How to Prevent Bed Bugs When Traveling
Your bags are packed and you're ready to hit the road, the skies, the open sea. Wherever your travels take you, chances are you don't have unlimited time to spend there. The last thing you need is a kink in your itinerary, and while the good folks scanning your flip-flops at airport security might try your patience, there are far worse pests to avoid when traveling. Bed bugs occur most frequently in places with a high turnover of overnight guests (hotels, resorts, cruise ships, etc.), but there are steps you can take to help prevent them ruining your holiday.
- Flashlight
- Magnifier or hand lens
- Gloves
- Tweezers or adhesive tape
- Pill bottle or sealable bag
- Knife or credit card
- Trash bags and tape
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Instructions
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1
Inspect mattresses and linens for blood spots and fecal matter. As stated on the website for the Harvard School of Public Health, these will appear a dark brown or reddish color.
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2
Using a flashlight and magnifying glass, look for live bugs on bed frames, behind headboards, and in nightstands. Use a knife or credit card to draw bugs out of joints, cracks and crevices.
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3
Check cracks in walls and loose or torn wallpaper near beds, as these may also provide hiding places for bed bugs.
