Simple Tips To Avoid Bed Bugs While Traveling

Traveling brings the joy of exploration and the excitement of new experiences, but it can also unknowingly expose you to unwanted companions – bed bugs. These tiny pests are expert travelers, often making their way into your home through luggage and clothing after a trip. Understanding how bed bugs hitch rides and the measures to prevent their entry is crucial for any traveler. In this article, we delve into practical strategies to avoid bed bugs while traveling and ensure that the only memories you bring back are pleasant ones.

How Bed Bugs Make Their Way Into Your Home

Bed bugs are notorious hitchhikers, adept at traveling long distances by latching onto luggage, clothing, and other personal belongings. This trait makes travelers particularly susceptible to inadvertently bringing these pests home. You may encounter bed bugs when staying in hotels, bed and breakfasts, or even short-term rental properties without even realizing it. These tiny pests can easily hide in the seams and folds of luggage, nestled in the fabric of clothing, or within other personal items. Their small size and discreet nature make them difficult to spot, especially if you’re not actively looking for them.

Once bed bugs hitch a ride in your belongings, they can quickly make themselves home in your living space. After returning from a trip, your luggage is the perfect vehicle for these pests to enter your house. Unbeknownst to many, bed bugs can survive for several months without feeding, allowing them to comfortably endure the journey back to your home. Once inside, they find hiding spots in mattresses, furniture, carpet edges, and other secluded areas, from where they emerge at night to feed. Their rapid reproduction rate and elusive behavior make it a challenge to detect and eliminate an infestation early, highlighting the importance of taking preventive measures during and after travel to avoid these unwelcome guests.

Tips For Avoiding Bed Bugs When You Travel

Preparing For Your Trip

Opt for hard-shelled suitcases, as their rigid surfaces are less prone to bed bug infestations than fabric luggage.
Pack your clothes in sealable plastic bags. These are available in various sizes at hardware stores and similar shops, including up to 22 gallons. Bring extras for any new purchases during your travels.
Include a compact, bright flashlight in your packing list to facilitate thorough room inspections upon arrival.
Avoid applying insect repellents or pesticides to your luggage and clothes. These substances are ineffective against bed bugs and may present health risks.
Before booking, check reviews of the accommodation for any mentions of bed bugs. Sites like TripAdvisor or Bed Bug Registry can be helpful.
Consider bringing bed bug-repellent travel liners for the bed or luggage sprays specifically designed to repel bed bugs.

During Your Stay

Familiarize yourself with bed bugs’ appearance across different life stages, from eggs to adults, and their typical signs like blood spots, shed skins, and droppings.
Always place your luggage on a solid, raised surface (such as a metal shelf or in a dry bathtub), and avoid putting it directly on the floor or upholstered furniture.
Inspect the bed, mainly the corners and sides of mattresses and box springs, for any signs of bed bugs.
Quickly check pillows and furniture upholstery for bed bug traces.
If possible, inspect behind the headboard and inside drawers of bedside tables.
For shorter stays, keep your clothes in your luggage and ensure they’re zipped up when not used.
Immediately report any evidence of bed bugs to the hotel management and request a different room.
Instead of using dressers or closets, consider hanging clothes or keeping them in your sealed luggage to minimize the risk of contact with bed bugs.
Bed bugs are attracted to the scent of worn clothing, so consider using a separate sealed bag for dirty laundry.

Returning Home

Before bringing your luggage into your home, leave it in a garage, on a porch, or in a similar area to prevent any potential bed bugs from entering.
Unpack your luggage in a well-lit bathroom to spot any hitchhiking pests quickly. Shake out clothes over a bathtub or shower.
Conduct a thorough inspection of your luggage, focusing on seams, pockets, and straps. As a precaution, vacuum these areas, but be sure to dispose of the vacuum bag properly outside your home.
Launder all your clothes promptly upon returning home. Use hot water for washing and a high heat setting for at least 20 minutes in the dryer, especially if bed bugs are suspected. Consider dry cleaning for non-washable items.