Protecting Your Belongings Against A Bedbug Problem
When you travel to an area away from your home, and there is a need to sleep over at a hotel, bed and breakfast, or friend's home, a risk of the contraction of bedbugs is always present. When traveling, it is best to take a few precautionary steps to ensure you do not bring bedbugs back home with you.
Check Out Your Room Before Using It
It is wise to conduct a full inspection of the room you intend to sleep in while away from home. Take special notation of the bed and frame. If you notice markings upon either of these, and they appear orange or red, they may indicate bedbugs had left behind remnants of blood after having a meal. Lift up the bedspread and check the condition of the bedframe, while looking for signs of small, flat, brown insects in the process. If any signs of bedbugs are present, deny the room and look for another location to sleep.
Set Your Items Up With Protection in Mind
Do not use dressers when staying at a location away from home, as others who were there previously may have done the same and transferred bedbugs from their belongings to the interiors of the drawers. Instead, set up an area where you can utilize your belongings without having them rest upon surfaces where bedbugs are more likely to be present. Never set your items directly upon the bed. Wipe down the top of a counter and place items upon it rather than on a cloth surface. Alternately, if you are staying in a hotel or similar establishment, inquire as to whether they have a suitcase rack available to lift your containers away from ground level. Place all dirty clothing inside a clean laundry bag to wash upon your arrival home.
Take Time to Safeguard Items Upon Your Return
When you arrive at home, bring items inside garbage bags immediately to your washing machine and dryer for laundering and drying. Use the highest temperature settings when performing these actions. This will kill any bedbugs you may have had transferred to your clothing while you were away. Place each of your suitcases inside their own large garbage bags. Tie the tops and leave them outdoors for at least a week. This will kill any bedbugs that may have been clinging to the exteriors of the cases so you do not bring live pests inside of your home.