Every year we see the same pattern. A few weeks after Thanksgiving and Christmas, the bed bug calls start coming in. Bed bugs do not come from dirty houses. They travel in luggage, coats and bags, and the holidays put a lot of luggage on the move.
Watch our short video on bed bugs:
A few simple habits make a big difference.
When you arrive
- Before you unpack, set your bag in the bathroom or on a luggage rack, not on the bed or carpet.
- Pull back the sheets and check the mattress seams and corners, especially near the headboard. Look for small dark spots, shed skins or the bugs themselves.
- Keep your suitcase zipped when you are not using it.
When you get home
- Unpack in the garage or another hard-floored room, not the bedroom.
- Run everything that can take the heat through the dryer on high for at least 30 minutes, even clean clothes. Heat kills bed bugs and their eggs.
- Check your suitcase seams and zippers before you put it away. Storing it in a sealed plastic bag is cheap insurance.
When guests come to you
It can feel awkward, but it is fine to ask a guest if they have had bed bug trouble. If they have, toss their things in the dryer when they arrive and keep their luggage off beds and couches.
What does not work
Store-bought bug bombs and sprays do not get rid of bed bugs. They scatter them deeper into walls and furniture and make the problem harder to treat.
If you think you brought some home, the sooner you call, the easier and cheaper it is to fix. We have a bed bug protocol that works without turning your house into an oven. Call 208-889-9222 or read more on our bed bug page.
Related: bed bug treatment in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, the free guide 8 Secrets Pest Control Companies Don’t Want You to Know, or request a free quote.