Going On Vacation This Summer – Be Sure You Do Not Bring Bed Bugs Home

By Author: Jill Hopper
Total Articles: 24
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If you watch the news at all then you have most likely heard about bed bugs. These little creaturesare showing up all across the US. While the most obvious place people find bed bugs are in beds, these bugs can also be found in dressers, nightstands, upholstered furniture, carpeting and behind things such as picture frames and loose wallpaper. Hotel rooms, just like your house, have all kinds of hiding places.

How do you know if these bed bugs are hiding away in your hotel room? Bed bugs are visible to the naked eye. However, they are tiny and hide very well. Before you start looking, don’t put down your luggage. You don’t have to stand there and hold it. You can keep it in your car or place it in the bathtub while you give your room a quick inspection. That way, if there are any of the little pests in the carpet or the furniture, there will be less of a chance that they will jump into your bags.

Next, you will want to start checking the beds in the hotel room. If there are bed bugs hiding in the bed you will be able to see dark spots in groups along the seams of the bed.

What do bed bugs look like? ...
... They are somewhat clear in the beginning, but as they mature they become a reddish, brown color. They are oval and are flattened, which is why they can fit in such tiny spaces. The largest ones are about 4 to 5 millimeters in length. Their bites are small, red and raised and are often in groups of three.

Now, what should you do if you spot bed bugs in hotel room? First, you need to alert the front desk at the hotel what you have found. Next, you need to request a new room. If they are unable to give you a room without bed bugs then you can change hotels. Next, you should find a Laundromat.

Wondering why should you find a Laundromat while you’re on vacation? You can lessen the risk of having those pests in your clothes by taking them to the Laundromat. After all, your goal is to make sure you don’t bring bed bugs back home after vacation, right? First, you will need to run all of your clothes through the dryer on the highest possible heat setting. Next, run all of your clothes through the washing machine using the hot water cycle. Finally, run them through the dryer again on the highest heat setting. The heat can kill the bed bugs, giving you a better chance of staying bed bug free.

How can you make sure that you did not bring any bed bugs home from your vacation? The best way to check for bed bugs once you reach your home, before they have taken over your house is to call your exterminator in to do an evaluation. Your exterminator will be able to come into your home and spot the pests if they did follow you home.

Article Source: Hopper blog