How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Ruining Your Summer Travel Plans
Summer is the season for family vacations. Whether you’ve planned an epic adventure or a simple weekend getaway, it’s nice to take a break from your normal routine every now and then, and the summer months are the perfect time to do that.
As perfect as you might think your vacation will be, summer is also the perfect time for bed bug activity. Although these pests are active throughout the year, bed bug activity spikes in the summer months. These tiny hitchhikers can easily turn your dream vacation into a nightmare, which is why you need to know not only how to avoid bed bugs while on vacation, but also how to make sure you don’t bring them home with you. Greenway Pest Solutions is here to help with simple bed bug identification and prevention tips.
Why Bed Bugs Are a Travel Problem
Bed bugs love to travel. In fact, you could say they’ve perfected the art of hitchhiking. They don’t have to stick out their thumbs and wait for someone to pick them up, though. Instead, they simply climb aboard whatever is nearby- a person, a bag, a suitcase, even a phone- and go along for the ride, wherever it might take them.
Anywhere people are located is a place where bed bugs may be as well. They are often found in hotels, rental properties, airports, and on public transportation. Although it may not seem like a big deal if you end up bringing a singular bed bug home with you, if that bed bug is female, she could lay hundreds of eggs at your house upon arrival, quickly turning a small problem into a much larger one.
How to Avoid Bed Bugs While Traveling
Avoiding bed bugs while you travel may seem like a daunting task. It will not happen without effort, but it’s well worth the extra work if it helps you avoid bringing bed bugs home with you. There are things you can do before, during, and after your trip to make it less likely that bed bugs accompany you home.
Before You Go
- Read hotel reviews for recent bed bug complaints.
- Pack your clothes in sealed plastic bags or hard-sided luggage.
- Bring a small flashlight for inspections and plastic bags for dirty laundry.
Upon Arrival
- Inspect your hotel room, including bedding, mattress seams, headboards, nightstands, and furniture for small reddish-brown bugs, tiny black spots (droppings), and shed skins or eggs
- Keep luggage off the bed and floor. Place suitcases in the bathroom or leave them out in the hall (with someone attending to them, of course).
Before Heading Home
- Re-inspect your luggage and clothing before packing.
- Keep dirty clothes in sealed plastic bags.
- Consider using a heat-safe travel laundry bag to contain potential hitchhikers.
Upon Arrival Home
- Unpack your clothes directly into the laundry and wash and dry everything on high heat.
- Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly and store it away from bedrooms.
- Inspect items that can’t be laundered, such as shoes and books, carefully.
- Consider installing a protective mattress encasement as an added safeguard.
Signs You May Have Brought Bed Bugs Home
Despite your best efforts, sometimes a bed bug or two can sneak past your notice. By knowing the signs of a bed bug infestation, you can quickly identify and eliminate it before it has a chance to grow. Signs of bed bug activity include:
- Finding unexplained bug bites, especially in lines or clusters, on skin that is exposed while you sleep.
- Noticing small blood stains or black dots on sheets.
- Finding tiny bugs or molted skins in mattress seams or furniture crevices.
- Smelling a slightly musty odor in infested areas.
Stop an Infestation With Bed Bug Control from Greenway Pest Solutions
If you see any of the signs mentioned above, or even if you simply want to be extra sure that you didn’t bring bed bugs home with you from your vacation, contact Greenway Pest Solutions right away! We provide effective bed bug control services in Anthem, Chandler, Queen Creek, and throughout the Phoenix metro. Bed bugs are good at hiding, and they reproduce quickly, so the sooner you act to eliminate an infestation, the easier it will be to ensure every bed bug is taken care of.
When you contact Greenway Pest Solutions, we’ll thoroughly inspect your home to determine if bed bugs are present. If they are, we’ll employ a combination of effective treatment methods to eliminate the bed bugs in all stages of development. If you suspect bed bugs, don’t wait; contact Greenway Pest Solutions at the first signs of trouble.
