How to Deal With Bed Bugs When travelling
Bed bugs do not inspire a lot of fear unless one actually comes across an infestation. As is the case with most parasitic insects, bed bugs can be very difficult to get rid of once they have spread across an area. Most often than not, bed bugs make their way to your home through your baggage when you return from an infested place. These reddish-brown bugs love to hitchhike on your belongings when you move from one place to another. This is why we are going to list several useful tips to deal with the menace of bed bugs when traveling.
1) Packing and Unpacking
Since hopping on bags and clothes is the most prominent way how bed bugs travel, it is paramount that you check your luggage thoroughly before and after a trip. To make things easier, you should always carry bags which are lighter in color so that it is easier to spot the bugs and the trails left behind by them. Before you reach your destination and start unpacking, make sure that the room isn’t already infested with bed bugs. If by any means bed bugs do make their way into your stuff, it is recommended that you pack each of your belongings in a separate zipped plastic bag to contain them from spreading all over the place. If you want to protect yourself from bugs both before and after packing, click here for bug extermination tools.
2) Book Wisely
Not only hotels but trains and buses can also be sometimes present with a bud bug problem. It is therefore important to thoroughly check the reviews of all such accommodations and transportation services before making a booking. Bed bugs are often accompanied by their musty smell and droppings that appear in clusters. So, if and when you come across these signs, do not hesitate to contact the hoteliers asking them for a change of rooms or a refund. Bed bugs do not stay limited to your mattress and pillows- it is in fact surprising to know how bed bugs travel easily from one room to another through electrical lines and furniture. Therefore, while getting a room change, it is advisable to go for a room far away from your previous one.
3) Protecting your Bed
Now that we know how do bed bugs travel effortlessly from your destination to your home, it is a smart idea to keep your bed protected against any such infestations. Since the bed is normally the single largest piece of furniture in your room, it inevitably becomes the primary breeding ground of bed bugs. To deal with this problem, invest in a good mattress encasement that makes it impossible for the bed bugs to infiltrate the layers of your mattress. We would even suggest that you use mattress encasement even if you currently do not have a bug infestation as it is equally adept at providing protection against accumulation of dead skin cells, liquid spills, dust mites, bacteria molds, and other allergens that degrade the quality of your mattress over time. The whole idea of preventing a bed bug infestation is about making it easier for you to complete your 7 to 9 hours of undisturbed sleep. Bed bugs thrive easily in a room full of clutter which is why one of the most important tips for creating your dream bedroom is to declutter your room of unnecessary items where the bugs can hide.
4) Washing and Cleaning
All your belongings will require a thorough washing in the warmest machine setting possible after you return home. The same goes for your pillow covers, sheets, and mattress covers. For the other items that are non-washable, there is always the option of drying. According to research by the Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, exposing the bed bugs for 20 minutes to a temperature above 118-degree Fahrenheit can be lethal for them whereas their eggs may require as long as 90 minutes to be completely obliterated. Remember to subject the bedding to regular cleaning as these bugs are known to survive for days without any source of nutrition. Vacuuming the hiding spots around the house such as wall cracks, headboard, electric sockets is also recommended provided that you dispose the collected bags far from residential areas after properly sealing them.
5) Travel Essentials
It is always a good idea to carry some essential items that prove useful in dealing with bed bug infestation when travelling in an area suspected of having bed bugs. A portable vacuum cleaner or an ironing machine are great for tackling bed bugs once you spot them. To treat your skin which has come in contact with bed bugs, we would recommend carrying antihistamine creams or pills, hydrocortisone ointments, and a cold compress for relieving disturbed skin. Bed bug bites are usually characterized by red bumps that are present in the form of hives, zigzag patterns, or clusters unlike mosquito bites which are mostly isolated and spread at random.
Bottom line:
These tiny ovular bugs multiply rapidly and make it harder for you to achieve your much required restful sleep. If you constantly face problems falling asleep at night, you should go through these 4 steps that shall ease your struggle for getting good sleep. We hope that the abovementioned tips help you easily identify the first signs of bed bugs and get rid of them with ease.
