Bed bugs are one of the most troublesome pests you will ever have to deal with. Not only are they challenging to spot, hard to get rid of, and able to cause irritating and painful bites, but if you’re not careful, you may end up bringing a few of them with you when you travel, giving them a free ride for them to continue to cause you mayhem no matter how far away you go. Since bed bugs can come with you when you leave Tampa Bay, be proactive when taking a trip and make sure you follow these steps for preventing these obnoxious pests from going with you.
Preventing Bed Bugs
- Make sure you keep your suitcase or backpack in the bathroom, preferably leaning against the bathtub or on the counter. If you’re staying in a dorm or a place with a shared bathroom, then you can put your bags on top of a desk or in a closet. Any place is better than the floor or bed.
- Check your bedsheets for evidence of bed bugs including eggs, skin, or pieces of feces, which look like tiny black smear marks. You should also check under the mattress and around the bed frame for telltale signs of bed bugs. If you detect any of these pests in a hotel, don’t hesitate to ask the manager for a different room.
- After packing your luggage, it’s a good idea to wrap it in plastic to keep any pests from getting in. If possible, choose a bag with a hard surface instead of a soft one as bed bugs can crawl through even the tiniest of openings in the fabric of soft suitcases. Also, pick a bright colored bag, so that if any bed bugs climb on, they will be easier to spot.
- After your trip is over, wash all of your clothes and dry them on the hottest temperature your dryer can reach. Bed bugs cannot survive high temperatures, and dryers are efficient ways to eliminate them. For bags and suitcases, wrap them in plastic and leave them out in the sun for a few days.
Many see bed bugs as a problem that you simply must endure when traveling. However, with a little ingenuity, you can get the edge over these aggravating pests before they’re able to take over your life. If you need help with bed bug control in the Tampa Bay area, contact Geiger’s Pest Services.