How to prevent bed bugs

Bed bugs are small and like to hide in cracks and crevices during the day, so it can be very easy to bring them into your home. Bed bugs or their eggs can get into your clothing, furniture, or suitcase, and then are transported wherever these items go. A bed bug infestation can go undetected for several months or longer which is why it is always best to contact us for an inspection if you spot signs of bed bugs.

There are some preventative steps you can take, especially if you are a frequent traveller, to prevent this pest from invading your home or business.

• Inspect your hotel room upon arrival, looking for live bed bugs or discarded bed bug exoskeletons. If you spot any signs, contact a manager immediately. Spots in your room to check include:
  
  • Beds - focusing on the mattresses and behind the bed frames
  • Any furniture in the room
  • Closets and dresser drawers
  • Luggage stands
• Place your suitcases on a hard surface, like the bathroom floor or a desk, in the hotel. Do not leave your suitcase on the carpet or put it on any upholstered surface.
• Leave your suitcases in your garage or in the bathroom when you arrive home from a trip. Bed bugs don’t like tile or concrete, and if they are present in your suitcase you have a better chance of seeing them on the hard floor as opposed to on carpet!
• Wash and dry clothes - even the items not worn - at the highest possible temperatures.
• Vacuum your suitcase. Vacuuming does not guarantee total elimination. Make sure to empty and clean the vacuum to avoid transferring eggs to other rooms.
• Invest in a mattress encasement for your bed at home. Mattress encasements eliminate bed bug entry and exit points and protect against allergens, dust mites, and bed bugs. Download Ehrlich's bed bug mattress encasements brochure for more information.

With the number of guests moving in and out of your hotel or dorm rooms, it is impossible to completely prevent bed bugs. However, there are ways you can prevent an infestation taking hold and moving from room to room and that is via early detection:

• Train your staff on how to identify common signs of bed bugs.
• Ensure thorough checking for bed bugs is written into your room cleaning processes.
• Inspect adjacent rooms to identify if the bed bugs have spread (Ehrlich will do this as part of our emergency response survey).
• Have a procedure in place for handling bed bug complaints.
• Immediately contact Ehrlich to arrange a thorough inspection and bed bug control program.

Professional bed bug treatments are always the best solution to get rid of bed bugs and ensure that they don’t return. Ehrlich specialists are certified in bed bug identification and control. Contact us for help with any bed bug difficulties!