After spending several hours on a flight and arriving at your hotel room, your next actions probably involve taking the luggage rack and placing your suitcase on it, followed by collapsing onto the bed in relief. This seems like the obvious choice. If you have the energy, you might even begin to unpack. However, there are some errors in this typical situation that could lead to you bringing along some unwanted “companions.” Travelers should never use the luggage rack in a hotel room for a very important reason: it may be infested with bed bugs. These tiny pests, roughly the size of an apple seed, are looking for some blood — and to them, you’re like a moving fast-food restaurant.
It’s not really important what kind of hotel you’re staying in. Every traveler has the potential to introduce bed bugs from any location, and their bites can be quite uncomfortable. A luggage rack provides hiding spots for these pests, such as where the fabric strips connect to the metal bars. The rack might be folded in a closet on a carpeted floor, which is another area where you could encounter them. Rather than placing your bags on a luggage rack, the first step upon arriving at your hotel room should be to put your luggage in the bathtub. There’s nowhere for bed bugs to hide on its surface, making it an ideal place to store your belongings while you check for bed bugs.
Read more: Rick Steves Recommends Always Performing These Actions Before Traveling
How to Prevent Bringing Termites Home
After placing your luggage in the tub, take your phone and activate the flashlight feature. Remove the bed sheets and examine the mattress using the light. Look for brown or dark red stains, or the insects themselves. However, don’t limit your inspection to the surface. Check under the mattress buttons and along the seams using your room key card. Examine the box spring, carpets, behind and inside the nightstand, on curtains or drapes, or any other fabric-covered area, including headboards made of fabric. Even if you don’t find anything, keep your suitcase off the floor and place it in the bathroom on the tile rather than on the luggage rack or the floor.
There are also several actions you can take before reaching your destination, just in case you check into a place and end up finding something. As you pack, place your clothes and other items inplastic bags to prevent bed bugs from accompanying you home– large resealable plastic bags are a good option. You can also place your suitcase in a plastic trash bag, orUtilize a baggage wrapping service prior to your flight. Also, if you hire a vehicle to drive yourself to the hotel, you should avoid usingthe trunk, which is the most unclean area in a rented vehicle. It’s an additional step that can prevent you from having a very uncomfortable journey home. Ultimately, if you return home and discover bed bugs, launder your clothes in the hottest water possible to eliminate them, and clean your suitcase thoroughly, focusing especially on the seams.
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