3 Things That You Shouldn't Do If You Bring Home Bed Bugs From A Vacation
When returning home from a vacation, you might be thinking about things like looking back at your vacation pictures and getting back into the swing of your regular routine. The last thing that you probably want to deal with after a nice trip, however, is a bed bug infestation. However, if you have brought bed bugs home in your luggage from a hotel or somewhere else where you might have stayed or visited on your trip, then this could be what you are facing. These are a few things that you should not do if you find yourself in this situation.
1. Bring Things in the House
First of all, if you discover a bed bug problem before you actually return home, it's smart to avoid taking your luggage and other items back into your home. After all, if you do, you have to worry about the bed bugs making their way from your luggage to your bed, sofa and other areas of your home. Then, they can breed and multiply, leaving you with a big problem.
If you catch the bed bugs before you bring everything inside of your home, you can help prevent the infestation from happening. Instead, empty out your suitcases and vacuum and then scrub them to help get rid of any bed bugs and bed bug eggs. Then, put your luggage in large black garbage bags -- such as the ones that you would use to bag up leaves and other outdoor debris -- and place the bags somewhere outside of your home, such as in your garage. Over time, any bed bugs or bed bug eggs that are remaining will die.
2. Throw Things Away
Don't assume that you have to throw away the clothing from your luggage or any souvenirs that you might have brought home from your trip. Instead, wash anything that is washable in your washing machine in hot water, and then use the hottest setting on your dryer to dry them. Items that cannot be washed in the washing machine can be cleaned thoroughly by hand or by a professional. When in doubt, consider leaving these items in your garage until you can feel certain that any bed bugs and bed bug eggs that might have a hitched a ride are dead.
3. Handle Everything on Your Own
If the bed bugs have made it into your home, it's not a job for you to handle by yourself. Instead, hire a professional pest control crew that has experience in dealing with bed bugs. Then, you can ensure that you take care of the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible so that you can go back to reminiscing about your vacation rather than worrying about a bed bug infestation.
Contact a local pest control company for more information about bed bug treatments.