During the holiday season, most families travel a lot or receive guests. And while this is one of the great things about the season of giving, unfortunately, it is also often an opportunity for unwanted guests to take up residence in your home. We know what you’re thinking. But no, we’re not talking about eccentric members of your extended family. We’re talking about bed bugs!
Keep Bed Bugs Away with a Few Precautions
A lot of work and preparation goes into hosting the holiday gatherings in your own home. You’ve got enough things to do with all the cooking, cleaning, decorating, and creating sleeping arrangements for any overnight guests. You shouldn’t have to worry about dealing with a bed bug infestation! The good news is that there are preventative measures you can take to help protect your home and guests from any hitchhikers that could have been picked up during travel.
Cover Your Couch to Prevent Bed Bug Infestation
If any of your guests will sleep on the couch, or if you are just worried about keeping the couch clean, you can place a sheet or slipcover over the couch. Festive slipcovers help protect your sofa and bring a bit of festivity to the room. Then once the guests leave, you can pull it off to throw it into the washer and vacuum the couch for extra measure.
Keep Clothes Clean to Stop Bed Bugs from Spreading
If guests stay overnight, have them freshen up from their travels and change into clean clothes. As bed bugs are notorious for hitchhiking, they can be picked up from someone else while waiting on a train or airplane. Have the washer ready for their arrival so you can launder their clothing, whether worn or not. Bed bugs are a hard topic to approach, and some guests may feel offended, but nobody likes laundry, so you can offer to do all their laundry without needing to explain the full reason.
Stay Safe from Bed Bugs While Traveling
If you are on the other side of the equation and are traveling to stay with friends or family, there are several tips to help you reduce the risk of bringing bed bugs along. You can reduce the risk of coming into contact with bed bugs by inspecting the entire room and keeping luggage away from the bed. You can also help your hosts by washing your clothes and changing them into fresh ones after you arrive.
Eliminate Bed Bugs with Help From Bug-A-Way
Sometimes, despite best efforts at prevention, bed bugs can move into your home. While this is frustrating, rest assured you can get rid of them. At Bug-A-Way, we provide the Four States area with reliable bed bug extermination services that are safe for pets and people. If you’re fighting bed bugs, we can help!