HOW TO AVOID BED BUGS WHEN YOU TRAVEL

After the holidays end and the Canadian winter has fully settled in, many of us try to escape the cold weather by retreating to warm destinations. We eagerly seek the sand and sun, hoping to re-live lazy summer days and have some fun. For others, business travel picks up early in the new year. 

There is a possibility that in addition to the tan, souvenirs, or new customers and leads you come home with, you could also bringing home bed bugs. 

A bed bug infestation is the last thing you want to bring home from a vacation or business trip, as getting rid of bed bugs is no easy task. With over 30 years pest management experience, we’ve shared some information and tips below to help you prevent these bugs from coming home with you.

About Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are an evolving parasite that once only inhabited bird nests and the roosts of bats. Until recently, they have been able to survive and adapt in human environments. Their small bodies (about the size of an apple seed) make it easy for bed bugs to blend into nooks and crevices of any space. Their nocturnal tendencies mean they feed on their hosts while they are sleeping at night and then return to their hiding place. Humans are the most ideal host for bed bugs.

Bed bugs can be found anywhere, and when we say anywhere, we mean bed bugs can live on the chair at the movie theatre, the couch at the hair salon, or even inside a book at the library. How can you get bed bugs? By travelling anywhere and everywhere.

How Do Bed Bugs Travel?

The population of bed bugs has increased over the past couple of years due to the convenience of travel. Bed bugs are very transferable, as they are able to travel by stowing away in the nooks and crevices of dark places like books, purses, briefcases and luggage. Hotels and motels are particularly susceptible to infestations because of the easy access to luggage, clothing, and furniture. 

Bed bugs commonly hitchhike their way from fabric to fabric, and are so small and not very noticeable, which makes travel for them a breeze. Note that it is unlikely that a bed bug would be able to travel by attaching itself to the clothes you are wearing.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs When You Travel: Before You Leave

Before you pack your bags and head out on your vacation, there are a few factors to consider when booking your hotel. First, there are no international standards for hotel cleanliness. Just because it’s a luxury or five star rated hotel does not mean it is immune to bed bugs. It can be difficult for staff to thoroughly check all rooms for pests after every single guest. So, if you do find bed bugs, notify the staff and ask to be relocated to a different room immediately.

Pro Tip: There are a few things you can do to prevent a bed bug ridden vacation. Sites like The Bed Bug Registry let you search hotels and browse user-submitted bed bug hotel reports across Canada and the United States. If you are travelling outside of Canada or the United States, there are a number of travel review sites that will be able to give you some insight to guest experiences with bed bugs in hotels or other housekeeping issues.

How to Avoid Bed Bugs When Packing Your Suitcase for a Vacation

First, you tend to want to bring items like pillows and blankets to make you feel more comfortable. Try to avoid bringing bulky items like pillows or blankets, as the large crases and folds offer dark spaces which give bed bugs a great location to hide in and ultimately make their way back home with you.

Bed bugs are less attracted to light colours, so we recommend using a light-coloured fabric or plastic luggage set when travelling. You are also more likely to see any bed bugs if they are on a lighter fabric as opposed to a darker one.

Pro Tip: Pack large sealable plastic bags to separate clean and dirty clothes while on the road. Pack a flashlight, we will explain why in the next paragraph.

How to Check for Bed Bugs in a Hotel Room

You made it to your hotel after a long cab or bus ride from the airport and all you want to do is relax, take in the gorgeous view, and unpack a few items. Stop right there. From the moment you arrive to your room, there are a few things to look around for:

• First, put your luggage in the bathtub or shower. These are places bed bugs won’t be found.   
• Remember that flashlight we mentioned earlier? Use that to inspect the closet, mattresses, boxsprings, headboards, walls behind the beds, pillows, bed coverings, bed skirt, bed frames and legs. Check all of the furniture near the bed (night stands and small tables) and around the room. You are looking for:
  • Visible live bed bugs.
  • Tiny black dots or streaks, which is their excrement.
  • Reddish or rusty stains on bedding of mattresses.
  • Their eggs, which are rice-sized & have a milky colouring.
  • Their exoskeletons, which are more translucent than live bed bugs.

Pro Tip: For the duration of your vacation, when you're not using your shower/tub, store your luggage in these spaces. Unpacking your items into drawers may expose your clothing to bed bugs if they are present.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs When You Get Home

Once you have enjoyed your vacation and are back home, there are some important things to do right away. First things first - deal with ALL your clothing. Remove clean and soiled clothing from your suitcase and put them in the dryer on the hottest setting for 60 minutes. This will kill any bed bugs that decided to come home with you. Important - always follow the fabric care instructions for your clothing items as high heat can ruin certain fabrics and materials. Once you have finished unpacking your suitcase, inspect it thoroughly, and vacuum. 

Pro Tip: Vacuum every nook and crevice of your luggage, after that is done, take the vacuum bag or canister immediately outside in the garbage. This will make sure no bed bugs find their way from the kitchen garbage to your bed. If you feel you may have been exposed to bed bugs, vacuum your suitcase outside.

Environmental Pest Control - Bed Bug Control Experts Since 1988

Bed Bug infestations are a serious problem that are always best managed and eliminated by an experienced, knowledgeable pest control professional. If you think you have a bed bug infestation or know you have one, contact us  by phone or request a free quote online. We will take care of everything. You can trust that we will take care of everything - we’ve been expertly eliminating bed bugs for over 30 years.