We have been couped up for too long and many of us are planning to get our travel on this summer and let’s be honest, we deserve a trip, we’ve earned this vacation like never before.
We will run, swim, hike – explore new territories and return to old haunts. We’ll return home exhausted and exhilarated with our sunburns, blisters, and fantastic memories of how we got them.
What we don’t want to bring back with us, is those tiny hidden hitchhikers – Bed Bugs! We want the summer of ’22 to be remembered for the great experiences, not the summer we brought home Bed bugs.
How to Avoid Bed Bugs On the Road
Don’t Take Them Home with You
Bed bugs tend to be associated with poor sanitation, but this is a misnomer. One of the biggest problems is for hotels and motels. This is because they usually have multiple guests that come and go every few days. There are many types of people from many different environments.
Bed bugs seem to be a bigger problem in high peak traveling seasons like during the holidays and also the spring and summer months.
They are very good at hiding and can hole up in the seams and inside the mattresses of a bed. They keep hidden during the daytime and will start to come out when the night sets in.
They can also hitch a ride on luggage, clothing, furniture and even pets. They have been around for a long time but really started to have a resurgence in the early 2000’s.
Related: Traveling Bed Bugs – Don’t Bring Them Home With You
Inspect Your Motel Room
There are several things that you can do to try and stop these little pests from coming home with you. The best way to start is with a thorough inspection of the room when you check in:
- Use a Flashlight – Make sure that you have a flashlight and be sure to leave your luggage outside the room while you do the inspection just in case there are bed bugs present.
- Inspect Mattress – Inspect the mattress and bedding thoroughly, checking for signs of infestations. Look specifically at the seams of the mattress searching for fecal matter and shedding of the bugs. You might even see an actual bed bug running for cover.
- Check Dressers – After the bed has been inspected you should also check the dressers and fixtures.
If you deem the area is clear you can rest easy but you should also check for bites and blood spots in the morning to be sure you didn’t miss anything.
If You See Signs of Bed Bugs
After you have checked the area and decide that a possible bed bug infestation is possible you need to notify the management of the property as soon as possible.
Do not take your personal belongings into the room. It is best to request another room away from this one. Do not accept the room on either side.
You can also put whatever clothes you were wearing during the inspection into a dryer and set it to the hottest setting and run it for at least 30 minutes just to be sure.
Professional Bed Bug Treatment
A bed bug is a small brown or red colored insect that can easily hide from view.
They feed on the blood of sleeping human beings and can cause hundreds of bites to an individual during the night time.
If you suspect that bed bugs have hitched a ride back home with you after you get back from vacation (or any other time), call Croach® to get rid of bed bugs in regions near Seattle, Portland, Spokane, and Denver.
Browse our bed bug FAQs for more information.
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