Bah, humbug! Stop bed bugs from spoiling your holidays

Dec 20, 2019, 10:00 AM by Clark Pest Control


That time of year is here again. Holiday travelers will be hitting the road to visit friends and family, and college students will be rolling home for an extended break.

There’s an additional traveler that could be accompanying you, your house guests, your returning scholars. It’s a visitor more annoying than your second cousin’s family that dives into the desserts before dinner! Of which traveler do we speak? Bed bugs!

Bed bugs are active all year long, and know no boundaries when they choose a location to infest. They can be found in an upscale hotel room, vacation rental, an Airbnb, apartment, college dorm room, or the chair in a theater or doctor’s waiting room.

These unwanted pests infest beds, furniture, and drapes, along with seats in train cars, taxis, buses, and movie theaters, plus luggage, shopping bags, and backpacks. They are adept travelers, and that’s what makes bed bug control and treatment challenging, and bed bug removal costly and a real hassle.

With crowded airport terminals and train stations, and lots of packing and unpacking of suitcases, the chances of you unknowingly picking up bed bugs and introducing them to the place you are staying, or bringing them home, are greatly increased.

How can you prevent bed bugs from becoming the Grinch this holiday season? Clark Pest Control, your neighborly pest control, termite, and lawn care expert, recommends that holiday travelers use the following tips to reduce the chance of an unwanted bed bug encounter:

  • Pull back sheets and inspect mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots. Carry a small flashlight to assist you with a quick visual inspection.
  • If you do need to change rooms or rentals, be sure that you do not move to a room adjacent to and/or directly above or below the suspected infestation. Bed bugs can easily hitchhike via housekeeping carts, luggage, and even through wall sockets. If an infestation is spreading, it typically does so in those rooms closest to the infestation’s origin.
  • Consider placing 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.
  • Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation, and dispose of or clean out the vacuum bag or canister immediately after.
  • Wash all your clothes – even those that haven’t been worn – in hot water to ensure that any bed bugs that may have made it that far are not placed into your drawers or closet.

Following the holidays when you are back home, and students have returned to school, it’s important to be proactive when preventing issues with bed bugs.

As mentioned above, bed bugs are a year-round pest, so vigilance is an important part of effective bed bug prevention and control:

  • Check your sheets for telltale blood spots.
  • Never bring secondhand furniture, especially mattresses and box springs, into a home without thoroughly examining them for signs of a bed bug infestation. You might consider having a pest control professional inspect the furniture items, as it’s difficult to detect an infestation without proper training.
  • The same applies to college students who consider moving used furniture into a dorm room, apartment, or house. If there is any doubt, don’t do it – bed bug removal can be more costly and time-consuming than taking the correct steps to prevent the infestation in the first place.
  • Regularly inspect areas where pets sleep for signs of bed bugs.

Bed Bug Removal

Because bed bugs are elusive creatures and travel well, it’s imperative for you to consult with a pest management professional, who can assist you with any bed bug control effort.

One of Clark’s highly trained inspectors will come to your home and conduct a thorough inspection to verify if bed bugs are present. If they are detected, Clark will recommend the appropriate bed bug treatment, one that’s designed specifically for your residence.

If you suspect your home might have bed bugs, call or text California’s trusted, friendly bed bug treatment expert, Clark Pest at (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339), or send an email to clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keep unwanted pests out of your home.