When traveling the world, you’ll likely want to ignore anything that could go wrong. The unfortunate problem is that anything can go wrong and you don’t want to take those problems home with you. If you stay at a bad
motel, there is a risk that you’re going to end up with a
bedbug infestation at home. The good news is that you can take steps to reduce the likelihood that this will happen. Within this guide, you’ll find tips for avoiding bedbugs while traveling.
Surveying The Motel Room
When arriving at a motel, it is a good idea to be patient and survey the room carefully. You need to make sure that you aren’t going to be sleeping in a room with
bedbugs. Doing so will come back to haunt you and your family soon. Look at the bed, walls, and bed frame. Have you found
bedbugs in the room? If so, ask a motel representative for a refund or a different room.
Lifting The Mattress
Next, you’ll want to look under the mattress.
Bedbugs could be living on the mattress and under the sheets. Therefore, start by removing the sheets to find out what is under them. You may find bedbugs on the folds of the sheets as well as the crevices of the mattress. Again, flip the mattress so you can check both sides thoroughly. Don’t forget to look at the box spring too.
Finally, check the frame, baseboards, and walls.
Using The Luggage Rack
Although you haven’t found
bedbugs, there might be some in the room. They’re difficult to spot so you may not know until it is too late. Take steps to prevent them from climbing into your luggage and spending the night there. Otherwise, they’ll leave with you in the morning. Using the luggage rack is a good option since it can help you avoid leaving with bedbugs. Use the rack to keep your luggage off of the floor.
Put it in the middle of the room so bedbugs will have a harder time getting in.
Examine Your Belongings
When you return home, it is a good idea to check your belongings outside. You might’ve brought bedbugs home with you. If so, you’ll want to stop them before they get inside. Open your bags in the garage and check them carefully. If you find bedbugs in your bags, don’t bring them inside.
Dry Them
Finally, you’ll want to use your dryer to zap the bedbugs living in your
home. Doing so is the best way to kill them and stop them from invading. Change the settings to the hottest temperature. Then, let the dryer run for 15 minutes or longer. The extreme temperatures will wipe out the infestation and kill the bedbugs. With that being said, using the dryer is one of the most efficient ways to kill bedbugs.
The only problem is that it isn’t going to deal with bedbugs already in your home. Once they manage to enter your home, you’ll need to work with a qualified exterminator to get rid of them.