How to Prevent Bed Bugs When Traveling for the Holidays

Thanksgiving is only three weeks away and Christmas decor already decorates every shopping mall on the east coast. Whether you love the holidays or are already ready for them to be over, this is a wonderful time of year to take some much needed time off work, visit family, eat far more than you should, or even take a vacation, but as you’re traveling save yourself from trouble and follow our expert tips on how to prevent bed bugs while traveling for the holidays. After all, finding bed bugs in your stocking may be far worse and have more serious consequences than finding a lump a coal amongst your gifts.

Avoiding Bed Bugs While Traveling

Whether you travel often or rarely, bed bugs are always a concern — and not just while you’re on the road. The trouble with bed bugs is that once you or your belongings are exposed, they can hitch a ride to your home, and quickly spread into a full-blown infestation! The best way to keep bed bugs out of your home is to avoid them while traveling, but sometimes that can be easier said than done. Check out our tips below to learn how to avoid bed bugs in Boston, so you can enjoy your holiday travels without worrying about bed bugs.

Invest in Hard Luggage

Bed bugs hitch rides on soft, cloth surfaces, so when you travel around, you can make it difficult for them to hop on by investing in hard-shelled luggage instead of cloth or soft-shelled suitcases. Hard shells provide a protective barrier against bed bugs to keep them from latching on and traveling with you back home.

Store Your Luggage Safely

Unless you travel fairly often, you likely need to store your luggage between your travels. To keep bed bugs from infesting your home, be sure to store your luggage safely! Instead of sliding your suitcases under your bed between adventures, store your luggage away from your bedroom in a space like an attic, crawl space, or garage. This keeps potential bed bugs away from the soft spaces they love to infest, and most importantly, away from your bed!

Inspect Hotel Rooms for Bed Bugs

Although you will likely be tired from traveling, resist the urge to plop down on your hotel bed until you have given your room a thorough inspection. Check the following areas for bed bugs before you call it a night:

• Sheets and bedding
• Mattress
• Headboard
• And other soft furniture such as sofas and chairs

If you notice bed bugs, choose different accommodations. While you are inspecting, be sure to keep your luggage outside of your room or on a luggage rack so bed bugs can’t hop on while you’re checking for their friends!

Wash and Dry Your Items Immediately

While it may be tempting to leave your luggage on the floor for a few days when you return from your trip, doing so may unleash bed bugs into your home! Instead, plop your clothes directly into your washing machine to get them clean as soon as possible. Make sure to dry your items as well, as the high heat of the dryer will kill off any bed bugs that may have made the trip back home with you.

Unfortunately, a few bed bugs might slip by even the most vigilant traveler, and you could find yourself in the middle of a full blown bed bug infestation in your home. If you do, give your friends here at Patriot Pest a call. Our bed bug control treatments can get your home back in order in no time!