Bed Bugs

Browed from the Queen of Clean

The busiest travel time of the year is Thanksgiving and Christmas. As many of us have heard and read, bed bugs are a huge issue even at some of the finest hotels. They can be found in airline seats, theater seats, everywhere people are. Before you head out on that trip here are some tips to keep you bed bug free.

BED BUGS - They are on the rise across the country. These are the top 25 cities in the country with bed bug problems. Believe me, the long list includes just about every city, large or small.

Chicago
Los Angeles 
Columbus, Ohio
Detroit
Cincinnati
Cleveland/Akron/Canton
Dayton
Washington D.C.
Denver
Indianapolis
Richmond/Petersburg, Va.
Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville, N.C.
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Syracuse, N.Y.
Atlanta
Houston
New York
Seattle/Tacoma
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
Boston
Milwaukee
Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
Nashville
Pittsburgh
Charlotte 

Let’s talk about what you can do to protect yourself from these bugs.

First of all, what should you do when you travel and stay in a hotel/motel to check your room for bedbugs?

Head Straight for the Bathroom

Bedbugs are least likely to be found in the bathroom. They don't like the tile floors and there aren't as many hiding places. They like to be closer to where people may be sleeping.

Inspect the Bed

Here's how to check for a bedbug infestation: Pull back the linens and check all the way around and under the mattress and behind the headboard. Look for blood stains or small black dots that look like mold or ground pepper. Bedbugs are about the size and shape of an apple seed, and you may find them hiding in corners or seams of the bedding. If you see any suspicious signs, let the hotel staff know immediately.

Check The Room

Now check areas surrounding the bed: behind picture frames, under the telephone and alarm clock. Studies have shown that most bedbugs are found in or within 15 feet of a bed, but some may still be further away. Also check in the cushions and seams of any couches or soft chairs and in the closet before putting your clothes away.

Keep Luggage Off the Ground

Leaving suitcases and bags on the floor or on a second spare bed may be one way to bring home bedbugs. They can travel from room to room. For the duration of your stay, keep your bags on the desktop, on top of the dresser, or on a luggage rack in the room. 

Wrap Suitcases in Plastic

Luggage retailers sell zip-up bags specifically for this purpose. I travel a lot and I have seen people with garbage bags wrapped around their suitcases. This barrier can protect your belongings not only in your hotel room, but also in transit; bedbugs can also hide in airplanes, trains, and taxis.

Move

Any evidence of bugs warrants a new room and hotel staff are usually always glad to do this. They want to inspect and stop the problem before it spreads. My rule is always move several floors above or below your current floor.

Have Plan For Your Return Home:

When you return home from vacation, wash all your clothing,even the items you didn't wear, in hot water. Bedbugs can't survive in temperatures above 122 degrees. This will make sure they don’t take up residence in your drawers and closets. Sending clothes to the dry cleaner will work, too. Inspect and vacuum out your suitcases before storing them away, as well, and if you've invested in a plastic luggage case, keep it sealed up until you need it next.

Watch for Bedbug Bite Marks

Bite marks are one sign that you may have brought bedbugs home with you. They often will bite in a line-shaped pattern. Itching or bites aren't enough to confirm bedbugs. Have them looked at by a professional.

Call a Professional

Bedbugs are not a do-it-yourself pest. If you suspect that you've brought home bedbugs from a recent vacation, call a pest-management service to conduct an inspection. Once an infestation is confirmed, pros may use heat, freezing, vacuuming, or steaming methods to clear your home
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Bedbugs have been found in all 50 states, in many locations including rural, urban, and suburban. Knowledge is the best defense.