How Bed Bugs Travel & Why You Need To Know
How do bed bugs travel? A great question, and one we get often. The short answer is that bed bugs travel on people and in their possessions.
Now, bed bugs aren’t like other pests that actually hang on to people, like lice. Instead, they may be in your jacket or trousers that you grabbed, lying on the floor near the bed. When you put them on, the bed bug has no choice, but to go along for the ride.
The same thing goes for the suitcase, duffel bag or back pack that you, or your child (or your guest) grabbed that morning and threw in the car. If the house or hotel you or your friend stayed at the night before has bed bugs, then there is a good chance one of them hitched a ride and relocated to a new home.
What Can You Do To Prevent Getting Bed Bugs?
It’s kinda scary to think about, but all hope is not lost. Here’s a few things you can do to guard against these guys coming over to your house to start a new family.
First, be aware of where you stay. Even nice hotels can get bed bugs, but you have a better chance that the nicer hotels are doing everything they can to stop them or treat them if they do get an infestation. Don’t be afraid to strip back the sheets and check the mattress, box spring, head board and nightstands for any signs of bed bugs. You can also read reviews on web sites like http://www.tripadvisor.com.
Secondly, it may be a good idea to keep your clothes in your own suitcase rather than unpack into the rented dressers. Also, keep your suitcase stored away from the bed, and off the ground, if possible.
When you get home, it doesn’t hurt to run clothes and other belongings through the dryer, if it is safe to do so. Heat will kill bed bugs fairly quickly and efficiently. See our other pages for bed bug heat treatments: https://walkerpestmanagement.com/pest-control/bed-bug/
Lastly, when you have guests come over, don’t be afraid to inspect their belongings if you suspect bed bugs. You could also run their clothing through a quick dryer cycle for 30 minutes on high heat. My only disclaimer is you do this at your own risk. Is searching your guest’s belongings worth the offense you may cause??
I hope this information helps you understand how bed bugs travel, and gives you some tips on how to minimize your risk of getting them. If you have more questions or need further help, please call our office or send us an email, and one of our experts will be happy to help you in any way we can.
