The holiday season is the peak time for bedbug transfers. Whether you are flying out of YYC International or staying in a mountain resort in Banff, these parasites view your luggage as a free ticket into your home. Unlike many other pests, bedbugs are not attracted to filth, they are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide, making every traveler a potential target. It can get very difficult to avoid Bedbugs but it can be crucial to know what to do to avoid them.

Advanced Inspection Strategies

When you arrive at your destination, do not settle in immediately. Perform a five-minute sweep of the room. Bedbugs are nocturnal and expert hiders, but they leave behind undeniable signs. Some of those signs include:

• The 3-Foot Radius: Most infestations are found within three feet of the bed. Inspect the mattress seams, behind the headboard, and inside the folds of the bedside curtains.
• Visual Indicators: Look for “peppery” black spots (fecal matter) or small translucent shells (shed skins).
• Safe Storage: Never put your suitcase on the bed or the carpeted floor. Use the luggage rack (after inspecting it) or, better yet, store your bags in the bathtub—the one place a bedbug cannot easily climb.

Post-Travel Decontamination Protocol

There are some things that you can do after you come back from your trip in order to avoid bedbugs that may have travelled with you without you realizing.

• Garage Unpacking: If possible, unpack your suitcase in the garage or a mudroom rather than the bedroom.
• The Heat Cycle: Transfer all clothing directly into the dryer. High heat (over 50°C) for 30 minutes is the only guaranteed way to kill bedbug eggs and nymphs.
• Steam Cleaning: Use a hand steamer on the nooks and crannies of your suitcase before storing it away for the season.
• Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly and store it in a sealed plastic bin or away from sleeping areas.

Once you return home to Calgary, do not bring your suitcase into the bedroom. Unpack in the laundry room or garage. Wash all clothing, even the unworn items on the hottest water setting possible.

All these small things can go a long way in avoiding any bedbugs from transferring from your luggage to your property. If you end up with bedbug infestation, call Professional Pest Exterminator at the earliest convenience because these pests multiple very fast and you will have full blown bedbug problem in short time.