Keeping Bed Bugs From Coming Home for the Holidays

“…no matter how far away you roam

For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home!

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays…”

Travel experts state that the period from the day before Thanksgiving to just after New Year's are the busiest travel times in the United States. Everyone goes “home” for one or more of the holidays. And this year has been the busiest yet, breaking records left and right.

But no matter how near or far away you roam, there's one hitchhiker to be on the lookout for... Bed Bugs.

Back and Biting

Back in the “good old days,” your mom or dad would tuck you in to bed with the humorous admonition, “Don't let the bed bugs bite.” They likely picked up the phrase from their parents, since after World War II, it seemed like Cimex lectularius were a thing of the past.

Unfortunately, ever since an outbreak struck the folks who attended the 2000 summer games in Sydney, Australia, it seems bed bugs are not only here to stay, they're increasing in number. And this time of year is the perfect opportunity for them to expand their territory.

Travel Advisories

There is no bed bug season, per se. The bugs are active year round, but prefer cooler, drier areas. They will seldom travel on you or the clothes you're wearing. However, they do tend to burrow into other fabrics.

And they're not just in hotels. Bed bugs have been found on planes, in dirty laundry as well as in beds and furniture in everyday people’s homes.

One of the most prevalent way the bugs move is by inhabiting your luggage, whether it has sat in a hotel or loved one’s home. They can periodically hibernate. And often the first clue people have that they came back with you is being bitten in your own home.

Be On the Look Out  

A bed bug infestation is usually identified by what the bugs leave behind. Look for dark or rusty spots on your sheets and mattresses, especially around the seams.

Tiny blood stains on your sheets or pillowcases, even your bed clothes are signs of bed bugs, as well as tiny red marks or itchy spots on your skin. You may also spot small eggshells, or shed skins in areas where bedbugs hide.

The bugs themselves are flat, oval shaped and light to reddish brown in color. But because they're so small and move very fast, it’s rare that you’d see the bugs first.

How Can I Get Rid of Them?

Bed bugs are very sensitive to heat, so laundering your bed clothes in the highest heat you can get from your machine is a good start. Unfortunately, bed bugs are not really a pest that you can eliminate on your own.

The best approach once you've learned you have an infestation is to call a professional.

Because of the way the bugs move and live, there are several steps and special tools needed to eliminate an existing infestation. Here at Good News Pest Solutions, we have 30 years of experience dealing with bed bugs. Our highly trained professionals will come out and fix the problem as efficiently as possible. And because we're dedicated to keeping your family safe, we always use risk-reduced treatments. For more details, please give us a call!