If you travel to different parts of the U.S., you might unintentionally stay in a place with a bed bug infestation. If so, you might find the bed bugs take advantage of your visit to do a bit of traveling of their own.
Discovering that bed bugs have accompanied you back home can be devastating. Not only will you have had your vacation ruined, but you will also need to take drastic measures to get your own home back to normal.
The following steps can help you reduce the chances of suffering this nightmare scenario.
Take care unpacking after you arrive
Bed bugs like to live in beds, as their name suggests. If you place your luggage onto the bed, you allow them the opportunity to crawl into it or onto the clothes inside. If your accommodation provides a luggage stand, use that. If not, consider putting it on a table to unload. If you have no option to keep your luggage off the ground and the bed, put it somewhere cold and drafty to make it less likely the bed bugs find it a comfortable place to live. Directing a fan straight at it could also help.
Take care unpacking when you return
Do not take your luggage up to your bedroom to unpack. Don’t empty the suitcase in the lounge, either. Rinse the outside of any hard luggage outside or in the garage, and take all your clothes and towels straight to the washing machine. Put them on a hot wash (providing the clothing labels say this is OK) to give yourself the best chance of killing any unwelcome visitors.
It’s also important to remember that you can explore legal options to pursue compensation from any accommodation provider responsible for your troubles, in the event that you do experience an infestation and bed bugs follow you home.