Bed bugs are a nightmare, especially when they are picked up in your luggage or clothing. Once they enter your house, they multiply very fast and infest all the places in the house. Removing bed bugs from luggage and clothing is easy if you take precautions. You don’t have to throw away anything if you strictly comply with some measures that are considered the best ways of eliminating bed bugs without spreading them any further. Here, we discuss the best ways of getting rid of bed bugs through your belongings.
What is the Problem?
First, check if it is actually bed bugs in your bag or clothing. The most common symptoms include rust-coloured stains, usually from the droppings, and live bugs, about the size of an apple seed. You might also start to feel tiny, red bites on your skin. After perceiving bed bugs, acting promptly can save you from larger spreading of the bugs.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Clothing
Step 1: Separating the Clothes
Separating the clothes is the first thing you need to do before washing. Separate them into two categories – hot washable and non-hot washable. This stage will give you an idea of what type of fabric you are dealing with and what you have to avoid.
Step 2: Hot Water Washing
For items that can be washed, hot water, safest to the cloth of the garment, must be used. This has been demonstrated time and again; even bed bugs cannot survive at temperatures that exceed 120°F or 49°C. So, hot water will kill them during the wash cycle.
Step 3: Dry on High Heat
Wash your clothes, then dry them in a dryer at high heat for at least 20 minutes. The heat from the dryer will also kill all bed bugs and eggs that might be hiding on them.
Step 4: Dry cleaning or steam cleaning
A lot of delicate fabrics or soft-sided bags cannot be washed at high temperatures, so either dry cleaning or steam cleaning could be an option. Both are damaging to the material and kill bed bugs.
Step 5: Freeze Any Items That Won’t Be Washed
An alternative is freezing for items that are not heat and moisture tolerant. Place the products in a plastic sealed bag, place them in your freezer at 0°F (-18°C) for at least four days. The extreme cold will kill the bed bugs as well as their eggs.
How to Treat Bed Bugs Found in Your Luggage
Step 1: Vacuum Your Luggage
Begin with the thorough vacuuming of your luggage. Be careful with seams, zippers, and folds since bed bugs hide in such areas. Vacuum with strong suction power, then dispose of the vacuum bag to ensure that bed bugs do not flee.
Step 2: Wash with Hot Soapy Water
For hard-sided luggage, you’ll just wash the entire surface with warm, soapy water. This will then kill any bugs or eggs that just happen to be attached outside of your luggage.
Step 3: Apply Bed Bug-Specific Sprays
This will give you added protection by applying bed bug sprays specially designed for use on luggage and fabric. Compounds used in these sprays kill bed bugs on contact and avoid future infestations.
Step 4: Place in Plastic Bags
You have successfully treated your bags, now bag them up into a large plastic bag so you can closely keep watch for surviving bed bugs. This will ensure they cannot escape and infest your home again.
Destruction of Future Infestations
- Search your hotel room: Check your hotel room mattress for signs of bed bugs each time you unpack. Check the seams of the mattress, the headboard, and any furniture close to the bed. Put your luggage up and stand it away from the bed in the bathroom or on a luggage rack, as applicable.
- Protective Covers: Take along bed bug-proof luggage covers. They are special covers that will prevent bed bugs from attempting to latch onto your suitcase.
- Wash and Dry All Clothes After the Return of the Trip: In case you went on a trip, wash and dry all your clothes on high heat—even if you did not wear them. This will kill all the bed bugs that may have hopped onto them.
While bed bugs are sneaky pests, they are not indestructible. They can easily be removed from your clothes and luggage through heat, steam, or freezing techniques. One could take prevention measures before an infestation sets in—for example, inspect hotel rooms before resting there, and maybe even use bed-bug-proof bags. Vigilance pays off and will help you avoid larger problems in the future.