Hatts

One of the main ways to avoid bringing bed bugs into your home is to be cautious during your travels. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), there has been a 71 percent increase in bed bugs treatment cases since 2001, mainly due to international travel. The following are a few bed bug prevention tips to ensure that these annoying critters don’t hitch a ride home with you in your suitcase.

Check your hotel room: Bed bugs love to hide in hotel bed sheets including the mattress seams. Before you slip into bed, make sure that you pull back the sheets and check for tiny brown or red spots. You should also get into the habit of inspecting the entire room, especially before you unpack your clothes. If you notice bed bugs, request to change rooms and do not select a room adjacent to the affected area.

Protect your luggage: When unpacking your luggage, do not put the suitcases on the bed. Also, consider storing your luggage in a large plastic bag. After your trip, it is important to check your suitcases before bringing them into the home. After careful inspection, you should also vacuum the suitcase and then throw away the vacuum bag.

Wash your clothes: Whether the clothes are worn or not, it is important to wash all of your travel clothes in hot water.

Contact a professional: Even after following these prevention tips, you may still have a problem and may require bed bug extermination in Reston, VA. It is very important to contact a licensed professional who is able to inspect your home for a possible bed bug infestation. Unlike other pests like ants or roaches, bed bugs cannot be controlled by do-it-yourself tactics. If you need to kill bed bugs in Vienna, Virginia or anywhere else in the nation, contact a pest professional today.