Mar 28, 2017, 09:49 AM by Fred Speer

You may encounter some interesting characters during your spring break travels, but ones you definitely want to avoid are bed bugs.

These unwanted pests know no boundaries when choosing a location to infest. Bed bugs will infest beds, furniture, and drapes in hotel rooms. They will infest the seats in railcars, taxis, buses, and movie theaters. Not even the luggage, shopping bags, and backpacks you carry around on your trip are safe.

Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers because they are so easily transported in human belongings from one place to another. This makes spring break travelers especially susceptible to picking up bed bugs while away from home – regardless of whether those travelers are staying in a hotel, rental house, or at a relative’s house.

As you hit the road for your spring break adventure, the Clark Man reminds you to be aware of bed bugs and take the appropriate steps prevent bed bugs from spoiling your trip:

Pre-trip tips

• Pack and store your clothes in sealable plastic bags to prevent bed bugs from infesting them

When you arrive

• Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking, including behind the headboard and in sofas and chairs. If any pests are spotted, change rooms or establishments immediately
• Pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots. If you see anything suspect, notify the front desk and change rooms or hotels immediately
• If you do need to change rooms, be sure that you do not move to a room adjacent and/or directly above or below the suspected infestation. Bed bugs can hitchhike easily via housekeeping carts, luggage, and even through wall sockets
• Place your suitcase in a plastic trash bag or protective cover during the duration of your trip to ensure that bed bugs cannot take up residence there prior to departure

When you return

• Inspect your suitcases before bringing them into the house and vacuum your suitcase thoroughly before storing it away. Consider using a garment hand steamer to steam your luggage, which will kill any bed bugs or eggs that may have hitched a ride home
• Wash your clothes – even those that have not been worn – in hot water (and dry them on high heat) to ensure that any bed bugs that may have made it that far are not placed into your drawers or closet

If you think you have a problem with bed bugs, call or text Clark Pest Control at (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or drop me an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com. We’ll come out, make a proper identification, and then we’ll provide a treatment recommendation.

Until next time I’m the Clark Man, and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home.