Summertime means one thing – vacation season. And while we all want to live in the excitement of our vacations long after we return home, there’s one thing we want to be sure to leave behind; bed bugs.
Hotels can often be known as breeding grounds for bed bug infestations which is unfortunate for any summer traveler. That’s why it’s essential to understand how to not bring home bed bugs from vacation.
Leave the Bed Bugs Behind
As a traveler, there’s only so much you can do from your end to avoid exposing yourself to bed bugs. But thankfully, there are a few tips you can follow to avoid bringing home bed bugs from your travels. Follow these steps from the start to the end of your vacation to help leave the bed bugs behind.
1. When You First Get To Your Room
Preventing bed bugs from traveling back home with you starts the moment you enter your hotel room. Here are the safety precautions you should follow.
Inspect Your Room Thoroughly
Conduct a thorough inspection of your hotel room and make it one of your first habits. Make sure you look around the bed and any other upholstered furniture in the room before unpacking your bags. Look for:
- Signs of dark or rust-colored stains
- White eggs or shells
Take a Close Look at the Headboard
You’ll want to take extra time to inspect the headboard, even if it is wooden. Bed bugs are fully capable of making homes of wooden or other types of headboards even though they are known for thriving in fabric materials.
2. While Staying At the Hotel
Be mindful throughout your stay, even if you didn’t see any initial signs of a bed bug infestation in your hotel room.
Keep Your Luggage off the Ground
Keep your luggage off the ground. You can use luggage props or anything of the sort. The safest place to store your luggage is in the bathtub if you’re concerned about bed bugs catching a ride home with you.
3. Once You Arrive Back Home
When you get home, unpack your belongings and throw everything into the high heat dryer for at least 30 minutes. Wash cycles don’t always have high enough heat to kill bed bugs but rest assured, your dryer should.
Call Us Today!
If you’re worried that you might have picked up a hitchhiking bed bug in your latest travels, 1st Stryke is here to help. Remember that you’ll want to get rid of any bed bug concerns as quickly as possible to avoid an infestation problem.
We have over 60 cumulative years of experience in the pest control industry and can solve any issue you may have. What makes us different from the competition is our personal touch. We are trained in all fields of pest control. When we come out to assess your home, we educate you on your current issues and focus on prevention for future possible pest-related needs.
Let the ant experts at 1st Stryke help you get rid of bed bugs in your home. Give us a call today at (877) 787-9531 for your complimentary quote on pest control in your home.
