EVERYONE likes a stay in a comfy hotel bed… including bedbugs.
After leaving you covered in bites, the itchy critters are pretty partial to coming home with you too.
Bedbugs are parasites that feed off human blood during the night and typically live within the seams of a mattress.
Having an infestation of bedbugs is rarely down to poor hygiene, and is more commonly due to being carried on personal items like luggage.
Mattress Next Day have enlisted the expertise of Vicki Sims, from Lady Bug Pest Control, to share some top tips on preventing bed bugs coming back with you from holiday.
Don't put your suitcase on the bed
Vicki said: "When people arrive in their hotel room, many place their suitcase straight onto the bed and start unpacking their clothes.
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"However, we would suggest keeping your suitcase off your bed as this is where bed bugs are most commonly found."
Some hotel rooms will have a luggage rack available but if not, it's advised to keep your suitcase as close to the door as possible and far from the bed.
Keep clothes in the wardrobe
While this one might seem obvious, it's often the case that people get to the hotel after a long flight and dump clothes on their bed.
Immediately hanging items up in the wardrobe reduces the chance of contact with bed bugs as while the critters can crawl, they can't fly.
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Examine your bedding for signs of bedbug infestation
Vicki explained: "You should also investigate your hotel bed for an infestation of bedbugs. To do this, pull your bedding off the bed so that you can see the bare mattress, and any signs of actual bedbugs, or their faeces.
"Next, lift the mattress up and look for bedbugs underneath your mattress. Do this as well as in the crevices of the bed drawers if it is a divan bed.
"Finally, you should investigate your mattress, including behind, and look in the gap between the headboard and the wall itself. If it's too dark, you can also use a torch on your phone to take a closer look.
"Some common signs of bedbugs include rusty or reddish stains on the sheets or mattresses, dark spots, bedbug eggs or live bedbugs."
Keep worn clothes away from clean ones
Bed bugs are more attracted to dirty clothes than to clean clothes. So, when packing for a trip, make sure to take a spare plastic bag for your dirty clothing, and knot it each time you add to it.
Wash everything you packed when you get home
As soon as you get home from your holiday, unpack your bag in a location other than the bedroom. Ideally on a hard floor as you won’t be able to spot bed bugs in the carpet.
Next, inspect your suitcase closely and use a flashlight to revise the seams, folds, and pockets of your suitcase. You should then vacuum your suitcase before placing it back in storage.
It's important to then wash all your clothes, including those that you did not wear, and if the washing labels of your clothes permit it, wash them in hot water.
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Keep your bedroom cool at night
According to the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), the ideal temperature for an adult bed bug to thrive is between 21-32°C, so it’s best to keep your room cool at night-time.
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