If you would like to make sure that your next trip out of town or overseas is bed bug free, it is time to follow these useful steps. Bed bugs are typically invisible to the naked eye and those who do not follow these easy tips for avoiding bed bugs are doomed to experience all of the annoyances that they have been known to provide. Read on to learn more.

Inspect Your Hotel Room

There is no law that says you’re forced to remain in a hotel room once you have arrived and if you take the time to survey the room for bed bugs before you set your bags down and get comfortable, you can save yourself a great deal of time and hassle in the process. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that splurging on a four star hotel will keep you safe from bed bugs, they are blissfully unaware of anyone’s economic status and are definitely an equal opportunity pest. 

If there is a larger infestation in your hotel room, one of the surest signs is a strong odor that is sweet, yet musty. The scent is often compared to the syrup that is used to create soda. Check your sheets to make sure that there are not any red or brown spots. While bed bugs are typically not responsible for the spread of disease, they do leave a number of painful, itchy welts on those who do not safeguard themselves. A quick survey of the room should give you a good idea of the potential threat level.

Check for Hiding Spots

While a quick survey can be useful, searching for bed bugs at your chosen hotel and lodging does not stop there. Be sure to look in every nook and cranny of the room before settling in. Bed bugs are nocturnal insects and they will hide underneath mattresses during the daytime, as well as inside of the box springs and underneath furniture, sheets and upholstery.

If the bedposts in your room are hollow, this is another crucial area to check. Any crevice behind the baseboard needs to be examined and if there any cracks in the room’s picture frames, these must be looked over thoroughly, as well. The same will also go for any torn wallpaper. Lifting the mattress is certainly a good start, but you’ll want to be sure to look in every possible hiding spot in your room in order to be certain. 

Place Your Items in an Elevated Space

Once you have decided that you are satisfied with the condition of the room that you will be staying in, it is still best to remain on the safe side. Store your luggage and personal items in areas that are elevated, so that bed bugs cannot make their way inside of them and come back home with you. Look over the luggage rack first and if there are zero signs of bugs, store the items there.

For added security, make sure that the luggage rack has been properly pulled away from the wall before using it for storage. If the luggage rack is not pulled away from the wall, this increases the chances of insects making their way into your luggage at nighttime while you are sleeping. 

Closely Examine Luggage Upon Return

Bed bugs can still make their presence known, despite our very best efforts. That is why it is important to examine all luggage during the packing process and you will also need to examine the luggage again once you have returned home. Bed bugs are some of the best hitchhiking pests known to man and if you do not take the proper precautions, there is a very good chance that you will end up with unwanted house guests. 

For added safety, it is best if you unpack your luggage in a secluded area of the home. Unpacking in your bedroom or living room allows bed bugs who have made their way back with you to make themselves right at home. In order to keep your home safe, experts recommend unpacking your luggage in one of your utility rooms or your garage, as this limits the chances of a potential home invasion.

Cleaning Luggage Properly

Washing and drying luggage properly is the last safety measure that you will need to take. If you have reason to believe that bed bugs have hitched a ride home with you, be sure to wash them in hot water to remove any traces of their presence. If not, it is still recommended that travelers place their clothes in the dryer for at least 15 minutes on the highest possible setting once they have returned home.

If you have taken all of the appropriate measures and continue to have reason to believe that bed bugs have entered your home, it is time to contact a professional pest control service. They are able to address the root cause of the problem and use their specific experiences to remove bed bugs from the home once and for all. 

Call Alliance today for any concerns you have about bed bugs.  New Jersey Bed Bug removal and control professional.