Ruth Haines
Bed bugs are a common concern for travellers, and airports, hotels, and public transportation are all possible sources of bed bug infestations. Bed bugs can easily hitchhike into your luggage and spread to your home, causing an infestation. These small reddish-brown insects feed on human and animal blood and are nocturnal, hiding in tiny cracks and crevices in luggage, furniture, or bedding during the day. While bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, they can cause severe discomfort, allergic reactions, and itchy bites. Therefore, it is essential to take preventive measures, such as using hard-shelled luggage, keeping luggage off the floor, inspecting hotel rooms, and practising proper laundry habits when returning home, to avoid bed bug infestations during and after travel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can you get bed bugs at an airport? | Yes, bed bugs can be found in airports and can hitch a ride on your luggage. |
| How to prevent bed bugs from infesting your luggage | Use hard-shelled, bed bug-proof luggage with fewer crevices where bed bugs can hide. Keep luggage elevated and away from surfaces where bed bugs might be hiding. |
| What to do if you suspect you've encountered bed bugs | Don't panic. Place all belongings into sealed plastic bags. Wash clothing on the highest heat setting possible, ideally between 100–120°F. Dry on medium or high heat for at least 30 minutes. Vacuum and wash suitcases with hot, soapy water. |
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What You'll Learn
Bed bugs can hide in luggage and crevices
Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers and can easily cling to your clothes or luggage, travelling home with you. They are known to hide in the seams, folds, zips, and pockets of bags, making it easy for them to travel undetected. They can crawl into luggage placed on infested beds, carpets, or furniture.
To prevent bed bugs from infesting your luggage, keep your luggage off the floor and bed. Use luggage racks if available. Bed bugs are less likely to attach themselves to hardside luggage, so that is an option to consider when buying suitcases. Scents like lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oil can also deter bed bugs. Use these to wrap your luggage or to isolate infested items.
If you suspect that your luggage has been infested with bed bugs, unpack your clothing directly into the dryer first, not the washer. Wash them after you dry them, but the high heat will kill the bugs and their eggs. The water is not hot enough to kill them, so they could survive a washing machine cycle. You can also use isopropyl alcohol, which kills bed bugs on contact.
Once the items inside your suitcase have been taken care of, it’s time to inspect your luggage. Use a flashlight to check seams, folds, and pockets for bugs or eggs. Vacuum the suitcase using a brush and crevice tool attachment. Once finished, enclose the vacuum bag or the dirt in a plastic bag sealed with tape. The suitcase can then be washed with hot soapy water or other common household cleaners.
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How to identify bed bugs
Bed bugs are annoying and can be difficult to get rid of, but they are typically not dangerous as they are not known to transmit diseases. They can, however, be a nuisance and cause discomfort. Here are some ways to identify bed bugs:
- Look for physical signs: Bed bugs leave behind rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses due to crushing. You may also find dark spots, which are about the size of a pinhead, that are bed bug excrement. These spots may bleed into the fabric.
- Inspect the mattress: Bed bugs like to hide near the piping, seams, and tags of the mattress and box spring. Check for live bed bugs, eggs, eggshells, and shed skins in these areas. Eggs are tiny (about 1mm) and pale yellow, while nymphs shed their skins as they grow larger.
- Smell for them: Bed bugs have a distinct odor. If you suspect an infestation, squishing a bug may help you identify the source of the smell.
- Understand their behavior: Bed bugs prefer to feed on humans, but they will also feed on other mammals and birds. They typically feed at night but will seek a host during the day if hungry. They can travel 5-20 feet from their hiding places to feed.
- Check for hiding places: Bed bugs like to hide in dark cracks and crevices near their host. They can be found around the bed, in cracks on the bed frame and headboard, or even in the canvas strap of an old box spring.
- Inspect your luggage: If you've been travelling, unpack your luggage on a hard, bright surface to easily spot any bed bugs. Use a flashlight to check seams, folds, and pockets for bugs or eggs.
- Identify their appearance: Bed bugs have a flattened body and are rusty brown in color. They have thin, four-segmented antennae, a segmented abdomen, short legs (six of them), and reduced wings that are incapable of flight.
Remember, early identification is crucial to prevent a widespread infestation. If you suspect bed bugs, take immediate precautions to avoid bringing them into your home or spreading them to other areas.
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Preventing bed bugs from infesting your luggage
Bed bugs are a common issue, especially when travelling. They can be picked up from anywhere, including airports, and can infest your luggage. Here are some ways to prevent bed bugs from infesting your luggage:
Prevention
To prevent bed bugs from infesting your luggage, consider using hardside luggage. Bed bugs can climb onto any surface, but they are less likely to attach to a hard surface than fabric. Sealing your luggage in airtight plastic bags can also help prevent bed bugs from infesting your luggage. This will ensure that any bugs that may have crawled into your luggage will not be able to escape and infest other areas.
Inspection
Upon returning from a trip, it is important to inspect your luggage for any signs of bed bugs or their eggs. Use a flashlight to carefully check the seams, folds, and pockets of your luggage. If you do find any bed bugs or eggs, you can use a vacuum with a brush and crevice tool attachment to remove them. Make sure to seal the vacuum bag containing the bugs and eggs in a plastic bag and dispose of it securely.
