Tips To Avoid Bed Bugs While Traveling

With all the exciting attractions and the itching desire to get back out there, it is no wonder more and more people are traveling these days. This is a good thing, as it promotes economic growth and gives back. However, there are all kinds of dangers related to traveling that most people aren’t even aware of. There are not only road dangers, but there are dangers of theft and scams. Most people know about these, but they don’t know about the threat of bed bugs. This is a shame because the problem is becoming more and more widespread. Here’s how you can protect yourself with the SLEEP theory.

SURVEY

It all starts with the S and this one means to survey your accommodations for the upcoming weeks or months. As simple as it sounds, skipping this step can have tremendous unwanted effects. Bed bugs are not only intruders of dirty or cluttered rooms. They’ve been found in some of the cleanest rooms in the world and will continue to be so. Don’t skip this step just because you are staying in a five-star hotel. Scour it from the top to the bottom. Keep your nostrils peeled for sweet, musty odors, as these are present in larger infestations.

LIFT And LOOK

The second step of the SLEEP theory is pretty much just a continuation of the first, but it expands on the first greatly. It means to take things a bit further than a visual inspection. Get in there, lift that mattress, flip those box springs, look behind the drapes, turn the pillowcases inside out if needed, and be sure to check in every crack and crevice. It helps if you know all the common hiding spots for bed bugs, so be sure to familiarize yourself with these locations before your trip.

ELEVATE

There are two Es in the sleep theory, and the first one represents elevation. This one is pretty smart when you think about it, as it is not just a defensive move. It’s kind of an offensive attack, as it means placing your luggage high up on the hotel’s luggage rack. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and climbers, but they are known for taking the path of least resistance. If you place your luggage up high where they have to climb to get to it, it might make it seem like it’s not worth it to them. Plus, they’ll do whatever they can to avoid detection. While your luggage is up high on those elevated luggage racks, you can scour the hotel room looking for signs of infestations.

EXAMINE

The second E in the process is another offensive move, and this one is pretty smart. It means to examine your luggage before heading up. Just because you’ve been in a room for a week or two and haven’t experienced any signs of an infestation it doesn’t mean that you aren’t infected. Bed bugs could be sitting in your luggage right now and you might not even know it. That’s where this step comes in. It means to empty your luggage, scour it for bed bugs, and repack it. This is a step that can be performed before leaving the hotel or it can be performed upon your arrival home. However, if you do it when you arrive home, you’ll likely want to do it in the garage or basement.

PLACE

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the last step. That being said, this is not one you’ll want to take lightly or skip by any means. It’s another true offensive attack, as it means to place your clothes in the washer after checking them for bed bugs. Bed bugs are vulnerable to extreme temperatures of heat and will die out when exposed too long. Wash your clothes in the hottest water possible and then dry them on the highest heat settings possible, and you’ll double the chances of walking away from your vacation pest-free. Because bed bug infestations are complex and difficult to eliminate, treatment usually takes the assistance of a highly skilled, trained, and qualified pest management firm. These firms are more than familiar with these pests and know the best approaches possible. They’ll tackle the problem in the most effective way possible without spreading the infestation. That’s always a real possibility when trying to treat infestations on your own, and why it is always recommended to call the pros at the first sighting of a bed bug in the home.