If we enjoy traveling, we will all have to deal with bed bugs at some point. However, when bed bugs strike, they strike hard, and if you are not cautious, you may bring them back home. If they spread throughout your home, the only way to truly get rid of them is to pay exorbitant fees to insect control crews. But always find an affordable bed bug exterminator in your area.
Don't worry, because if you have the know-how, you can easily deal with bed bugs. In this article, we'll show you how to get rid of bed bugs from your luggage, clothing, and anywhere else they might be hiding so they don't infest your home.
How to Remove Bed Bugs from Luggage
⦁ Prevent their spread by isolating them. Wrap all of your clothing in plastic wrap.
⦁ Leave your clothes and suitcase outside when you return home. Bring no current clothing, suitcase, or contents inside, as this could spread bed bugs throughout your entire house.
⦁ First, take care of your clothes. Put your luggage and clothing in the dryer on the hottest cycle for 20-30 minutes, which is long enough to kill bed bugs.
⦁ Vacuum your luggage. Most bed bugs will be eradicated as a result of this method. Make sure to throw away the vacuum bag as well. Get rid of any remaining bed bugs. To kill any remaining bed bugs, use insecticides or a professional steam cleaner (above 160F degrees).
⦁ Vacuum once more and perform a final inspection. First, vacuum everything to get rid of any dead bed bugs, then leave your suitcase outside for a week before returning for a final inspection. Your suitcase should be bed-bug-free at this point.
How to Remove Bed Bugs from Luggage (Long Guide)
Step 1: Place your clothes in plastic bags that have been sealed
If you're on vacation and discover bed bugs, the first thing you should do is isolate the problem to prevent it from spreading. First and foremost, notify hotel management of the problem and request a different room. Before changing rooms, try to shake off and remove as many bed bugs as possible from your luggage, clothes, and other belongings. How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs In Clothes Bags?
Next, go to a nearby convenience store and get some plastic bags and tape. Garbage bags will suffice. Place all of your clothes in the plastic bags, seal the ends with tape, and return everything to your suitcase. If you still have a few days left on your vacation, separate your clean clothes from your used clothes and try to keep your luggage on a shelf or inside a closet for the duration of your trip. The best option would be to place all of your belongings inside the plastic bags and buy new clothes to last the rest of the trip.
Step 2: When you return home, keep your suitcase in a secure location
When you finally get home, store your suitcase in a remote location outside your houses, such as a porch or a shed. It's also a good idea to remove all of your current clothes, throw them in the washing machine, and take a shower to avoid bringing bed bugs into your home.
Step 3: Begin by Cleaning Your Clothes
First, you should remove all bed bugs from your clothing, which is simple if you have a washing machine and a dryer. Open your plastic bags, load your clothes into the washer, and dispose of the plastic bags in a dumpster. Empty bags should not be placed in your garbage can! Wash at the highest temperature possible. This method will kill the majority of bed bugs, but not all of them. After that, dry your clothes for 20-30 minutes on a medium or hot cycle. This will be sufficient to kill all of the remaining bed bugs as well as their eggs.
Step 4: Vacuum Your Suitcase All Over
Even after you've cleaned all of your clothes, some bed bugs and eggs will still be present in your luggage. Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly to get rid of them. Use the tiny adapter to reach all of the pockets and crevices, especially those near the zippers.
Step 5: Get Rid of the Last of the Bed Bugs
Vacuuming isn't enough because bed bugs and their eggs are still present in all the hard-to-reach crevices. Bed bugs can be killed with insecticides or hot/cold treatments. If you don't mind using pesticides, spray the entire suitcase with a bed bug-killing aerosol spray and wait a few minutes for it to work. These can be found in most convenience stores.
If you prefer a more natural approach, you could kill them with hot/cold treatments. If it's summer and you have a greenhouse or a car that gets above 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, you could wrap your suitcase in a large plastic bag, seal it with tape, and leave it in hot temperatures for a few hours to kill them off. You could also put your infested suitcase in a freezer if you have one large enough. However, cold treatments take a long time to kill them. They begin to die at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but it takes weeks for them to do so. It will take four days for them to freeze to death at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another popular treatment is to use steam cleaners to kill bed bugs. Bed bugs die instantly when exposed to hot steam at around 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Because not all steamers reach this temperature, you may need to hire a professional steamer to complete the task. Steaming your entire suitcase slowly and carefully until the surface becomes damp but not wet will kill all hidden bed bugs and their eggs.
Step 6: Vacuum All Dead Bed Bugs and Perform a Final Inspection
Finally, after you've killed all of the remaining bed bugs, vacuum your suitcase once more to remove all of the dead bed bugs and their eggs. Examine the suitcase thoroughly to ensure that you've removed everything. When you're finished, dispose of the vacuum bag by tossing it in the dumpster outside your house.
How to Keep Bed Bugs Out of Your Luggage While Traveling
Unpacking clothes from an opened suitcase
If you're staying in a low-cost hotel, it's a good idea to protect yourself from a bed bug infestation. You can accomplish this by following a few guidelines.
Use Plastic Luggage Covers
If we know we'll be staying in low-cost accommodations, we usually keep extra garbage bags in our suitcases. When we arrive, we empty the suitcase and place everything we need inside the large garbage bag. This ensures that no bed bugs enter the house. You can also buy luggage covers that claim to keep bedbugs at bay.
Keep Your Suitcase Away from the Ground
Bed bugs are most commonly discovered in floods and beds (hence the name bed bugs.) As a result, it's best to keep your suitcase off the bed and on the ground at all times. Instead, keep your luggage on a shelf or in a closet to keep bed bugs out. Also, instead of unpacking everything, try to keep all of your clothes inside your suitcase.
Clean Clothes Should Be Stored in a Sealed Plastic Bag
Bed bugs are attracted to your body heat, sweat, and the carbon dioxide you expel. Because your dirty clothes emit scents that are very appealing to bed bugs, it's a good idea to keep them in a sealed plastic bag. They won't be drawn to the smells inside your suitcase this way.
How Do You Remove Bed Bugs From Purses, Totes, Duffels, and Backpacks?
When compared to large, bulky suitcases, getting bed bugs out of smaller, more flexible bags is much easier. First, wash your purse, tote, duffel, or backpack on a hot cycle in a washing machine. This will kill the majority of the bed bugs, but not all of them. Then, put your bag in the dryer on the hottest setting for about 20-30 minutes, which should be enough to kill any remaining bed bugs.
Which Bed Bug Sprays are Effective on Luggage?
You must choose a bed bug spray with care because not all sprays are equally effective. You should also use caution when applying them and make an effort to spray all of the crevices of your suitcase.
Do Handheld Steamers Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
Steam kills bedbugs instantly at temperatures of 160 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Most handheld steamers can achieve these temperatures, but professional steamers can achieve even better results. If you're using a less expensive handheld steamer, make sure it has a consistent steam flow. You should be able to kill all of the bed bugs in your luggage if the steam flow is consistent and thick. To be sure, use a handheld thermometer to check if the steam reached 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
When it comes to removing bed bugs from your suitcase, remove any brush attachments from the steamer before you begin steaming. Use the steamer in slow movements, covering each spot for at least 30-60 seconds. The fabric should become hot and damp but not completely wet. Allow the suitcase to dry once you've finished it. Repeat the procedure one more time to ensure that the treatment is effective.
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