How many times do you enter a hotel room and throw your purse or your suitcase on the bed? When I enter a hotel room, that’s likely the first thing I do. But not anymore. According to studies, if the hotel room is infested with bed bugs, that’s one of the worst things you can do since bed bugs are likely to be found on the bed.
I’m fortunate. Though my family has stayed in hundreds of hotel rooms around the country, we’ve never encountered bed bugs. But I have friends who haven’t been so lucky. So how can you protect yourself and make sure you don’t return home with more than the souvenirs you bought on vacation? I’ll walk you through some easy steps.
Tips to Protect Yourself from Bed Bugs when you Travel
Before you make reservations at a hotel or motel, read reviews at websites like the Bed Bug Registry or Tripadvisor to see if there are any complaints of bed bugs.
When you arrive at the hotel, place your luggage in the bathroom (bed bugs don’t like tile) and give the room a quick, but thorough sweep.
Inspect the head board (which should easily lift up and off the wall), pull back the sheets and inspect the crevices of the mattress and under the mattress for signs of the pest. This could be the bug itself, the discarded skins of the bed bug or black spots that look like mold spots or pepper.
Continue to look under the phone, lamps, cushions on the furniture, drapes, and inside drawers, you may find a flash light handy.
If you find evidence of bed bugs, ask to be assigned a new room and repeat the process. Even though bed bugs are in one room, it doesn’t mean they’ll be occupying another room.
Store your luggage off the floor on a luggage rack or on top of the desk or dresser.
When you return home, wash all of your clothes in hot water, inspect your luggage and vacuum it before you store it for your next trip.
Products to Protect Yourself from Bed Bugs
In addition to taking the above precautions, there are products available that can minimize the chances of bed bugs hitching a ride back to your home.
The Bed Bug Resistant Plastic Bags are large enough to slip your luggage inside, keeping the bugs out.
Avenger Organics offers a convenient travel set of bed bug killer and bed bug killer luggage spray to protect your property without the use of harmful toxins. This all-natural, non-pesticide solution, made from clove and peppermint oil, kills adult bed bugs. It is non-toxic and safe around people and pets. Safe on mattresses, bedding, carpets, furniture, curtains, clothing and other infested areas.
Have you ever encountered bed bugs while traveling? What steps do you take to ensure that you won’t?
© 2014 – 2016, Tonya Prater. All rights reserved.
Dog Inspectors says
Hey Tonya, we love these tips that you have given to people traveling! As an owner of a Bed Bug Detection company we have seen first hand the damage that bed bugs can cause on both businesses and even worse families.
You have a beautiful blog. Wish you the best in your travels!