Wolverine Pest Control in SE Michigan offers 9 essential tips to avoid bed bugs when traveling. These tips include inspecting your hotel room before you unpack, keeping your luggage off the floor, and laundering your clothes on the highest heat possible. By following these tips, you can help to prevent bed bugs from hitchhiking back home with you.
Summer Vacation: Be on the Lookout for Bed Bugs
Summer is a time for travel, but it’s also a time to be on the lookout for bed bugs. These small, blood-sucking insects can hitch a ride in your luggage or clothing and make their way into your home. Once bed bugs are inside, they can be difficult to get rid of.
Here are some tips to help you avoid bringing bed bugs home from your travels:
- Inspect your hotel room before you unpack. Look for signs of bed bugs, such as small, dark spots (fecal matter), bloodstains, or eggshells.
- Don’t put your luggage on the bed. Place it on a luggage rack or the floor away from the walls.
- Check your luggage for bed bugs before you leave the hotel. Look for any signs of bed bugs, such as small, dark spots (fecal matter), bloodstains, or eggshells.
- Wash your clothes on the highest heat setting possible as soon as you get home. This will kill any bed bugs that may be hiding in your clothes.
- Vacuum your home thoroughly. This will help to remove any bed bugs or eggs that may have fallen off of your clothes.
If you think you may have brought bed bugs home, it’s important to act quickly. Contact a pest control professional to inspect your home and get rid of any bed bugs that may be present.
Here are some additional tips to help prevent bed bugs:
- Choose hotels that have a good reputation for pest control.
- Avoid staying in hotels that have had recent bed bug infestations.
- Be careful when handling used furniture or clothing.
- Inspect your belongings for signs of bed bugs before you bring them into your home.
By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself and your home from bed bugs.
If you think you might have bed bugs, there are a few things you can look for.
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that are about the size of an apple seed. They are wingless and flat, which allows them to hide in tight spaces. Bed bugs feed on blood, and they typically bite people at night while they are sleeping. Bed bug bites can cause red, itchy welts on the skin.
Here are some signs that you might have bed bugs:
- Bites: Bed bug bites are often the first sign that you have an infestation. The bites are usually red, itchy, and raised. They may appear in a straight line or in a cluster.
- Bloodstains: Bed bugs often leave behind small, dark bloodstains on bedding, sheets, and furniture. These stains are often found near where you sleep.
- Exoskeletons: Bed bugs shed their exoskeletons as they grow. These exoskeletons are small, white, and shell-like. They can often be found in cracks and crevices around your bed.
- Feces: Bed bugs also produce small, dark fecal matter. This fecal matter can often be found on bedding, sheets, and furniture.
- Odor: Bed bugs have a strong, musty odor. This odor is often strongest in areas where there is a large infestation.
If you see any of these signs, it is important to act quickly. Bed bugs can quickly spread throughout your home, so it is important to get rid of them as soon as possible. There are a number of ways to get rid of bed bugs, including professional pest control, heat treatment, and chemical treatment.
Here are some tips to help you get rid of bed bugs:
- Contact a pest control professional. A pest control professional will be able to inspect your home and recommend the best course of treatment for your specific situation.
- Heat treatment. Heat treatment is a very effective way to get rid of bed bugs. A pest control professional will heat your home to a high temperature, which will kill all of the bed bugs and their eggs.
- Chemical treatment. Chemical treatment can also be effective in killing bed bugs. However, it is important to use a chemical treatment that is specifically designed for bed bugs. Some chemical treatments can be harmful to pets and children, so it is important to follow the instructions carefully.
Once you have gotten rid of the bed bugs, it is important to take steps to prevent them from coming back. Here are some tips to help prevent bed bugs:
- Inspect your belongings for signs of bed bugs before you bring them into your home.
- Wash your clothes at the highest heat setting possible.
- Vacuum your home thoroughly.
- Store luggage off the floor.
- Repair any cracks or crevices in your home where bed bugs could hide.
By following these tips, you can help to protect your home from bed bugs.