Treatment
After inspecting and vacuuming your luggage, you can wash it with hot soapy water or use common household cleaners. Use a scrub brush along the seams and folds to ensure thorough cleaning. You can also use a household or industrial steamer to heat-treat your luggage, as heat treatments are effective at killing bed bugs. Commercial products are also available that are designed to heat-treat luggage and their contents.
Laundry
Clothing and other laundry items should be removed from your luggage and placed directly into sealed plastic bags. Wash the items on the highest heat setting possible, ideally with water temperatures between 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry the items on medium or high heat for at least 30 minutes. For items that cannot be laundered, place them in the dryer at medium to high heat for 30 minutes. If you have items that need to be dry-cleaned, seal them in a plastic bag and inform your dry cleaner of the potential bed bug issue.
Unpacking
When unpacking your luggage, choose a location other than your bedroom, such as a garage, laundry room, or foyer. This will help prevent any potential bed bugs from infesting your bedroom.
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What to do if you suspect an infestation
While bed bugs are not typically dangerous, they are annoying and difficult to get rid of. They are also not known to transmit any diseases. If you suspect an infestation, it is important to act quickly to prevent it from getting worse. Here are some detailed steps to take:
Inspect your surroundings
Bed bugs can hide in a variety of places, including walls, electrical outlets, light switches, and cracks in the walls or furniture. They are usually found in areas where people sleep, such as beds and sofas, especially in the seams, piping, and tags of mattresses and box springs. Inspect these areas thoroughly, using a flashlight and a flat-edged tool to investigate cracks and crevices.
Identify the signs of bed bugs
Look for physical signs of bed bugs, such as rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by crushed bugs, dark spots of bed bug excrement, eggs and eggshells (about 1mm in size), live bed bugs, and skin castings. Bites on the skin may be a sign, but they can also be caused by other insects or skin conditions, so it is best to look for other indicators as well.
Take preventative measures
If you suspect an infestation, it is important to take preventative measures to stop the bites and prevent the bugs from spreading. Wash all bedding, linens, curtains, and clothing in hot water (ideally 100–120 °F) and dry them on the highest setting for at least 30 minutes to kill bugs and eggs. Vacuum your mattress, bed frame, furniture, and floors, focusing on cracks and crevices. You can also use bed bug traps or interceptors, which are placed under the legs of furniture to catch and prevent the bugs from climbing up.
Consider professional treatment
For severe infestations, it may be necessary to hire a professional pest control service. They can use heat treatments, insecticides, or other methods to effectively eliminate the pests. There are also more than 300 products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control bed bugs. Make sure to only use pesticides that are approved by the EPA and meant for controlling bed bugs.
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What to do if you've been bitten
Although bed bugs are not typically dangerous and do not transmit diseases, they can be annoying and difficult to get rid of. If you suspect that you have been bitten by bed bugs, there are several steps you should take to address the issue:
Firstly, it is important to remain calm and not panic. Bed bugs are a common issue, and there are preventative measures you can take to avoid bringing them into your home. Start by placing all your belongings and clothing into sealed plastic bags. This will prevent any bed bugs from crawling out and spreading to other areas.
Next, separate the items that can be laundered and place them directly into a dryer on medium to high heat for at least 30 minutes. The heat will kill any bugs or eggs that may be present. After drying, you can wash the items with laundry detergent as you normally would. For items that cannot be laundered, consider using a dry cleaner. Be sure to inform them that the items may have been exposed to bed bugs.
Once you have dealt with your clothing and belongings, it is time to inspect your luggage. Use a flashlight to carefully check the seams, folds, and pockets for any bugs or eggs. Vacuum the suitcase using a brush and crevice tool attachment, and dispose of the vacuum bag or contents into a sealed plastic bag. Wash your suitcase with hot soapy water or use household cleaners, paying extra attention to the seams and folds with a scrub brush. You can also use a household or industrial steamer for heat treatment.
When you arrive home, avoid unpacking your bags in the bedroom. Choose another location, such as the garage, mudroom, laundry room, or foyer. Any non-clothing items that may have come into contact with bed bugs should not be brought into the house. Additionally, if you are staying in a hotel or rental accommodation, alert the staff immediately and request a new room. Take photos of any bug evidence or bites for documentation.
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Frequently asked questions
Bed bugs can be found in airports and can hitch a ride on your luggage or clothing.
Keep your luggage elevated and away from surfaces where bed bugs might be hiding. Use luggage racks to keep your bags off the ground.
It's important to remain calm. Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases. Put all your belongings into sealed plastic bags to prevent the bugs from spreading. When you get home, unpack your bags in a location other than the bedroom, such as the garage or laundry room.
Inspect your luggage thoroughly, paying close attention to seams, folds, and pockets. Vacuum your suitcase using a brush and crevice tool attachment. Wash your luggage with hot soapy water or use a household steamer for heat treatment.
Place your clothing directly into the dryer on medium or high heat for at least 30 minutes. The heat will kill any bugs or eggs. Then, wash your clothes with hot water.
