Discovering bed bugs in your luggage can transform post-vacation bliss into a nightmare. These tiny hitchhikers are experts at traveling undetected, turning your homecoming into the start of a potential infestation.
But don’t worry, this guide will tell you everything on what to do about bed bugs in your luggage. From spotting the early signs of these unwelcome passengers to effective strategies for eradication and prevention, we’ve got you covered.
Do Bed Bugs Travel With You?
Yes, bed bugs can travel with you, using your clothing and luggage as free rides from one destination to another. They are known for their ability to infiltrate personal belongings, especially in places like hotels, motels, resorts, and gyms, where they are often found.
Once bed bugs have made their way into your suitcase, they can effortlessly journey from an infested location straight into your home. This is why it is so important to prevent bed bugs while traveling, taking proactive steps to mitigate the risk of introducing these pests into your home.
How to Check for Bed Bugs in Luggage
Finding bed bugs upon returning from a trip can be unsettling. But you know what’s worse? Discovering them days afterward, on your mattress, pillows, and headboard.
A thorough inspection of your bags as soon as you arrive can make all the difference. Here are some tips on how to efficiently search for bed bugs in your luggage:
- Choose your unpacking area wisely, preferably the bathroom or the garage (but never the bedroom). Put your luggage on a light-colored surface, so there’s a stark contrast to make bed bugs more visible.
- A flashlight is an indispensable tool. Shine the light into the folds, pockets, zippers, and hidden areas of your luggage. Bed bugs tend to hide in dark, undisturbed places.
- A magnifying glass can also be particularly useful for identifying bed bug eggs and nymphs, which are much smaller and lighter in color than adults.
- Use a credit card, library card, or a similar thin, rigid item to probe and scrape along the seams, pockets, and straps of your luggage. This can help dislodge any bed bugs hiding within the crevices.
Signs of Bed Bugs in Luggage
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Now that you know how to thoroughly inspect the luggage, it’s time to know what to look for during that inspection. Here are the key signs of bed bug presence in your luggage:
- Live bed bugs: Adult bed bugs measure about 1/4 to 3/8 inch long, with a reddish-brown color and oval shape.
- Shed skins: As bed bugs mature, they shed their skins multiple times. Finding these translucent, empty exoskeletons can be a sign they have made their way into your luggage.
- Eggs in clusters: Bed bug eggs are tiny, white, and often laid in clusters. They might be harder to spot without a magnifying glass.
- Red stains: Crushed bed bugs can leave behind small, reddish stains on your luggage. These stains can occur if you accidentally squash the bugs while unpacking.
- Black dots: Bed bugs leave behind small, black dots of fecal matter.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Luggage
It’s time to take action against the bed bugs you’ve found in your luggage. There are several things you can do to get rid of bed bugs; let’s take a look at them:
1. Wash and Dry Clothing
As soon as you notice bed bugs in your luggage, take all clothing out and wash it in hot water. Then, dry it on high heat for 30 minutes. This heat treatment will kill bed bugs in all stages of life, including eggs.
Pro tip: For items that can’t handle the heat, seal them in a plastic bag and place them in the freezer for at least three days.
2. Vacuum Your Luggage
Now it’s time to start taking care of the bed bugs that are hitchhiking in your luggage. The first step is vacuuming for bed bugs. Here are a few tips:
- If you can, opt for a bagged vacuum with a HEPA filter to prevent bed bugs from escaping.
- Employ the strongest suction setting.
- Use an attached crevice tool to vacuum all parts of your luggage, focusing on seams, folds, and zippers.
- After vacuuming, carefully dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag, or clean the vacuum canister with hot, soapy water.
3. Apply Steam
A steamer that reaches at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is effective in killing bed bugs and their eggs on contact.
Here’s how to steam to kill bed bugs:
- Attach a triangular nozzle so you can reach the luggage’s nooks and crannies.
- Set the steam pressure to low or medium to avoid scattering the bed bugs.
- Move slowly, about 2.5 seconds per inch.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
4. Consider Portable Heating Devices
Using portable heating devices is another useful way to kill bed bugs in your luggage using heat. They are portable and work by exposing the items inside to high temperatures for a few hours, which is lethal to bed bugs.
Just make sure that your luggage fits inside the device and that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely, especially regarding the duration for which you should leave the luggage inside.
5. Spray Insecticides
There are specialized bed bug sprays that can kill bed bugs upon contact. However, it is crucial to select a product safe for use on luggage, or you might end up damaging it.
In addition, you should follow all label instructions carefully whenever using pesticides, as they can be dangerous to you and your family’s health.
Here’s a video by Purdue Extension on what to do with your luggage and belongings after traveling:
Preventing Bed Bugs in Luggage
Prevention is undoubtedly the most effective strategy against most pests, and bed bugs are no different. The best preventative measure is to be vigilant in places where bed bugs are most commonly found, such as hotels.
Here’s how you can safeguard your belongings and prevent bed bugs while traveling:
- Use hard-cased luggage: These are more difficult for bed bugs to latch onto compared to fabric bags.
- Pack in resealable plastic bags: This will create a barrier to protect your things even if bed bugs get access to your suitcase.
- Hotel room inspection: Upon arrival, inspect your hotel room for bed bugs before unpacking. Pay special attention to the bed, including the mattress, headboard, and bed frame, as well as upholstered furniture and curtains.
- Store luggage wisely: While you inspect your room, you can keep the luggage in the bathroom or inside a dry bathtub.
- Inspect luggage racks and surroundings: Before using a luggage rack, inspect it for signs of bed bugs. Keep the rack away from the walls and the bed.
- Keep bags closed: Keep your luggage zipped when not in use to prevent bed bugs from entering. Avoid unpacking and scattering your things if you’re not staying for long.
- Never place your luggage on the bed: This common mistake can provide an easy path for bed bugs to hitch a ride.
Here’s a video by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension with a few tips:
FAQ About Bed Bugs
How Long Can Bed Bugs Live in Luggage?
Bed bugs can survive for up to 70 days without a meal at room temperature. This means that simply leaving your luggage unused in the hopes that any bed bugs will die off is not an effective strategy. If the luggage is kept in your room, there’s a significant risk that the bed bugs will eventually spread to other areas around it.
Will Leaving Luggage in a Hot Car Kill Bed Bugs?
While it’s true that bed bugs will die when exposed to temperatures of 113 F for at least 90 minutes, using a hot car to achieve this temperature is not a reliable solution.
The outdoor temperature can vary widely, which makes it difficult to maintain a consistent temperature that’s high enough, for a long enough period, to ensure that all bed bugs and their eggs are killed.
Do Bed Bugs Lay Eggs in Luggage?
Yes, bed bugs do lay eggs in luggage, particularly in fabric luggage. Hard-cased luggage presents a smoother and less hospitable surface for bed bug eggs to latch onto, which makes these types of bags more bed bug-proof.
Bed bug eggs have an adhesive nature, which allows them to cling tightly to the fibers of the luggage, making them resistant to the suction power of most vacuums. Steaming is more effective for dealing with bed bug eggs in luggage.
When to Call a Pro
Even the most cautious travelers can sometimes face the unfortunate reality of a bed bug infestation.
If, despite your best efforts, you find that the bed bugs from your luggage have turned into a full-blown infestation in your home, do not hesitate to call a professional pest control pro near you. The sooner you address the problem, the better.
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