Usually just the thought of bed bugs sends people into hysterics because everybody knows that once they get into your home, it takes a lot of work, time, money and professional extermination services to truly remove them from your abode. And even then, it is not guaranteed. But what happens if you aren’t at home and you get bed bugs while traveling abroad? Sounds like a bit of a nightmare, right?
Lucky for you (and unlucky for us) we had to learn our lesson the hard way while in Morocco and as a result, we have some fantastic tips on how to get rid of bed bugs while traveling abroad.
NOTE: DO NOT put your bags on any unchecked bed
But before we get into those details, here are some FACTS about Bed Bugs that you should know before you take off on your next trip abroad:
1. They are tough little buggers – One bed bug can live for several months with no food, according to this article from Terminix.com.
2. They can hide in small crevices and go undetected – Just because you don’t see the actual bed bugs, does not mean that they aren’t there. They love to hide in the seams of mattress, in the depths of your backpack, in the crevices of your sheets and in any other hidden place you can imagine.
3. It can be hard to distinguish between Bed Bug bites and other insect/arachnid bites – Click on this link for tips on how to identify insect bites.
4. Not all people react to the bites – Depending upon your reaction to the bite and the enzymes the bed bugs emits into your body to initially numb you during their feeding process, you may or may not show significant bite marks. While you miss out on being covered in bites, you could still be spreading the bed bugs as you travel which is not a good thing for your fellow travelers.
5. Bed Bugs can be found all over the world, in every country and even in the fanciest of hotels – Many hotels and hostels take precautions to prevent the spread of bed bugs, but it is best to also do your due diligence to protect yourself and your belongings.
6. You CAN kill and prevent bed bugs while on the go – But this will take some time and effort, which is worth it.
As I mentioned earlier, I learned about bed bugs the hard way while we were in Tangier, Morocco at a fantastic and well-rated hostel. We unsuspectingly slept in a bed full of bed bugs. Even though Adam and I were in the same bed and were probably bit the same amount of times, I showed all 50 bites, while only one bite showed on Adam’s entire body.
Regardless of whether you just realized you might have been a victim of bed bugs while traveling or if you are trying to prevent yourself from getting them on your future trip, Here are some fantastic TIPS that could help you in the battle of the bed bugs:
1. Know How to Identify Signs of Bed Bugs
This singular tip is your greatest asset in bed bug detection and protection. Bed Bugs can be hard to spot so you need to look for the figurative bread crumbs that they leave behind.
a. Search the sheets and mattresses for small specks of blood. This usually occurs because a bed bug has been squashed after feeding or they regurgitate their past snack so they can get some more of your blood.
b.Try to look for their droppings. Click here for a picture and description of their bed bug excrement.
c. Sometimes, you will not see the mature bed bug but you will run into its different life cycles including the egg and larvae stages. Here are some pictures from an article on EPA.Gov of the stages so you know how to identify them if you run into them.
d. If you are “lucky” you will find a full grown bed bug. They are easy to spot even without glasses. But most of the time, they will find places to hide until the nighttime when it is their favorite time to feed.
2. Search in the Nooks & Crannies
a. Bed Bugs are notorious for being excellent hiders. They love the nooks and crannies of bed sheets, mattresses, bed frames, pillows, backpacks, clothes, and other furniture. That is why it is important to be extremely thorough in your search, because if you miss just one larvae, egg or bed bug, it could lead to another infestation within a few days or weeks.
b.Use a flashlight (the one on your phone works wonders) so that you can have better visibility while searching even if it is daytime.
c. Some sources, such as this article from Cambridge Public Health, recommend that you use the heat from a hair dryer to draw the bed bugs out of hiding.
d. Open up the pillows, sheets, mattresses, etc and search everything (even behind the tags and in seams). If you see something, even if it may be a crumb, it is better to remove it, than to take the risk of it being a bed bug egg.
e. When you think you are finished searching, keep looking. Thoroughness is key and is usually a bit easier while you are on the road because you usually have less items with you than at home (in theory, I’ve seen how some of you pack ;)).
