Bed bugs are on the rise once again, and they are spreading quickly in Florida, and throughout the United States. Unfortunately, they can be very difficult and expensive to eradicate once they have infested a home. The best solution, of course, is to avoid bringing them into your home in the first place. With the onset of the holiday season, many people are traveling, and this means that pests are too. Traveling is the easiest way to pick up these insects, and they can be anywhere; your hotel Are Pesticides Safe After They Dry room, a cab or bus, an airplane, or a restaurant. A common misconception is that bed bugs are likely to be found in dirty places, such as cheap and run down hotels. This is completely false. You are just as likely to find bed bugs in a five-star hotel. Bed bugs are drawn to carbon dioxide, which is what we breathe out. This means that the only thing needed to attract these nasty creatures is the presence of humans. So the question is, what can you do to avoid bringing bed bugs home with you?
There are some very simple precautions that you can take that will greatly reduce the risk of having these pests hitchhike home with you. The first thing is to remember to carefully inspect any room you stay in before you unpack. Of course, this means that it is important to be able to identify a bed bug. An adult bed bug is very small, about 3/8 of an inch long, but they are visible to the naked eye. They are oval-shaped and very flat. The color will depend on how recently they have fed, but can be anywhere from a pale amber to a deep reddish-brown. Inspect all furniture in the room. Some favorite hiding spots are under cushions of couches or chairs, in dresser drawers, in the seams of mattresses, and under sheets and pillows. Bed bugs have even been found behind base boards and outlet covers. Signs of bed bugs, other than actually seeing a bug, include small spots of blood on pillows, sheets, and mattresses (these are left from previous feedings); dead skins from molting bugs as they grow and shed their skin; very small white eggs; and in extreme cases there is often a foul odor present.
The second thing to remember is to be very careful while unpacking. Never use the hotel room dresser drawers. Any bugs hiding in the dresser are likely to find their way into your clothes. You are much better off leaving your clothes inside your suitcase and only taking them out as you need them. Store your suitcase as How To Get Rid Of Bugs That Eat Clothes far off of the ground as possible. If there is a shelf in the top of the closet, that is the best spot for your suitcase. Also, do not simply throw your dirty clothes in a corner until you are ready to pack everything back up. As soon as you undress, store the clothes in a plastic bag and put it back in your suitcase.
The third, and perhaps the most important tip, is to carefully inspect all of your belongings as soon as you return home. Do not bring anything inside your house until you have thoroughly looked everything over for signs of live bugs. Empty your suitcase outside, immediately wash all of your clothes (if the material permits), even if you did not wear them, and dry on high heat. If you have something that you cannot wash at home, then get it to the dry cleaners as soon as possible. Carefully vacuum out your suitcase before bringing it in the house, making sure to get all of the pockets and corners.
Following these simple precautions is one easy way of avoiding a bed bug infestation. If you think that you already have a bed bug problem, it is not recommended that you try treating it yourself. Call a pest control professional today.
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