How to Avoid Bed Bugs During Travel

Traveling can be an exciting adventure, but the one thing you don’t want to cross paths with is bed bugs. These tiny pests feed on human blood and can hitch a ride in your luggage, clothing, or belongings without you realizing it.

An encounter with bed bugs can turn your trip into a nightmare, or worse, a home infestation if you bring them home without noticing. Travelers, along with college students and second-hand shoppers, are among the most likely to come into contact with bed bugs.

This might sound scary, but don’t worry! There are simple precautions you can take to protect yourself and enjoy a pest-free trip.

Check for Bed Bugs in Hotels

Hotels may be a nice place to stay, but they can also be one of the most common places to encounter bed bugs. Due to the steady flow of guests, these pests can easily latch onto luggage, clothing, and personal belongings, making hotels a prime location for infestations.

Even the cleanest hotels aren’t exempt, as bed bugs are attracted to people, not dirt. Here are five warning signs to watch for:

1. Reddish-Brown Stains on Bedding: After feeding, bed bugs often leave small blood stains on sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers. These stains, typically reddish-brown, are most noticeable along seams and edges. 
2. Small Dark Spots: Bed bug droppings appear as tiny dark spots or smears, resembling black pepper flakes. You’ll often find them clustered on bedding, furniture, or walls near their hiding spots. 
3. Unpleasant Musty Odor: A strong, musty smell could indicate a significant bed bug infestation. This odor comes from the pheromones bed bugs release and can be a key indicator of their presence. 
4. Visible Bed Bugs: Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed, and can be seen crawling on bedding, furniture, or walls. Check cracks and crevices where they tend to hide during the day. 
5. Shed Skins and Eggshells: As bed bugs grow, they shed their skins, leaving behind translucent remnants along with empty eggshells. These are typically found in mattress seams, headboards, or along baseboards. 

If you notice any of these signs, inform the hotel staff immediately and request a different room—ideally one far from the affected area, as bed bugs can move between adjacent rooms. If you’ve already unpacked, consider heat-treating your clothing and luggage to kill any that latched onto your belongings.

By staying vigilant and taking precautions, you can minimize the risk of bringing bed bugs home and enjoy a worry-free hotel stay.

Check for Bed Bugs After Flights

Bed bugs are surprisingly prevalent in airports and on flights due to the constant flow of travelers and the close quarters of seating arrangements. Airports handle luggage and personal belongings from countless locations, resulting in many opportunities for bed bugs to tag along. Similarly, the confined spaces and shared seats on planes create an ideal environment for these pests to spread.

To safeguard yourself, carefully inspect your luggage after passing through these areas, opt for hard-shell suitcases to limit hiding spots, and consider storing your clothing in sealed plastic bags while traveling.

Remaining alert in airports and during flights can go a long way to reduce the risk of bringing bed bugs home with you.

Protect Your Luggage

Your luggage is highly susceptible to bed bug infestations while traveling. To reduce this risk, follow these preventative steps:

1. Choose Hard-Shell Luggage: Bed bugs struggle to cling to smooth, hard surfaces, making hard-sided suitcases a better option than fabric ones. This simple choice can reduce the likelihood of pests hitching a ride. 
2. Pack Clothes in Plastic Bags: Store your clothing in sealed plastic bags or vacuum-sealed containers. This creates a protective barrier, keeping bed bugs out of your belongings. 
3. Elevate Your Luggage: In airports or hotels, avoid placing your suitcase on the floor or bed. Instead, use luggage racks or other elevated surfaces to limit exposure to bed bug-prone areas. 
4. Inspect Your Luggage Frequently: Regularly check seams, zippers, and corners for signs of bed bugs, such as eggs, shells, or small reddish stains. A flashlight can help you spot pests hiding in hard-to-see areas. 
5. Use Luggage Covers: Wrap your suitcase in a protective cover or plastic wrap for an extra layer of defense against bed bugs. 

By taking these precautions, you can significantly lower the chances of bringing bed bugs home with you. A bit of preparation can spare you the stress and expense of dealing with an infestation later on.

Check for Bed Bugs When You Return

It’s likely you’ve unpacked from a trip plenty of times before, but adding a few extra steps to your routine can help ensure bed bugs don’t come home with you. These pests are skilled at hiding in clothing and luggage, so taking the time to clean and inspect your belongings is essential. Follow these tips to keep your home bed bug-free:

1. Inspect Your Luggage: Before bringing your suitcase indoors, thoroughly examine it for signs of bed bugs. Check zippers, seams, and pockets for tiny bugs, eggs, or dark stains. If you spot anything suspicious, leave your luggage outside or in the garage until it can be treated.
2. Unpack in a Designated Area: Choose a space like a garage, laundry room, or another area away from sleeping and living spaces to unpack. Avoid placing luggage on carpets or upholstered furniture, where bed bugs can easily hide.
3. Wash Clothes Immediately: Launder all clothing, bedding, and linens from your trip in hot water and dry them on the highest heat setting. This will kill any bed bugs or eggs. It’s best to wash these items separately from your regular laundry to prevent spreading pests.
4. Vacuum Your Luggage: Use a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle attachment to clean both the interior and exterior of your suitcase. Focus on seams, folds, and hidden pockets where bed bugs might hide. Dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister into a sealed plastic bag, and discard it outside your home.
5. Watch for Infestation Signs: Keep an eye out for potential bed bug activity, like itchy bites, reddish stains on bedding, or dark spots on furniture. If you notice any signs, look into professional pest control service immediately to address the issue.

By following these steps, you can minimize the risk of bringing bed bugs into your home and ensure peace of mind after your travels. 

Reach Out if You Suspect Bed Bugs at Home

While it may feel like extra effort to guard yourself against bed bugs, there’s no need to stress too much. By carefully inspecting your hotel room for signs of bed bugs before settling in, you can greatly reduce the chances of bringing them home. Before long, it’ll be another step in your routine, and you can feel at ease knowing you’re safe. 

However, if bed bugs manage to find their way into your home despite your precautions, handling the situation on your own can be daunting. These pests are known for their ability to hide in tiny cracks, crevices, and furniture while reproducing quickly.

Dealing with an infestation can be overwhelming, but the bed bug experts at Xceptional Wildlife Removal have the skills and expertise to handle the problem effectively. If you suspect you may have unknowingly brought bed bugs home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a free inspection and the reassurance you need.