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🧳 Bed Bug Travel Prevention Checklist

Use this checklist every time you stay in a hotel or vacation rental to avoid bringing bed bugs home.

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🏨 When You Arrive at the Hotel Room

• Place luggage in the bathroom or on a clean luggage rack away from the wall (avoid the bed or carpet).
• Pull back sheets and inspect mattress seams and corners for:
  • Tiny dark stains or smears
  • Shed skins or tiny white eggs
  • Live bugs (apple seed-sized, brown or reddish)
• Check the mattress tag and under the box spring fabric.
• Look behind the headboard (if movable).
• Inspect nightstands, furniture joints, and drawers near the bed.
• Examine baseboards, wall outlets, and picture frames near the bed.

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🧼 During Your Stay

• Keep luggage off the bed and floor at all times.
• Store clothes in sealed bags or packing cubes inside your suitcase.
• Keep dirty laundry in a sealed plastic bag.
• Do not unpack into hotel dressers or closets unless necessary.

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🏠 When You Get Home

• Unpack outside, in the garage, or in a laundry room if possible.
• Immediately wash all clothes (even clean ones) in hot water and dry on high heat for 30+ minutes.
• Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly, especially seams and pockets.
• Disinfect or steam-clean luggage if possible.
• Store luggage in a garage, attic, or sealed container—avoid under the bed or in bedroom closets.

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🚨 If You Suspect You Brought Bed Bugs Home

• Look for signs: small bites, blood spots, or tiny bugs near bedding.
• Don’t move items between rooms.
• Contact a licensed pest control professional immediately.
• Save a sample (in a plastic bag or container) for identification.

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✅ Pro Tip:

Bed bugs aren’t a sign of dirt—they’re just expert hitchhikers. A few minutes of caution can prevent weeks of frustration at home.

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