Steering Clear Of Bed Bugs During Your Summer Vacation

One thing that can bring your perfect summer to an absolute halt is bed bugs. These dreaded pests are highly common at any place that a large amount of people go in and out of on a daily basis. Bed bugs feed on human blood so they tend to stick around places like airports, libraries, and yes, hotels. Imagine planning everything in your summer getaway perfectly and arriving at your hotel to find that it’s infested with bed bugs. Or even worse, staying in a room that’s infested without you even realizing, and dragging them back home with you!

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to lessen your chances of running into bed bugs. Here are some tips on what to do and what not to do when it comes to bed bugs.

DO Your Research

Just because you have to stay in a hotel while you travel doesn’t mean you’ll have to stay in one with bed bugs. There are websites online now that will give you a better idea whether the hotel you’re staying in frequently deals with bed bug infestations. Make sure you check on this before you book. It’s also smart to check review sites and see how many people complained about this issue during their stays.

DO Check For Signs

Even if you’ve done your research and found a reputable hotel that doesn’t deal with bed bug problems often, it’s important to check your specific roomwhen you check in. When you first walk in, drop your bags off in the bathroom or a room with tiled or linoleum floors. Bed bugs like to hide in carpet, beds or any furniture that’s upholstered. Check all over your room for signs of bed bugs before settling in.

DO Wash Everything Before Coming Home

Having your clothes washed before you pack up to come home is important because it prevents any bed bugs that might have attached themselves to your clothing from entering your car or home. Have your clothes sent out to be washed, and immediately wrap them in plastic and pack them as soon as they come back clean.

DON’T Try To Fix An Infestation Alone

Unfortunately, bed bugs is not a problem you can fix on your own. These bugs are so tiny and so good at deflecting capture, that it’s important to call in a professional with tools and experience to handle them.

DON’T Assume A Fancy Hotel Doesn’t Have Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are unique in the fact that they don’t particularly prefer dirtier places to infest. A lot of people think that sticking to more expensive, fancier hotels won’t have bed bugs, but this isn’t particularly true. The number one thing that bed bugs look for is humans. Any high traffic area is going to be at risk for bed bugs. The best quality you can look for in a hotel is a place that does regular inspections with a local pest control company and can confirm that they’ve done one recently.