Traveler’s Guide To Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are a unique pest. Most bugs live outside, and work their way in through exterior walls. These pests are easily managed with exterior products and exclusion methods. But, bed bugs live almost exclusively inside, and ride into man-made structures on humans. How do you control a bug like that? The most effective control for bed bugs is routine inspections, especially inspections done with canine bed bug inspectors. Dogs work quickly to sniff these bugs out. But, while routine inspections will dramatically reduce bed bug infestations and arrest issues before they grow into a serious issue, they do not provide 100% protection from a bed bug incident occurring.

The Most Important Thing You Need To Know About Bed Bugs

Since these tiny bugs ride in on guests, they can slip past all external pest control measures and avoid the watchful eye of even the most diligent cleaning staff. If you discover that your room has a bed bug in it, there are three things you should immediately know:

• That bug may be the only bug in the room. It could have come in with the guests that came before you.
• If that bug came from an infestation in the room, it may only be a small and localized infestation. A business that has routine inspections can still have a small, localized infestation pop up between visits. It is okay to allow management to move you to another room, as long as it is not adjacent, above, or below the infested room. Bed bugs can travel through wall voids.
• If you are offered another room, be sure to ask a few questions. Find out whether or not the business has a bed bug pest plan. If they don’t, you may want to consider finding another place to stay.

5 Tips To Avoid Bed Bugs

• Before you leave your home, check bedbugregistry.com to see if the place you’ll be staying has had a report filed on it. Numerous reports, or reports that show that a business takes no precaution when it comes to bed bugs, should influence your decision on whether or not to stay there, if bed bugs are a concern for you.
• Before you spend the night anywhere, it is a good idea to do an inspection. If it is convenient to leave your bags in your vehicle, do so while you check your room. If it is not convenient, leave your bags in the hall, or place them on the floor in the bathroom while you perform your check.
• Inspect sheets, pillowcases, mattresses, box springs, bed frames, baseboards, outlet covers, and upholstered furniture for tiny black droppings, black streaks, black patches, brown blood stains, shed insect skins, tiny white eggs, or the presence of bed bugs. This inspection can be as detailed as you want it to be, but be sure to check all seams and stitching closely. Bed bugs tuck themselves in tight hiding places.
• No inspection is 100%. Bed bugs are clever hiders. It is important to use precaution during your stay. Use the luggage stand provided or place luggage on a table when bringing items out to use. It is also acceptable to use the dresser drawers provided. Refrain from leaving clothing on the floor, draped over furniture, or lying on the bed. Bed bugs deposit eggs in the seams of luggage, bags, and clothing.
• When you return home from your trip, wash and dry all your clothing on the hottest temperature, and inspect your luggage and bags closely for these tiny bugs or their white eggs.

While the above tips will definitely help to protect you from bed bugs during your travels, it is important to understand that these bugs are extremely small and extremely clever. They’ve been dwelling with humans for centuries. That means, they know how to hide, feed, and spread without our detection.

If you want to make sure that bed bugs don’t take root in your home after you return from a vacation, schedule a bed bug inspection. At Schendel, we employ bed bug sniffing dogs that can smell bed bugs in all stages of development. If you need your belongings checked after a trip, or you’d like a full inspection of your home, we can help. Bed bugs are a growing problem in the U.S., but they don’t have to be a problem for your family. Let the team here at Schendel stop those tormenting bugs before they take root in your home.