Traveling south to beat the cold? Before dumping luggage for the sun, it’s a good idea to inspect your room for bed bugs.
Why? Bed bugs...
- Suck your blood, leaving itchy red welts and may cause health problems.
- Are found in lodging from luxury hotels to hostels.
- Are easily transported in luggage to your home, where they can multiply and cause an infestation.
To prevent this, the experts at Pest HQ suggest the following:
What to pack:
- A high-powered flashlight that illuminates better than your smartphone.
- A small screwdriver.
- Knowledge of the signs of bed bug activity so you can spot it.
When you arrive:
- Put your suitcase and carry-ons in the bathtub. This prevents bed bugs from stowing away on your luggage while you inspect the room.
What to look for:
- Little black polka dots of bed bug fecal matter.
- Small rust-red blood stains.
- Transparent molted skin casings.
- Tiny oval-shaped white eggs.
- The bug: Bed bugs are 4-5 mm long and brownish red, about the size of an apple seed.
Where to look:
- Mattresses: Pull up edges of sheets and bed skirts to inspect seams and ticking. Some hotels use mattress encasements to prevent bed bugs from hiding in crevices.
- Furniture: Seams, joints and recessed screw holes of the headboard and side tables.
- Behind the headboard, picture frames on the wall, loose wallpaper edges, electrical outlet covers.
- On the luggage stand.
What to do:
If you find signs of bed bug activity, take photos and show them to the registration clerk. Ask for a new room. Inspect the new room.
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