Bed bugs are tiny, nocturnal parasites that survive exclusively by feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts. These insects hide in small crevices and emerge only when a person is stationary, typically while sleeping. Since they are transported almost entirely by humans and their belongings, prevention is the only effective defense, as eliminating an established infestation is difficult and lengthy. The goal is to interrupt their movement, especially during travel, to keep them from getting onto you and into your personal space.
Preventing Hitchhikers While Traveling
Travel is the most common way bed bugs spread, as they readily hide in luggage and clothing. Upon entering a new accommodation, such as a hotel room, never place your luggage on the floor or the bed immediately. Instead, stage your bags in a less hospitable area, like the bathroom, which typically has tile floors and fewer soft furnishings where the bugs can hide.
Conduct a thorough inspection of the sleeping area before settling in. Pull back the linens and check the mattress seams, paying particular attention to the piping, tags, and box spring where bed bugs frequently aggregate. Look for tiny, reddish-brown fecal spots or the pale, shed skins of nymphs.
Inspect the headboard, the frame, and any upholstered furniture near the bed, as these areas offer excellent hiding spots. Even if no signs are found, keep your luggage elevated and away from the walls and bed throughout your stay. Utilizing a metal luggage rack, or placing your suitcase inside a large plastic bag, provides an effective barrier against hitchhikers.
If you use shared transportation, such as trains or buses, be cautious about placing your bags directly on the seats or floors. Hard-shelled luggage is less appealing than soft-sided fabric bags because it offers fewer seams and crevices for them to hide, reducing the chance of transporting them.
Protective Treatments and Clothing Barriers
Common insect repellents applied to the skin, such as those containing DEET or picaridin, offer limited protection against bed bugs. Unlike mosquitoes, bed bugs are not strongly repelled by these chemicals when actively seeking a blood meal. High concentrations of DEET can offer a repellent effect, but lower concentrations and other repellents like picaridin are less effective when the bugs are motivated to feed.
A proactive step is to treat your clothing and luggage with permethrin, a synthetic insecticide. Permethrin is not meant to be applied to the skin; it is used to treat fabric, bonding to the fibers and remaining effective for weeks, even through multiple washings. Treating the exterior seams, zippers, and handles of your luggage creates a toxic barrier that kills or repels bed bugs attempting to climb aboard.
Some travelers use physical barriers while sleeping to reduce the chance of bites. Wearing tight-fitting pajamas that cover most of the skin can block direct access to the host. While this does not prevent bugs from entering your belongings, it offers a small measure of protection against being bitten. Preventing the insects from gaining access to your environment remains the most reliable defense.
Immediate Steps Following Potential Exposure
If you suspect exposure to bed bugs during travel, or find evidence of them in your accommodation, immediate decontamination upon returning home is necessary. Before bringing your luggage inside your main living area, open it in a garage, bathtub, or on a hard, non-carpeted surface. This prevents potential hitchhikers from immediately scattering inside your home.
All clothing and fabric items, whether worn or not, should be transferred directly into a washing machine. The high heat of a dryer is the most reliable way to kill bed bugs and their eggs. To ensure 100% mortality, wash items at a temperature of at least 140°F (60°C) and then tumble dry them on the highest heat setting for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Items that cannot be washed or dried, such as shoes, electronics, and luggage, must be carefully inspected and quarantined. These items can be sealed in durable plastic bags and stored outside the main living area. Alternatively, they can be subjected to extreme temperatures, such as freezing at 0°F (-17°C) for several days, or placing them in a sealed vehicle on a hot day to reach lethal temperatures.