Sweet summertime is here! Bring on summer vacations! A beach? Theme park? A lake? The mountains? A big city? Overseas? Or perhaps in the middle of the sea! No matter where you go for vacation, it’s always a good idea to protect yourself from any encounters with biting pests.
When choosing a hotel for your vacation, you might pay attention to whether you’re booking a one-star or five-star hotel; however, bed bugs just don’t care. Despite a hotel’s best prevention tips, anyone can bring in bed bugs. And at any time. And, for whatever reasons, bed bugs tend to peak in the summer. It’s important to check where you stay as well as your belongings. Here are some good places to check and tips on how to prevent bringing any of these guys home as souvenirs.
BATHROOM: The safest place to store your luggage as soon as you enter your room is the middle of the bathroom floor. Or, better yet, right in the bathtub. Bed bugs have a rrreeaaallllyyy tough time with tile so they tend to avoid these areas. Grab your cellphone & use the flashlight (or a flashlight app) during your room inspection.
BED(S): This is a no-brainer, right? Pull back all the sheets and inspect the mattress seams and box springs thoroughly. You should look for pepper-like stains, blood marks and, of course, any actual bed bugs. Don’t forget the headboard.
CHAIRS, COUCHES & CURTAINS: Bed bugs like coziness. (I mean, who doesn’t, right?) Look around all upholstered surfaces paying special attention to crevices and folds.
WALL SOCKETS: Bed bugs hitchhike to other rooms through luggage, housekeeping carts, and even wall sockets. For this reason, make sure your inspection includes wall sockets. (Side note: Bed bugs use wall sockets to travel one floor up and one floor down so if you do find evidence of bed bugs and continue your stay at the same hotel, request a room on a floor at least three floors above or below your original floor.)
Once you’re inspected the room and all’s good, you can relax and enjoy a GREAT vacation! Oh yeah — you can also take your suitcase out of the bathtub now! 🙂
Got more questions about bed bugs or how to protect yourself? Go back to our home page and LIVE CHAT us or give us a call at 636-343-7900.
