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How To Prevent A Bed Bug Infested Holiday Season
12/12/13
During the busy holiday season many people are doing a lot of traveling to visit family and friends, and while holiday travel can be fun, it unfortunately can cause you and your family to come into contact with bed bugs. Bed bugs are still a big problem all across the country and therefore there is a need to be vigilant against them while you are traveling and staying in places with a high level of turnover. Whether you will be staying in a motel, hotel or 5 star resort, bed bugs do not discriminate and can be anywhere you are visiting. If you come into contact with bed bugs, they will not hesitate to hitchhike a ride back to your home on your clothing or belongings.
Bed bugs can be difficult to prevent, however they do leave signs of their presence which can allow you to get help from a professional bed bug exterminator in your home sooner than later. One of the easiest signs of bed bugs to notice is their waste. If bed bugs are present in your home, you will find dark spots on your mattress, box spring or linens which are their feces and/or droplets of blood. Along with waste, bed bugs will also leave behind shed skins, as they grow they will shed their skins leaving them in piles in the same areas where they leave their waste. Bites are another indicator that these pests are in your home; bed bugs are most active at night, so if you or family members wake up with mysterious bites it could be because of bed bugs. Do keep in mind that bed bug bites on humans can appear very similar to other insects making this a less accurate indicator of an infestation. And finally, the most accurate way to determine a bed bug infestation in your home is be seeing live bed bugs. Bed bugs are a brownish-red color and about the size and shape of an apple seed. Using a flashlight you can see them hiding in the cracks of wooden furniture, walls, and in the seams of your mattress and box spring.
Along with making sure the hotel or motel you will be sleeping in has in place a bed bug prevention plan, inspecting your hotel room before settling in is one of the best ways to prevent bed bugs from coming home with you after traveling. Before you even bring your bags into your hotel room you should do a thorough bed bug inspection. Steps to inspect your hotel room include:
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Check your sheets and linens for signs of bed bug excrement.
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Also check the mattress (both sides) for adult bed bugs; they can hide around the mattress buttons and in the seams.
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Using a flashlight, look in the cracks of wooden head and foot boards, around night stands, in the cracks and crevices of walls, around baseboards, and in the seams of carpets.
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If you see adult bed bugs or just see signs of their presence you should immediately ask for a room that is not adjacent to the room in question or switch hotels completely.
If you have been traveling and think that bed bugs have returned home with you, contact the experts at Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions. Bed bugs are not a pest that you should try to eliminate yourself, they breed quickly and are very adept at hiding. The only sure way to eliminate your entire infestation is with professional treatment. At Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions, our professionals are highly trained and use the most advanced technologies and techniques available. We work together as a team to ensure that our customers are receiving the highest quality of service possible. Contact us today to schedule your bed bug inspection and treatment!