It is a relief to finally arrive at your destination, throw your suitcase down, and lie on the hotel bed. But a worry that is always in the back of every traveler’s mind is a pest the size of an apple seed. If you are going on a trip, you have probably heard some of the risks of bed bugs when traveling. Just a few minutes of your time and the following few tips could save you a lot of time, money, and hassle after returning home. The team at Nozzle Nolen has you covered with some top tips to limit the impact of these painful pests.
Assume Every Room Has Bed Bugs When Traveling
Benjamin Franklin once published the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that’s true of bed bugs when traveling specifically. You don’t have to pack a headlamp and gloves so you look like a pest control technician, though.
Instead, make sure you bring two kitchen trash bags (they are small and double as laundry bags!) and know how to access the “flashlight” function on your smartphone. Then, when you get into your room, take the following steps:
- Open your trash bag and put your carry-on inside – If possible, also start by placing your luggage in the bathroom, even in the tub. It’s easiest to track bugs on white porcelain and they’re least likely to show up here. You can also use a metal luggage rack if one is available in the room.
- Inspect the mattress and linens – Even with frequent laundry handling and good housekeeping, you should be able to see signs of bed bugs on a mattress by looking for tell-tale signs like blood or stool stains (appears like pepper flakes), especially along the corner seams of mattresses and box springs. In less well-kept properties, this may also be true of the linens.
Check the headboard, drapes, and furniture – Bed bugs thrive in wood and fabric, so the headboard is a great place to start, especially because they enjoy the dark and quiet behind it. Next, move on to the nightstands and then furniture. Pay close attention to the drapes, which are often the least-cleaned areas in a hotel room.
This shouldn’t take more than a few minutes in a hotel room and is worth the time it takes if you avoid getting your stuff and yourself covered in bugs. If you find bed bugs when traveling, be careful what management offers you, it is often best to decline the complimentary room and find a different place to stay altogether.
Get Help From the Hotel or Property Owner
Most hotels, resorts, and even home shares have policies in place when it comes to bed bugs when traveling. At the very least, management should be able to help you with:
- A new room – Make sure you ask for a room that is not next to, above or below the room where you just found these pests. They tend to spread out and can travel along electrical lines and through luggage and housekeeping.
- Laundry – If you didn’t detect the issue until after your first day, you should be able to get complimentary laundry or dry cleaning for the clothes that came into contact with infected areas of the room.
And if you think you or your luggage has been exposed, make sure to protect your home when you return from your trip.
Keeping Bed Bugs Out of Your Home
Known for their tenacity, you need a barrier treatment to ensure they don’t make it back to your home, condo, or apartment. Start by segregating your luggage in a separate space away from laundry and furniture, like the garage or backyard. Consider taking a steam cleaner to anything that isn’t electronic and be sure to wash your clothes thoroughly to ensure that any stragglers don’t make it back into your regular clothing.
Nozzle Nolen Can Help with Bed Bugs From Traveling
Hopefully, if you have encountered bed bugs when traveling, you notice them before you get home from your trip. However, if you have brought these pests into your house, it is essential to get professional help as soon as possible. If you believe that you have brought these pests home with you, Nozzle Nolen will provide a FREE inspection to make sure they don’t spread in your home. If bed bugs are present, Nozzle Nolen will treat with heat which is the best treatment option, with the least likelihood of the problem returning.
Nozzle Nolen has the experience you need to ensure that your property and loved ones are safe from bed bugs and any other pest that you may face down here in South Florida. So if you’ve picked up bed bugs when traveling, call us at 800.226.6536 or Contact Us today. We look forward to serving you.
