The fact that bed bugs come out at night to make a meal of us is terrifying, but the real worry is bringing them home in our luggage. From there, they take shelter in our beds, breed and become notoriously difficult to remove.
But before it reaches this stage, there are habits you can practice to protect your luggage from bed bugs in the first place. Here’s what you need to do as soon as you check in to your hotel to make sure your room – and luggage – are safe.
1. Watch where you leave your suitcase
Don’t just toss your suitcase on the bed! Bed bugs can easily hitch a ride – so keeping your suitcase out of reach is paramount, at least until you’ve checked the room. A metal luggage rack (kept a distance from the wall or any furniture) can elevate your suitcase to the point that bed bugs can’t access it. Although they struggle to climb the smooth, metal surface, take care to check if your suitcase features any fabric components that they could cling to first.
A tiled bathroom floor is another option if you don’t have a rack – or even the bathtub or shower can work! It’s slippery enough to prevent bed bugs from making their way to your case. Once checks are completed, your suitcase can be moved, although keeping it on the luggage rack is a good precaution!
If you’re wary of bed bugs, leave your suitcase sealed when it’s not in use and stick to a hard-shell case from one of the best luggage brands to make it less appealing. Keep in mind the same rule applies to backpacks and carry-ons as you enter the room.
2. Check the bed
Bed bugs are visible to the human eye, so you can quickly check for them before you unpack. They’re most often found in and around the bed, so start by pulling back the sheets and paying special attention to the mattress. Inspect any seams and buttons and give the base of the bed and the headboard a once-over, too. Bed bugs measure about 5mm in length and look like small, oval insects.
Look out for small, reddish ink-like stains (only about 1mm in width) on the mattress, too, which are bed bugs faecal spots. Bed bugs will also shed skins (they moult five times before they reach adulthood) and leave eggs (about 1mm in length). So, there’s actually many signs of bed bugs to be aware of!
But don’t just check the bed – spend a moment investigating any obvious upholstery around the room too, including sofas and curtains. Be thorough: lift the cushions and shine a torch into any crevices.
3. Unpack with care
You’re not finished with your checks though. Bed bugs are renowned for hiding in dark spaces as well as hidden gaps near to where you sleep, so it’s a good idea to look in (and behind) the bedside drawers and chest of drawers. A torch can help you inspect any joints and cracks in the furniture. Keep in mind, bed bugs will be out of sight during the day, so don’t just assume it’s clear. Pull each drawer out and thoroughly inspect it (including the underside) before use.
If you want to play it safe, you can keep your clothes in packing cubes inside your suitcase for extra protection. Garment bags can also create an added barrier. Have a sealed laundry bag to hand for dirty laundry, too – try not to leave any clothes exposed if you suspect bed bugs. For this reason, now is as good a time as any to break the ‘floordrobe’ habit. All it takes is one bed bug clinging on to lead to an infestation at home.
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4. Monitor
Even if you’ve done your best to check for bed bugs, one or two can always slip by. In that case, you need to know what to look for. Bed bug bites usually appear in small clusters. They’re often itchy and painful, turning into small red lumps on white skin or purple lumps on black on brown skin (harder to see).
Bed bugs will bite wherever your skin is exposed at night, anywhere from your face to your feet – these insects aren’t picky! If you suspect bed bugs, notify the hotel immediately so the room can be treated and you can move to another bed (make sure you get one a good distance away as neighbouring rooms may also be infested). Your belongings will need to be sealed and treated when you return home, either by washing at 60 degrees followed by a high-heat tumble-dry for 30 minutes or storing the items in your freezer for four days. There are pharmaceutical creams and treatments available for the bites in the meantime.
5. Read reviews
While this point is one to do before you book the hotel, it is important. Read up on customer reviews to check for recent bed bug infestations. Check how the matter was handled and whether it was resolved – were they moved to another room or did they end up changing hotels due to repeated instances? If you notice a pattern, odds are that hotel is not eradicating its bed bug problem and it’s worth steering clear.
While hotels can’t help guests introducing bed bugs to their rooms, they should have proper protocols in place to treat it and stop it spreading. There’s always the option to book a hotel with a Valpas certificate – these hotels are deemed bed bug safe with non-biocidal technology to prevent an infestation.
