If you plan on staying in a hotel soon, we’ve got a tip for you.
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While your first instinct might be to fling your suitcase on the floor or bed, it’s time to rethink this ritual for one very tiny reason.
Brittany Campbell is an entomologist at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). She says if your hotel room has bed bugs, they will be found on the bed, couch or anything upholstered, making your suitcase a prime target.
“Travellers should avoid placing their luggage on upholstered surfaces and the bed when they arrive at their destination since bed bugs are typically found on mattresses, box springs, and in the crevices of furniture and inside upholstery,” she says here.
The suitcase rack might not be much better, either.
She adds: “Avoid using racks with hollow legs since bed bugs can hide within the legs.”
“For added protection, you can place your suitcases in plastic trash bags during the trip. Tie the plastic bag when luggage is not in use to prevent bed bug entry.”
Store your suitcase in the bath
It turns out the best place to keep your suitcase is in the bathtub.
This creates a barrier these tiny pests find challenging to cross. Bed bugs infest areas where humans rest, particularly beds and upholstered furniture. By placing your luggage in the bath, you are utilising a smooth, hard surface that bed bugs struggle to climb.
While keeping your luggage in the bath can be preventive, it is not foolproof. Bed bugs are highly adaptable and can find alternative routes to reach your belongings if given the opportunity. So it’s still essential to remain vigilant and take additional precautions, such as inspecting your room for signs of bed bugs.
How to spot bedbugs in a hotel room
Start with the bed: Examine the bedding, including the mattress, sheets, and pillowcases. Look for any signs of small, reddish-brown stains, such as bedbug excrement or blood spots. Check the seams, tufts, and corners of the mattress for live bedbugs, shed skins or eggs.
Inspect the furniture: Bedbugs can hide in furniture near the bed, such as chairs, sofas, or nightstands. Look for similar signs of reddish-brown stains, live bugs, or their eggs. Pay attention to crevices, cracks, and upholstered areas.
Check the headboard: Bedbugs often take refuge in the headboard or behind it. Examine the area thoroughly, looking for any signs of bedbugs, including live bugs, eggs, or dark spots.
Inspect the surrounding area: Bedbugs can crawl and hide in nearby areas, such as baseboards, electrical outlets, picture frames, or curtains. Check these areas for any signs of infestation.
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