How to Avoid Bringing Bed Bugs Home This Summer

Things you want to bring home from summer vacation? Memories, some souvenirs, a tan and maybe a little bit of sand. What you absolutely, definitely do not want to bring home? Bed bugs.

Unfortunately, bed bugs are probably more common than you think and, according to National Pest Management Association, fewer than a third of Americans know how to actually identify bed bugs and about the same know-how to thoroughly inspect for them.

“Every summer, there’s a pattern of consumers checking into their accommodations, skipping the inspection and checking out with more than they bargained for,” said Dr. Jim Fredericks, senior vice president of public affairs, NPMA. “Bed bugs are experts at staying out of sight until it’s too late, so knowing what to look for and acting quickly when you find something can mean the difference between a relaxing vacation and a stressful infestation.”

So what does the NPMA recommend you do to stay safe and leave those pests out of your vacation plans? You can take a few simple steps.

Once you arrive at your accommodations, place your suitcases on a hard surface in the bathroom. Don’t place suitcases on carpet or furnishings until you conduct an inspection. For that inspection, pull back the bed linens and look for stains, skins, eggs and bugs along mattress seams, corners and springs. Check the headboard, upholstered furniture and nightstand drawers, too.

See anything specious? Notify management and get out of there. If you’re in a hotel, specifically request a non-adjacent room. Then, once home, give your suitcases a good look over and vacuum them before bringing them into your house. Wash and dry all your vacation laundry on high heat.