A lot of travelers like to bring home a souvenir from their trips, but there’s one that nobody would choose to take … bed bugs. Just hearing the name is enough to make your skin crawl, but even worse? Orkin entomologist Benjamin Hottel explains, “They really could be anywhere that we sleep.”
The thing is, people carry them from place to place, so they could be hiding any place you stay, regardless of whether it’s a five-star hotel, an Airbnb or a cabin in the woods. While Hottel says they’re “relatively uncommon,” he admits that he assumes there could be bed bugs anywhere he stays.
Here’s how to check for them to make sure you don’t bring them home from vacation with you.
- Bites may be the first sign - But the Environmental Protection Agency warns that’s not the best indicator because bed bug bites can look like other insect bites, rashes or hives.
- Look for live bed bugs - Adults are about the size of an apple seed, oval and relatively flat. They have six legs, no wings, and a “sweet, musty scent.” Their color can range from translucent, yellowish-white to reddish-brown.
- Look for other traces of bed bugs - Including their shed skin, eggs and dot-like feces around mattress and box spring seams, piping and tags, and headboards.
Orkin created an acronym to help travelers protect themselves from bed bugs: SLEEP
S - Search the room for signs of bed bug infestation
L - Lift sheets, curtains and cushions to look for bed bugs
E - Elevate your luggage on racks and make sure it’s away from the bed
E - Examine your luggage when repacking and again when you get home
P - Put all dryer-safe clothing in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes after you’re home.
Source: USA Today⠀
Scott's Thoughts:
- Eww Eww eww ewwwwww yuck!
- Because the last thing you want to do when getting into bed after a long day of traveling is have bed bugs crawling in with you!
- Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!