Bedbugs are among the worst pests you can encounter because they not only bite but are extremely hard to get rid of once they invade your home. The best way to avoid problems with these insects is preventative pest control. If you’re planning to travel, take precautions so you won’t bring bedbugs home with you.

5 Ways to Avoid a Bedbug Issue After a Trip

Check Your Hotel Room

Wherever you go, examine the bedding, carpet, and furniture in your accommodations for signs of a bedbug problem. You might find yellowish casings, eggs about a millimeter in size, small rust-colored stains on bedding, or even live bugs hiding in the seams and creases of a mattress. Any of these signs indicates an infestation.

Ask for a Room Change

If you discover evidence of bedbugs, leave the room immediately. Request a new room located a significant distance from the first one and check that space for bedbugs as well. If you find any, leave the hotel.

Bag Your Belongings

If you suspect you were in an infested area, place your belongings in sealed plastic bags before you take them home. This will prevent bugs from dropping off your luggage and starting a problem elsewhere.

Unpack Away From Furniture & Rugs

When you get home, unpack on a hard, smooth surface with bright overhead lighting, away from carpeting and upholstered furniture. Examine all your belongings for bedbugs or eggs, paying particular attention to seams and cracks. If you find bedbugs, vacuum them up, seal the collected material in a plastic bag, and throw it in an outdoor garbage can.

Use Heat Treatments

If you need to get rid of bedbugs on clothes and other heat-safe items, put them in your dryer at a high setting. The heat will kill bugs and eggs that hitched a ride on your belongings.

Bedbugs are extremely frustrating pests, so you must do everything possible to ensure they don’t get inside your house. Avoid infested areas when you travel and decontaminate your luggage when you get home.

If you bring bedbugs home with you, contact Havasu Pest Control in Lake Havasu City, AZ, to eliminate them. They have been providing efficient pest control services throughout the area for 45 years. If you have termites, cockroaches, bedbugs, or other intruders, call (928) 855-1054 to have your home treated. You also can send a message via their website, where you will find more information on their services, including scorpion removal and weed control. Follow them on Twitter for additional tips from their pest control team.