel bag instead of a suitcase. Though unable to prevent entry for the bed bugs as with an encasement, duffel bags are much easier to wash and clean out than other types of luggage, which helps limit infestation.
2. Examine your hotel room carefully upon arrival. Signs of bed bug activity can include small white translucent eggs, cast skins and inky-dark fecal stains on the mattress, in addition to the bugs themselves. Check for signs of their activity along the seams of the mattress and bedding, on the edges of the box springs, headboard and around the crevices and seams of any wooden or upholstered furniture or wall hangings.
It is best to perform this examination before bringing your luggage to the room or after placing your luggage in the bathtub during your inspection. If you spot any signs of infestation, insist on switching to an alternate room that is not adjacent to or directly above or below the infested room. Be sure to inspect the new room in the same manner.
3. Wrap all clothes in plastic and wash them immediately upon returning home. If you believe bed bugs may be attached to any of your clothes or belongings, seal the items up in a plastic bag. This will keep them contained until you can wash the clothes or luggage. Once you return, move the items from the plastic bag to a pillow case before entering your house. Place items in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes to kill the bugs and eggs which cannot survive in temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. After removing from the dryer, wash your clothes in your usual manner.
These three simple steps are the best defense to keep your home free of bed bugs and will give you peace of mind during your summer travels.
