Summer is the perfect time to pack your bags and set off on your next adventure. But while you’re busy planning itineraries and exploring new destinations, there’s one thing you definitely don’t want to bring back home with you: bed bugs. These tiny, resilient pests thrive during the peak travel season and could easily tag along on your belongings. The good news? With the right precautions, you can minimize the risk of a bed bug infestation ruining your vacation and your return home.
This guide covers everything you need to know about spotting, avoiding, and dealing with bed bugs while traveling.
Why Bed Bugs Love Summer Travels
Bed bugs are opportunistic travelers. They hitch rides on luggage, clothes, and personal belongings, allowing them to move from one location to another. Summer is their favorite time because it’s peak travel season. With more people staying in hotels, vacation rentals, and even hostels, bed bugs have ample opportunities to spread.
Research from the NPMA (National Pest Management Association) indicates that bed bug activity spikes in the summer months, largely due to increased travel. These pests can infest even the most immaculate of accommodations, so no traveler is entirely immune.
Recognizing the Risk
The first step in avoiding bed bugs is being able to spot the signs. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to recognize bed bug activity in accommodations or belongings:
Common Signs of Bed Bugs
- Red or Rusty Stains – Look for bloodstains on bedsheets, pillowcases, or mattresses.
- Dark Spots – Check for small black or brown spots, which could be bed bug excrement, often found in mattress seams or furniture joints.
- Skin or Shells – Bed bugs shed their exoskeletons as they grow. These translucent casing-like remains often appear near sleeping areas.
- Live Bugs – Adult bed bugs are small (about the size of an apple seed), flat, and reddish-brown in color. While bed bug larvae are smaller and pale, both are visible to the naked eye.
Make it a habit to inspect your sleeping accommodation as soon as you arrive. Prevention is better than an infestation.
How to Stay Bed Bug Free While Traveling
Here’s a step-by-step guide to safeguarding yourself and your belongings during summer travels.
1. Inspect Your Accommodation Thoroughly
Before unpacking your bags, dedicate a few minutes to a full inspection of your room or rental. Pay special attention to:
- Mattress edges and seams
- Headboards and bed frames
- Upholstered furniture
- Baseboards
Use your phone’s flashlight to see more clearly in dark crevices. Don’t just limit your inspection to the bed; bed bugs can hide in curtains, drawers, and even behind wall hangings.
2. Keep Luggage Elevated
Never place luggage directly on the bed or floor. Use a luggage rack, if available, and ensure it’s placed away from walls and furniture. For added protection, consider using zippered luggage liners, which will act as a barrier between your clothes and any potential pests.
3. Use Protective Covers
Encase your suitcase in a sealable plastic bag or cover during your stay. This will make it harder for bed bugs to crawl inside, even in an infested setting.
4. Avoid Unpacking Completely
Resist the urge to store clothing in hotel drawers. Instead, keep your clothes in your suitcase. If you need to hang clothes, inspect closet areas first for potential signs of bed bugs.
5. Take Precautions with Laundry
Bugs can latch onto dirty laundry easily. Use plastic bags to keep used clothes separate from clean ones, and consider washing all travel clothing as soon as you return home. Use high heat to kill any pests that may have traveled with you.
6. Check Secondhand Items Carefully
Love shopping at thrift stores or flea markets on your travels? Bed bugs do too! Inspect any secondhand furniture, clothing, or items thoroughly before bringing them home. If possible, wash or vacuum items immediately.
What To Do if You Encounter Bed Bugs
What if, despite your best efforts, you discover bed bugs during your trip? Here’s how to handle the situation calmly and effectively:
- Alert Hotel/Rental Management – Notify your accommodation provider right away and request a new (non-adjacent) room.
- Quarantine Belongings – Separate your belongings to prevent the bugs from spreading further.
- Heat Treatment – Use a portable clothes dryer to heat-treat clothes and fabric items, or wash them in hot water. Heat over 120°F (49°C) kills bed bugs and their eggs.
Preventing Bed Bug Issues at Home
Protecting your home from bed bugs after returning from a trip is crucial. Simple steps like unpacking outside and vacuuming luggage can help prevent an infestation.
Post-Trip Tips for Staying Bed Bug Free
- Inspect Luggage – Check your suitcase inside and out for bed bugs or eggs before bringing it inside your home.
- Wash Everything – Whether you wore it or not, wash all travel clothing in the hottest washer setting your items can handle.
- Vacuum and Steam – Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly and, if possible, use a garment steamer to treat stubborn areas.
- Monitor Unusual Activity – Be mindful of itchy bites, unusual dark spots on bedding, or visible pests in the weeks after your trip.
Why Staying Bed Bug Free Matters
Bed bugs are more than just a nuisance. They can cause itchy bites, allergic reactions, and even sleepless nights. The cost of professional extermination can also be significant. By taking a few simple precautions before, during, and after your summer travels, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
The growth in bed bug infestations during travel season serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance. Just as you’d pack sunscreen or mosquito repellent, a strategy to avoid bed bugs should be part of every traveler’s itinerary.
There’s no need to turn your summer escape into a source of stress. With proactive bed bug prevention methods, you can enjoy your travels worry-free and keep these pests out of your luggage and home.