Bed bugs can be picked up any time you’re sedentary. If you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to suffer from a bed bug infestation – and even if you’re lucky enough that you haven’t – this can be a seriously unsettling thought. Fortunately, there are a few precautions you can take to minimize the chances of bringing these pests home with you.
- Perform a brief inspection of your hotel room or wherever you might be staying away from home. Check the seams of your mattress, the box spring, and cracks and crevices around the bed for signs of bed bugs, their eggs, casings, or droppings.
- If you don’t find anything, enjoy your vacation! If you do find signs of bed bugs, report it immediately and either get a different room or, if possible, find somewhere else to stay. In addition to the risk of bringing them home with you, it’s hard to rest easy in a bed that you fear might be infested.
- When you return home, inspect your luggage before bringing it in inside. If you do find signs of bed bugs in your bags, seal them up in garbage bags and contact a professional at once.
- Even if you don’t find any signs of bugs, wash the clothes you took on the trip as soon as possible. Heat kills bed bugs, and the hot cycle of a household dryer will reach the necessary temperature.
These simple measures can help you avoid bringing home bed bugs, and let you rest a little easier, both on vacation and once you’re back home sleeping in your own bed.