3. Lavender, Lavender and More Lavender
This method is not completely proven but articles such as this article from Pestseek.com swear by it. Lavender along with this list of essential oils, are known to protect you from bed bug bites. I personally used a lot of Lavender during our bed bug situation in Morocco and I feel like it helped when combined with other methods of detection, protection and removal.
a. Mix a few drops of pure lavender essential oils in water and shake it in a small spray bottle. The more potent the better. Spray the lavender mixture onto every surface (clothes, backpack, shoes, bed, etc) and in the same nooks and crannies that you just checked. Also spray it on yourself and your clothes before you jump into bed for extra protection.
b. I went a step further and mixed the lavender oil into some argan oil that I bought in Morocco and rubbed it on my body. If you do not have access to argan oil, try locating and buying other carrier oils including olive oil, coconut oil, or even canola oil if that is all you have access to. (NOTE: Most Essential oils such as lavender, should not be applied directly to the skin as it can lead to skin irritation, thus the need for a carrier oil).
c.The same lavender oil concoction smells great, helps to moisturize the skin and soothes any existing bug bites you have, thus assisting in the healing process.
4. Dryer-Nuke Your Backpack and Clothes
If you suspect that you may be a victim of bed bugs, it is important to find a way to heat dry your bag, clothes and any other items that can survive the heat and tumble journey. Bed bugs will die if left in a dryer for 1 hr if the dryer reaches temperatures of 117 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, according to this article on Terminix.com. If possible, it would be even better to first wash all of these items and then put them in the dryer to remove any bed bug excrement or left over skin.
Depending on the country where you are traveling to, it may be difficult to find a dryer since most of the world still relies on line drying to dry their clothes. It can also be expensive since some hotels and hostels charge per clothing item to wash and dry. However, it is not always impossible. We were lucky enough to be in a hostel that had a dryer and we insisted that our clothes were dried for as long as possible. If you are not lucky enough to use a dryer wherever you are staying, try to look for a nearby laundry mat. If this does not exist, you have other options that you can use until you find a dryer in your next destination. If cost is the issue, it is worth paying the hostel or hotel a lot of money to dry your clothes, for the peace of mind you get from knowing that the bed bugs were killed.
5. Clorox Wipes are Your Friends
For the items that cannot go into the dryer, you MUST wipe everything down using some kind of cleaner especially Clorox (or even plain ole soap and water). According to an article on bedbugtreatmentsite.com, this has been known to help kill the bed bugs and wipe them away from any surface, adding another layer of protection and disinfection.
6. Find a Freezer
This may be one of the hardest things to locate and may involve schmoozing your hostel host or hotel concierge, but leaving your items in the freezer for as long as possible works in the same way as the dryer since bed bugs do not like extreme temperatures. This can be difficult on the road, because of your limited means. We personally used the freezer for a day but only put in the items that could not go into the dryer, after we wiped them down, for added protection.
7. Don’t be Afraid to Warn Your Fellow Traveler
One of the most disheartening things that we discovered while on our trip in Morocco, is how much of a “dirty little secret” bed bugs have become. When we tried to mention it to our hostel host in front of people, they cringed and asked us to lower our voices as to not cause alarm for other travelers in the hostel. I found this to be an unfair request, because bed bugs usually don’t stay in a bunk. They can easily move from bunk to bunk and room to room in order to escape detection and to find their next tasty meal. By informing your fellow traveller, even if it is embarrassing, you are helping to bring this issue out into the open so travelers can prep for the risks. And because it is the nice thing to do :).
8. Notify Your Hostel or Hotel Immediately
If you do find signs of bed bugs, immediately inform your hostel or hotel staff and do not sleep in the bed. If possible, we recommend that you find another place, but if you have to sleep in the same hostel (like we did in Morocco due to lack of availability of accommodations in the entire city) make sure that you do a thorough search, take the precautions and hope for the best. The hostel and hotel should immediately shut down the room and start fumigation. If this does not occur, I would leave immediately and even ask for a refund because your health is not worth the stinginess of the hostel/hotel.
I wish I could tell you that all of these tips will completely rid your items of bed bugs. In my experience, it did, but it all depends on severity, access to prevention and protection methods and your level of thoroughness when checking for bed bugs. Even then, you might get bitten. If that is the case, I hope you find these tips useful and I wish you happy travels.
Sweet dreams and don’t let the bed bugs bite!
West Road Adventures 