Bed bugs have returned in epidemic numbers. They are by far one of the most difficult (and most costly) insects
to control.  And to make matters worse, it’s very difficult to detect them.  Anyone who has ever been bitten by these tiny “hitchhikers” will do everything possible to keep it from happening again. 
(left picture credit to Urbanentomology.tamu.edu)

If you are planning a trip, please read this article and follow the very basic protective steps to keep you bed bug free at your destination, and to insure you don't bring
these little "hitchhikers" back home with you.

Spray the inside and the outside of your luggage with OFF mosquito repellent. This will help deter the bed bugs from sneaking into your luggage while at your destination.

If travelling by car be sure to take large sealable plastic bags. These will be used to encase and seal the luggage before you place these items back into the car on your return trip. This will greatly reduce bed bugs from infesting your car. Further information will be given in the UPON YOUR RETURN section below.

Your suitcases should be hard-shelled. Fabric or cloth type luggage pieces are bed bug friendly. Large sealed Ziploc type bags should be packed to store your clothing while at your destination.  Smaller sealed Ziploc type bags should also be packed for electronic items and other items that cannot be laundered.  Yes, these tiny “hitchhikers” can infest these items also.

Before we go into detail I need to warn you that if you do not follow these basic steps you are asking for “bites”. They may not prevent you from taking the little “hitchhikers” home but at least your odds will be improved.

Inspect the bed. Pull back sheets and inspect around the edges.  If you see bed bugs immediately NOTIFY MANAGEMENT and ask for another room well away from the infested room.  Even if you see any tiny spots (blood spots)  ask for another room.  Don’t take any chances.

Keep luggage on the floor at least five feet from the bed.  Never put these items in the closet, or on the bed.  Even the luggage stand could be infested.

If you put your clothing into dresser drawers, be sure to put them into sealed plastic bags first.  Many a dresser and night stand have been infested by bed bugs.

Computers and other electronic items that can't be laundered should be placed in sealed bags (such as Ziploc bags) when not in use.

  (Engorged bedbug after a  blood meal)

The very basic steps you have taken may have been enough to prevent you from bringing  the “hitchhikers” home.  But don’t count on it.  The following precautions are the most critical.

First you must place the luggage and other items on the garage floor or back patio well away from beds and furniture.  If you travelled by car this is where you remove each piece of luggage from its sealed bag, place it on the floor and empty contents.  Do each piece of luggage separately. Throw bags away in outside a trash can.

Now we must deal with clothing. Items that must be laundered should placed in sealed bags until they are washed.  The temperature should be at least 140 degrees.  Items that must be dry cleaned should be placed in sealed bags until cleaned.

All other items which cannot be laundered (which includes the luggage containers themselves) should be placed in heavy duty lawn bags.  A pest strip containing DDVP/Vapona should be placed inside. Seal the bag firmly and leave it alone for at least two weeks. These strips slowly emit a chemical which will kill any of the tiny “hitchhikers” that may be inside. 

The information given above contains only the most basic precautions you must take. Obviously we don’t expect you to spend all your time looking for possible bed bug infestations.   A thorough bed bug inspection involves checking the entire room including behind the headboard of the bed, in the dresser drawers, the closet, behind the baseboards, inside electrical outlets, etc.  It takes a trained professional pest control technician hours to properly inspect a room.  These tiny insects can get into the smallest cracks and crevices.  Sometimes the management will replace the mattress and not properly treat the entire room.  Many a traveler has been rudely awakened to “itching”, and even worse actual bed bug “bites”.  If you pay attention to the above advice you stand a good chance of leaving the tiny “hitchhikers’ behind.

Two VERY IMPORTANT reasons why you need bed bug proof mattress encasements.

 *You may bring bed bugs into your home yourself.  *Your guests may bring them into your home.

The Protect-A-Bed  is the only mattress encasement which is proven bed bug proof.  A special zipper lock is what makes the difference.  All other mattress encasements failed to keep bedbugs in or out either because the zipper teeth were too big or the zipper itself didn’t close properly.

Protect-A-Bed AllerZip® mattress protector has a warranty for 10 years against fabric and manufacturing defect.  CALL Termpest FOR PRICES. 

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