Travelers: 10 Tips to Protect Yourself Against Bedbugs
Nighty night. Sleep tight. And don’t let the bedbugs bite!
This was an oft heard phrase from my childhood. However, in my 53 years, I don’t think I have ever actually seen a bedbug. Nor, to my knowledge, have I ever been bitten by one.
They are actually quite ugly bugs. Don’t you think?
I was reading a press release from Terminix (the pest control folks) the other day, and they noted that bedbugs were nearly eradicated after World War II. However, with increased international travel, these little buggers have evidently taken our country by storm.
The 2010 most bedbug-infested cities include:
1. New York 2. Philadelphia 3. Detroit 4. Cincinnati 5. Chicago 6. Denver 7. Columbus, Ohio 8. Dayton, Ohio | 9. Washington, D.C. 10. Los Angeles 11. Boston 12. Indianapolis 13. Louisville, Ky. 14. Cleveland 15. Minneapolis, Minn. |
It seems that the state of Ohio wins the dubious award of being the most bedbug infested state in our nation.
Here are 10 tips from Terminix to protect yourself while traveling and at home:
Because of the bedbugs’ tendency to hitch rides from one location to the next, high-traffic areas such as hotels, motels, airplanes and cruise ships are especially susceptible to infestations. Travelers should use the following tips to protect themselves from bedbugs:
- Check headboards, mattresses and box springs for bedbugs and the dark blood spots they leave behind.
- Hang all clothing. Leave nothing lying on the bed or furniture.
- Avoid unpacking clothing and storing your clothing in the hotel’s furniture drawers.
- Store baggage on a luggage rack as far from the bed as possible.
- Vacuum suitcases when returning, and immediately wash clothing in hot water.
Consumers do not have to travel in order to bring a bedbug infestation into the home. According to Terminix data, reports of bedbug infestations in office buildings and retail shops are on the rise, and homeowners should use the following tips to protect themselves:
- Inspect furniture, antiques, used appliances or consignment items for signs of bedbugs before bringing them into the home.
- Never pick up used mattresses or furniture left curbside.
- Inspect clothing for bedbugs and wash (in hot water) new items in hot water after bringing them into the house.
- Use zippered encasements on infested mattresses and box springs.
- If you suspect you have bedbugs, have your home inspected by a trained professional. Bedbugs cannot be controlled by over-the-counter treatments.
For a further understanding of these pesky little bloodsuckers, here is a piece from Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.
Now, you might want to go check your mattress.
We have them here in Sydney too!
The following are needed for effective bed bug control:
• Cooperation of landlord, management, and resident to focus on the problem
• Accurate identification to be sure it is a bed bug and not another pest
• Identification of the source (especially if bed bugs are moving from an adjacent room or apartment unit)
• Thorough inspection of the facility and identification of all possible hiding spots
• Cleaning and organization of the living area
• Reducing clutter in the home
• Bagging and removal of bedding and clothing from the affected area
• Washing sheets and blankets and drying on HOT setting
• Encasing the mattress and box spring in a zippered encasement
• Washing or treating the headboard and bed frame
• Cleaning and removing bed bugs from other items
• Isolating the cleaned (bed bug free) items until bed bugs are gone
• Careful and targeted use of insecticides, following label instructions
• Inspection and treatment of all surrounding adjacent units
• Follow up inspections and all other procedures as needed
If you need more help, there are loads more tips for bedbugs and bedbug control at my website, https://www.a1pestcontrol.com.au/bed-bugs.html
Cheers, Bruce
Get some bed bug terminator and spray it on your luggage and mattresses. It is non-toxic and proven to kill. I found it at http://www.bedbugterminator.com
10 Tips to Protect Yourself Against Bedbugs is very interesting post…………very useful also…….
Bed bugs are now very high problems in every where……..
This tips are very valuable for every one…………..
thanks…….
Wow very useful post………very interesting too…….Thanks for this valuable informations………..very much informative about the problem of bedbugs……..I also have many problem with these creatures.
Very great work…….nice article for fighting against bedbugs…….in dc.