There is one bug that no matter where we go people are asking; bed bugs! Are they real? Do they bite? Are they here? How do I prevent them from getting in my home? In this post I will cover some things to do when you are staying away.
During Your Stay at Your Destination
The likelihood of encountering bed bugs and bringing bed bugs home with you can be reduced by thoroughly inspecting your accommodations and taking measures to protect your luggage and its contents throughout your stay. Due to the inconvenience of many of the steps involved in protecting yourself from bed bugs during your travel, this section is limited to the most basic steps that will result in little to no inconvenience.
1. Keep Luggage Closed and Away from Bed Bug Prone Areas
Keep all zippers closed and do not place or store luggage on or next to beds, upholstered furniture or in a closet. The further away you store your luggage from these areas the better.
2. Keep items that cannot be laundered in sealed Ziploc® Bags
Items that cannot be laundered such as books, electronics, toiletries, jewelry etc should be kept sealed in Ziploc® bags whenever they are not in use. Even laptop computers can be kept in sealed Ziploc® bags when not in use, especially during the nighttime hours while you are sleeping.
3. Conduct a Very Basic Inspection of the Bed
A well established infestation of bed bugs may be detected by pulling back the bed linens and checking the visible edges of the mattress and box spring. You are looking for evidence of live bugs, dark brownish to black spots/stains or shed skins from bed bugs.
4. Notify Property Management Immediately if You Suspect Bed Bugs
Notify the property management if at anytime during your stay you see evidence of what you believe might be bed bugs or you begin to develop itchy welts on your body. Just because you see an insect or develop bite-like symptoms does not mean that bed bugs are present, but management should be aware of your concern so that the possibility of bed bugs can be investigated.
We will be back with what to do when return home from your stay!
