Avoiding Bed Bugs When Traveling

If you travel, you may have already heard that bed bugs have checked into hotels across the country. Stories like that don't make for a good night's sleep.

Bed bug problems are becoming more and more common, and they can spread easily, so it's a good idea to know what to do in case you encounter them. As you pack for your next trip, here are a few tips to keep you from bringing home a few unwanted souvenirs.

Why Bed Bugs Hide Out in Hotels

Unlike fleas and lice, which like to ride around on their food, bed bugs prefer to eat and run. They hide in little crevices and cracks, waiting for a warm-blooded mammal (i.e., you) to pass by or lie down to sleep. When the lights go out, the feast begins. Once dinner is over, they scurry back to their hiding places before the lights come back on. Their habit of dining in the dark makes it difficult for bed bug hunters (again, you) to find them, and it can be equally difficult to tell when they've hitched a ride in your luggage.

Hotels are an ideal spot for bed bugs because they have access to lots of hosts. With many people coming and going, there's also plenty of opportunity for bed bugs to hitch a ride both to and from hotels.

How to Tell if You're Sharing a Room with Bed Bugs

As you unlock the door to your hotel room, you may notice an odd odor. If you know your spices, the smell is something like coriander or cilantro.

That's a hint that bed bugs might be in your room, but you will need more conclusive evidence. Start first with the mattress and box springs. Be sure to check all the seams and folds. Also look in the corners of drawers, along the baseboards, behind the headboard and bed frame. Don't forget to look behind that lovely picture of Venice at sunset on the wall. You will be looking not only for the bug itself but also for any black dots and cast-off skins. You can find more signs to look out for here. If you see any of these signs, it's time to find another hotel. Fast.

But, let's say the hotel smells fresh, the baseboards are clean, and you blissfully fall asleep. Bed bugs may have infested the room next door and can go through the cracks between walls as they search for food (you). So when you wake up, be sure to check yourself over for any insect bites on your body that weren't there the night before.

How to Protect Yourself from Bed Bugs

If you're afraid of bed bugs hitchhiking home on your luggage during your next vacation, here are some tips:

Before you leave:

• Protect your luggage from bed bugs by treating the outside seams with Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug Killer. 
• Grab a couple of Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug Traps and add them to your luggage.

When you arrive:

• When you arrive at your hotel, place your luggage in the bathtub or bathroom of your hotel room. Bed bugs are less effective at traveling up slippery surfaces like tile.
• Check baseboards, mattresses, box springs, and other areas for signs of bed bugs. If you see anything, notify the front desk.
• Use the Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug Trap to check your room for bed bugs. Activate the trap, place it near or under the bed, and leave the room for an hour (have dinner, shop, or explore). When you return, check the trap; if bed bugs are present, push down the trap's window and notify the front desk.

When you return home:

• Search all bags, luggage, and clothing thoroughly taking special care to inspect the seams as they are a favorite hiding place for bed bugs.
• Put clothing and bags in the dryer on high heat for a minimum of 30 minutes to ensure that all potential bed bugs and eggs have been killed.
• If you didn't spray your luggage before leaving, spray the outside of your suitcase with Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug Killer to kill any bed bugs that may have hitched a ride.