‘Keep your suitcase as close to the door as you can’ to avoid bed bugs – travel hacks
Simon Calder offers travel baggage advice
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The team at MattressNextDay shared their top tips to avoid bringing bedbugs home this summer. Unfortunately the unwelcome critters are sometimes present in hotel room beds.
Martin Seeley, CEO and mattress expert at MattressNextDay said: “Once you arrive home, wash all your clothes, including those that you did not wear.
“If the washing labels of your clothes permit it, wash them in hot water.”
Washing every item of clothing from a holiday should flush away any stowaways and avoid transporting the creatures back home.
But while Britons are on holiday, they can take a couple of steps to protect themselves from bedbugs.
Vicki Sims, managing director of Lady Bug Pest Control said: “When people arrive in their hotel room, many place their suitcase straight onto the bed and start unpacking their clothes.
“However, we would suggest keeping your suitcase off your bed as this is where bed bugs are most commonly found.
“Depending on the star rating of your hotel, you may have a luggage rack which is where you should ideally store your suitcase.
“But if you don’t, keep your suitcase as close to the door as possible.”
Aside from bedbugs, a suitcase could be carrying germs from the airport which tourists are unlikely to want on their bed.
A luggage rack is the ideal place to store a suitcase but keeping it close to the hotel door is the next best option.
Martin added: “Research that bed bugs are more attracted to dirty clothes than to clean clothes.
“So, when packing for a trip, make sure to take a spare plastic bag for your dirty clothing, and knot it each time you add to it.”
Tourists should keep dirty clothes separate from clean as bed bugs are likely to be attracted to dirty items.
Bed bugs are small, oval, brown insects that have flat bodies and are a similar size to an apple seed.
The creatures will generally bite skin that is exposed while people are sleeping, normally the head, arms or legs.
Bites are normally in clusters and can look like raised red bumps with a dark spot in the middle.
Martin Seeley, CEO at MattressNextDay said: “After the past couple of years, we all deserve a fantastic holiday this summer and let’s face it none of us wants to be sharing a bed with these little critters.
“That’s why we recommend holidaymakers check out their mattress before they climb between the sheets for the first time in a new bed.
“If you do suspect there might be some unwanted guests in your holiday bed there are a few things you can look out for to be sure of the situation before you take it up with the hotel manager.
“It’s important to spot the signs early so that it doesn’t ruin your holiday and ultimately it doesn’t affect your health.”
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