Bed Bug Alert | Bed Bug Free | Bug Identification | Vacation Tips

1. Purchase bedbug mattress and box spring encasements from Craig Thomas Pest Control, prior to your trip.

• This proactive step will prevent bedbugs from nesting in your mattress and box spring, if you do bring them home with you.

2. Purchase heavy duty plastic bags.

• Place luggage in heavy duty garbage bags before placing luggage in car and bringing into home. This will prevent bedbugs from nesting in your vehicle or infesting your home.

3. Packing for your trip

• Hard shelled luggage is less appealing to bedbugs than fabric luggage. When you return from your trip, all clothing should be washed and dried to kill any live bedbugs. Other items like, bathroom toiletries and electrics should be placed into Ziploc bags to prevent them from infestation.

During your stay

1. Reducing your risk is very important when you initially arrive at your destination. Do an inspection around the mattress and box spring looking for live bedbugs, blood stains on the bed and small black marks.

• Keep luggage closed and away from bed bug prone areas.

i. Keep all zippers closed, placing and storing luggage away from the bed, furniture or closet.

• Keep items that cannot be laundered in sealed Ziploc Bags.

i. Keeping items, which can not be laundered like toiletries, jewelry, books and electronics should remain in sealed Ziploc bags when not in use. This is very important at night time, since bed bugs are nocturnal.

• Notify management immediately if you suspect bed bugs.

i. Notify management if you see evidence of bed bugs, develop itchy welts or see insects. Management should be aware to take further action.

Returning Home From Your Destination

Following the tips above will greatly reduce the risk of bringing bed bugs home, but there is always the risk. If you have suspicion you have brought bed bugs home, call Craig Thomas Pest Control, to have a professional pest management inspector to inspect and evaluate the situation. When you arrive home:

1. Place all luggage into heavy duty garbage bags, before placing in vehicle.

• Once placing the luggage into heavy duty garbage bags, seal tightly and travel home. This will help isolated your luggage, preventing a spread of a bed bug infestation.

2. Your home! What do you do with your luggage?

• Do not take luggage inside home. Find a location that is well lit, away from furniture and sleeping areas.

• Unpack one suitcase at a time, placing clothing into a pile to be laundered and a dry cleaning pile.

• Any items that remained in a Ziploc bag during your travel should be discarded. However, during your travels, if you kept them in the sealed bag do an inspection of the items and the likelihood of the items being infested is minimal.

• All items should remain in bags until laundered.

3. What about the luggage?

• It is important to address the luggage itself because you want to contain and isolate the bedbugs itself.

• Do an inspection of the luggage looking around the zipper areas, for eggs, live insects or black spots.

• Craig Thomas Pest Control is proud to have ---- machine. This machine is valuable. Placing items like, luggage, books, clothing in the machine it uses heat to kill all stages of bed bug activity.

4. Inspect your mattress and box spring encasements

• Before you traveled you were proactive by placing encasements on your mattress and box spring. Now, inspect the encasements looking for evidence of bed bugs or if you begin to experience itchy welts. If you should, call Craig Thomas Pest Control, a licensed pest management professional to do a thorough inspection.

Bed Bugs & Hotels

How does a hotel become infested with bed bugs?

• In many cases, guest carry bed bug into hotels without knowing. Bed bugs are transported by infested luggage, clothing, blankets and pillows.

• Hotels, bed and breakfasts, etc. have high turnover rates, increasing the vulnerability to infestation.

• No hotel is immune to a bed bug infestation.

How a hotel should responds when a guest complains about bed bugs?

• The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene suggest hotels hire pest management professional who is licensed to perform inspections and quickly address infestations when they occur.

• What to do when a bed bug complaint is received:

• Inspect the guest’s room, luggage and clothing. It is also important to inspect adjoin rooms, the infested hotel room and if the guest was moved, to the new room.

• Wash all bedding, curtains, rugs, towels, and bathrobes in the hottest water and dried on the hottest recommended cycle to kill all stages of bed bugs.

• Scrub mattress steam with a stiff brush to remove bed bugs and their eggs. Then take a HEPA vacuum and vacuum the mattress, bed frame, furniture, floor and carpet. Pay special attention to cracks and spaces. Remember, to throw vacuum bags in an outside receptacle, to avoid bed bugs from crawling out.

• Place infested mattresses or box springs in special bed bug mattress covers.

• Take all infested items and discard to prevent further infestation.

• Repair cracks in plaster, loose wallpaper or damaged furniture with caulking material.

• Re-inspect the room, upon guest vacancy and on a regular basis to ensure that bed bugs are gone.

How can I keep the hotel’s furniture from spreading infestation?

• Never resell or donate infested bed bug furniture. This will only spread the epidemic.

• When throwing away infested mattresses, box springs, or other items:

• Cut holes or damage the items, so they can’t be reused.

• Seal items in a large plastic bag to prevent spreading of bed bugs or eggs during transport.