How to Avoid Bringing Bed Bugs Home

Bed bugs are one of the biggest nuisances travelers face. These tiny, gross little insects can infest a home in days and are extremely difficult to get rid of. You can also pick them up in the nicest hotel rooms — they don’t discriminate. So how do you avoid them?

Inspect the Room

Always inspect your hotel room for bedbugs before setting your luggage down. Check for tiny black spots on the mattress and sheets along with blood spots. They love to hang out near headboards, in particular. Remove the pillowcases and search the seams. The nightstand and upholstered chairs are also breeding grounds for bed bugs.

Use Plastic

Keeping your belongings is sealed plastic bags is effective against bed bugs. Seal them tight and remove all potential entry points. When discarding clothes, immediately put them in another plastic bag rather than tossing them on the floor.

Elevate Your Suitcase

Do not leave your suitcase on the floor. If your hotel doesn’t have a luggage rack available, leave your bags on a table after inspecting it for bugs. This also goes for anything you might unpack during your stay.

Unpack Immediately

It’s possible a few bed bugs might cling to your clothes. When you return home, immediately remove them and toss them in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes. There are also luggage heaters specifically designed for the purpose of killing bed bugs you might want to buy. Some travelers had success with leaving luggage in a hot car for 24 hours before bringing it back inside.