Avoiding-Bed-Bugs-During-Holiday-Travels
Bed Bug Prevention Company Offers Advice on Keeping the Bed Bugs Away This Holiday Season
USBedBugs.com offers Five Simple Tips for Avoiding Bed Bugs while Traveling
Northbrook, IL (December 2, 2010) - The holidays are upon us and many of us will be heading all across the US to visit family and friends. In this joyous time of giving and receiving, holiday fare, gifts and hugs, we now have the dreadful bed bug putting a damper on our holiday endeavors. Bah-HumBug!!! The United States is experiencing an alarming resurgence in these annoying blood suckers, unfortunately, just in time for the holidays. Just because, these hitchhikers are prevalent, doesnt mean you have to take them home with you.
Travelers should not be canceling holiday trips because of the fear of bringing bed bugs home, said Adam Greenberg, President of USBedBugs.com. Its true that bed bugs are a rapidly spreading epidemic, however, by knowing what to look for and taking a few simple precautions when you travel, you can significantly reduce the probability of bringing home these pesky little creatures.
USBedBugs.com offers a wide selection of pesticide-free products to provide peace of mind to those trying to avoid being bitten by bed bugs and to those attempting to protect themselves from bringing them home. Here are five simple tips to help you travel without fear of bringing bed bugs home:
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Do Your Research - Before you book a reservation in any hotel, check to see if the property has any reported bed bug complaints. USBedBug.com recommends checking TripAdvisor as well as http://www.bedbugregistry.com online for recent complaints. Greenberg recommends travelers also study up on the bed bug basics online at www.Bedbugger.com.
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Inspect the Room - Before you even bring your personal belongings into the room, inspect it for any signs of bed bugs. Using a flashlight, begin by inspecting the bed and its surroundings. Check the sheets, mattress, box spring and headboard. Dont forget to also check walls and any furniture close to the bed. Youll be looking for black spots (fecal matter), live bed bugs, their eggs, skins and blood spots. If you suspect that you may have found any remnants of bed bugs, contact the front desk and request to be moved to another room. I always lift the headboard off the wall and shine a flashlight behind it looking for black spots in or around the cracks or screw holes, said Greenberg.
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Zip Up Your Luggage and Belongings - Just because you dont see bed bugs, doesnt mean they arent there, said Greenberg. Bed bugs stay very well hidden by nature so dont let your guard down even if the room looks spotless. All items need to be protected in plastic bags at all times when not in use. USBedBugs.com recommends bringing a BugZip® luggage encasement for every suitcase to keep bed bugs from crawling into your bags and coming home with you. Dont leave shoes, computers or souvenirs out in the open as bed bugs love to crawl into tiny cracks and crevices.
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Never Bring Luggage Inside the Home - Even though you may have bagged your suitcases while in the hotel room, there is still a small chance bed bugs could have crawled in while on the airplane or taxi. Find a place in the garage or as far away from the bedroom as possible to keep your suitcases. Many people bring their suitcase right into their bedroom to unpack which just gives the bed bugs a free ride to their next mealyou, said Greenberg.
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Wash & Dry Everything - Upon arriving home, empty your suitcases in your garage and any clothing should go right into the washing machine. Non-washable items should go right into the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes. If you need to bring clothes inside in advance of washing, use dissolvable laundry bags to prevent contaminating your laundry room with bed bugs.
Traveling without fear of bringing bed bugs home can be easily accomplished if you follow these basic precautions. Basically, all you need is a computer, a flashlight, zip bags and a dryer, said Greenberg. Theres no need to cancel travel plans or spray chemical pesticides to keep bed bugs out of your home.
