Bed bugs are wingless insects. They cannot fly or jump, but that doesn’t stop them from infesting location after location. Not only do their tiny, flattened bodies allow them to easily squeeze through small spaces, but these pests are known to latch on to people and their belongings and infest new locations.

So how do you prevent bed bugs while traveling? Stay vigilant!

Bed Bug Prevention Tips

Take the following precautions when traveling to help reduce bed bugs.

• Use hard-shelled luggage: it’s hard for bed bugs to travel along smooth and slick surfaces, so consider investing in hard-shelled luggage.
• Wrap your luggage in plastic: use a garbage bag or other plastic cover to protect your luggage against bed bugs. You may get stares from other passengers, but at least you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re belongings are safe.
• Keep your luggage elevated: store your luggage and other personal items in elevated spaces, like the overhead compartment in airplanes. This will help reduce the chances of them hopping on to your luggage.
• Inspect your room: before getting comfortable in your hotel room, set all of your belongings in the bathtub or shower then thoroughly inspect your room.
  • Inspect the mattress and boxspring
  • Look around the bed frame, couch, chairs, and nightstand
  • Check every void, seam, crack, and crevice using a flashlight

If you’ve spotted bed bugs in your room, don’t panic. Bed bugs don’t pose any health risks. Simply, contact hotel management and notify them of the infestation. Then, request another room that isn’t adjacent to the infested one and inspect it as well. Bed bug infestations can spread through entire buildings.

As soon as you get home, take these additional steps to help prevent bed bug infestations.

• Inspect & clean your luggage: place your luggage on your garage floor or another smooth surface. Then, thoroughly vacuum and steam clean them before storing them.
• Dry your clothing: before putting away your clothes, put them in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes to help kill bed bugs and their eggs. If you traveled with towels, blankets, and stuffed animals, toss those in the dryer as well.

Experts in Bed Bug Control

If you’re concerned about bed bugs, contact Interstate Pest Management. We’ll inspect your property, identify the pest, and properly treat it. We have a 5-step bed bug treatment system we use for homes and businesses. It’s quick, safe, and effective!