Travel Tips

Travel Tip: Bed Bug Solutions

Here’s the deal: bed bugs continue to be a pest, and they’re not going away anytime soon.

So here’s what you should, and shouldn’t, do to combat these critters.

One of the best ways to prevent bed bugs from hitching a ride home with you is to protect the clothes inside your suitcase.

Look for luggage liners or a laundry bag made from impermeable micro-polyester, to seal your clothing inside the suitcase.

If the bag is big enough, you can even use it to wrap your suitcase while in the hotel room.

And remember, bedbugs can’t survive past 20 minutes in more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wash and dry your clothes–with the laundry bag–on high heat before you go home. Otherwise, make it the first thing you do when you get home.

Leave your suitcase outside while you inspect it carefully.

If you do encounter bed bugs, it may be tempting to spray them with pesticides. But never use chemicals that are designed for outdoor use.

Make sure that bed bugs are listed on the label; otherwise it may not be effective and will just cause the bugs to hide temporarily.

Get more tips with Battling Bed Bugs In Hotels And Beyond.

To learn how to keep yourself healthy and bug-free when traveling, visit our Health & Fitness section.

And check out the rest of our Daily Travel Tips here.