It’s summer vacation and for lots of families in the Northeast that means it’s time to travel. While you’re probably hoping to return home with a suitcase full of memories, souvenirs and maybe even some sand, the one thing you don’t want to bring home is bed bugs. These creepy night crawlers feed on our blood, usually biting us while we sleep and leaving itchy, red welts.
Nearly extinct since the 1940s and 50s, bed bugs have made a comeback, showing up in hotel rooms and making their way back to apartments and houses. If you suspect you already have a problem in your home or business, we can tell you how to get rid of bed bugs, but if hotel rooms are your concern, follow these bed bug prevention tips for travelers to keep unwanted stowaways from sneaking into your luggage.
How to Protect Yourself from Bed Bugs
Whether you’re traveling for business, taking a family vacation or sending the kids off to camp, these bed bug prevention tips for travelers will deter unwelcome hitchhikers.
Inspect your room. Examine all surfaces for signs of a bed bug infestation. Pull back the bedding, pillow cases and mattress cover. Inspect the seams, folds and crevices for tiny, nearly translucent nymphs and their rust colored excrement. Look behind the headboard and wall art, as well as under upholstered chairs and sofas.
Elevate your luggage. Avoid placing your suitcase on or near the bed and walls, and use a luggage rack or closet to keep your bags off of the floor. Don’t leave computer bags, clothes or pocketbooks on upholstered furniture. Some travelers even use sealed plastic bags to further protect their belongings from a bed bug infestation.
Take precautions at home. Bed bugs are unable to survive in temperatures over 120 degrees Fahrenheit, so leave your suitcases in a hot car or outside in the sun when you get home. If you can’t immediately wash and dry your clothes, at least give them a tumble in a hot dryer. Always store your suitcases away from living areas, such as in the garage or basement.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
If you find signs of bed bugs in your hotel room, alert the front desk and ask to be moved to a room far away from the infested one, or find a new place to stay altogether. No matter how vigilant you are, bed bugs may still find a way into your home. If you suspect you have bed bugs in Glens Falls, Queensbury or the surrounding areas, contact a local bed bug exterminator. At Nature’s Way Pest Control, we offer safe pest control from Lake George to Albany NY and in parts of Vermont.
We also offer commercial pest control in New York and Vermont.
