Don’t Invite Bed Bugs Into Your Home This Holiday Season

With the holiday travel season upon us, chances are good that either you or someone you love will be staying in a hotel room sometime soon. Unfortunately, that means you might encounter bed bugs. Bed bug infestations are prevalent in many hotels across the country, especially in Detroit. Here are some tips on how to avoid encounters with bed bugs, or worse, bringing them into your home after a trip.

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are nasty little parasitic insects, known as “micropredators”, who feed on blood, mostly at night while you are sleeping.

What are the health risks?

Bed bugs bites are not known to transmit any infectious diseases, but they will cause itchiness and redness or a rash. It sometimes takes a few days for the initial symptoms to appear after a bite. Some people report feeling tired or having a fever. See a doctor if your symptoms progress past itchiness or if you are concerned.

Why are they so hard to contain?

Bed bugs spend most of their time in dark, hidden areas, and like to hide in mattress seams. They can also survive a very long time without feeding. And while you can see them with your naked eye, they are very small. If given the opportunity, they will latch onto your clothing or inside of your luggage and follow you home from your trip.

How can you prevent them from getting into your suitcase/clothes at a hotel and returning to your home?

Upon arrival, inspect your room for bed bugs. Look in the seams of the mattress. Look for any spots of blood. If you feel you’ve been bitten while in a room, demand a room change.

The best advice we’ve read over and over again is to put your luggage into the bathtub as soon as you get to your room. Bed bugs don’t like the cold, smooth surface with no place to hide, and chances are good that housekeeping has at least wiped it down recently. If there is not a bathtub, the shower works just as well.

Skip the dresser drawers provided in your room. They are good places for bed bugs to hide and then crawl into your clothes. In general, be very aware of where you put clothes down in your room to avoid any potential interaction.

Using rubbing alcohol is proven to kill bed bug nymphs, but not adults. “Rubbing alcohol should be used carefully and sparingly since it is highly flammable.” according to Orkin Pest Control. “Improper use of rubbing alcohol is likely to create an unsafe situation.

What should you do if you find them?

If you want to try and tackle the job yourself, Rutgers University has a few methods to get rid of bed bugs for good. That includes using heat or steam treatments, freezing treatments, and vacuuming everything you can.

If all your careful prevention and DIY effort fails, call the professionals! If you find that bed bugs have invaded your home or apartment, find a reputable pest control company and let them handle it. Because of the stealthy and hearty nature of bed bugs, your home or apartment may need more than one treatment before bed bugs can be completely destroyed.