How do I make sure I don't bring bed bugs from a hotel?

To avoid bringing bed bugs home from a hotel, keep luggage off the floor, inspect the mattress and furniture, pack clothes in sealed plastic bags, and upon returning, immediately wash or heat-treat all items in the hottest settings before bringing them inside, placing suitcases in a garage or outside for unpacking.

How to not bring bed bugs home from a hotel?

To avoid bringing bed bugs home from a hotel, inspect the room thoroughly, keep luggage off the floor on a rack or in the bathroom, store clothes in sealed plastic bags, and upon returning, immediately wash and high-heat dry all items (even unworn ones) and vacuum/steam your suitcase. Using hard-sided luggage and inspecting before leaving the hotel are key steps for preventing hitchhikers.
 

How soon will I know if I brought bed bugs home?

You might know you have bed bugs within days if you react strongly to bites, but it can take weeks to months to notice a new infestation because bites are delayed and bugs are tiny and hide well, with signs like bites, rusty spots, dark droppings, and shed skins appearing as populations grow, but you should inspect luggage/bags where you first suspect them right away.
 

How likely are you to get bed bugs from a hotel?

Unintentional transport of bedbugs from a hotel is plausible and not rare because small, hidden populations and asymptomatic hosts mask the transfer. The absolute chance from any single stay is usually low, but risk rises sharply if the room is infested.

How to make sure you don't travel with bed bugs?

To prevent bed bugs when traveling, inspect your hotel room thoroughly (especially the mattress seams and bed frame), keep luggage elevated on racks or hard surfaces (like the bathroom floor), use plastic bags for dirty clothes, and immediately wash/dry everything on high heat upon returning home,. Choosing hard-shell luggage and sealing clothes in airtight bags adds extra protection.
 

5 TIPS FOR NOT BRINGING HOME BED BUGS AFTER YOUR VACATION | KEEPING BED BUGS OUT | BED BUG AUTHORITY

What smell keeps bed bugs off of you?

Peppermint: The minty, refreshing scent of peppermint is a natural deterrent for many pests, including bed bugs, as they find it overwhelming.

How long will bed bugs stay on luggage?

And here's the kicker: bed bugs in luggage can survive for weeks, even months, without a blood meal, making them a sneaky souvenir you definitely don't want to bring home.

Which state has the worst bed bug problem?

Chicago Tops Orkin's 2025 Bed Bug Cities List Again as Unexpected Cities Climb the Ranks

• Chicago.
• Cleveland (+2)
• Detroit (+3)
• Los Angeles (+1)
• Indianapolis (+3)
• Washington, D.C. (+1)
• Grand Rapids, Mich. (+7)
• Columbus, Ohio (+3)

Will bed bugs stay on clothes you're wearing?

Yes, bed bugs can easily stick to and hitch a ride on clothes, especially if left in infested areas like beds or luggage, using fabrics as transport to spread between rooms or even cities, though they prefer stationary spots for long-term living and feeding near humans. They're great "hitchhikers," clinging to garments and bags, but they'll likely move to furniture or bedding once they find a suitable, still location to find a blood meal.
 

What kills bed bugs 100%?

To 100% kill bed bugs, you need extreme, sustained heat (whole-room heat treatment or high-temp dryer/steam for items) or professional-grade chemicals, as DIY methods often miss eggs; integrated approaches using steam, laundering, vacuuming, diatomaceous earth, and targeted insecticides offer the best chance, but often require professional help for total eradication.
 

What month are bed bugs most active?

However, bed bugs aren't a seasonal pest as they're active year-round. Bed bugs seek heat signatures to find blood to feed on. If a house is warmer in the summer due to lack of air conditioning, bed bugs may be more active instead of hiding in cryptic places. They are known to be at their peak from June to October.

Can I get bedbugs from sitting next to someone?

It's unlikely to get bed bugs just from walking or standing near someone, but sitting very close to someone with a large infestation, especially if their clothes or bags are infested, does increase the risk because they can easily "hitchhike" onto your belongings like bags or jackets, or even crawl onto you. Bed bugs don't live on people but travel on fabric and items, so prolonged, close contact, or placing your items near theirs, makes transfer more probable.
 

What smells attract bed bugs?

Bed bugs are primarily attracted to human scents, especially the carbon dioxide (CO2) we exhale and the specific chemicals in human sweat (like lactic acid and fatty acids) and pheromones, with dirty laundry being a major lure because it concentrates these odors and offers shelter. They also detect body heat and can be drawn to certain fragrances like floral scents in perfumes, colognes, lotions, and detergents, which mimic or mix with human smells, making sleeping areas more appealing.
 

How long after a trip would you notice bed bugs?

Often, people do not realize they had an encounter until weeks later when they notice they have brought bed bugs home with them. By then, they are much harder to control. If you think you see something, say something to your host or the hotel manager.

Does showering get rid of bed bugs?

Showering with soap and water can wash bed bugs off your body and down the drain, but it won't eliminate an infestation because they hide in furniture and walls, not just on people. A shower helps remove any hitchhikers on you, but you need to tackle the source by washing bedding and clothes in hot water and drying them on high heat, thoroughly cleaning your room, and possibly using targeted treatments for a real solution.
 

What to spray in a hotel room for bed bugs?

When in a hotel, you should use EPA-registered, travel-sized sprays like Hygea Natural or Sprayway Good Night (containing essential oils or contact killers) on luggage and surfaces, but for actual eradication in your home, professional help is best; the EPA recommends diatomaceous earth or contact killers (like SteriFab) for spot treatment, not general spraying, and to vacuum thoroughly and report to hotel management first. 

Can bed bugs travel on your shoes?

Yes, bed bugs can absolutely travel on shoes, often hitchhiking on shoelaces, soles, or inside footwear, making shoes a common way to transport them from infested areas like hotels or homes to new places. They're excellent hitchhikers and can cling to many items, so keeping shoes away from beds and inspecting them after being in potentially infested environments is key to preventing their spread, say pest control experts and health departments.
 

Can you feel bed bugs crawling?

Most people can feel bed bugs crawling if they're awake, especially on sensitive areas like palms or hairy skin, but their movement is often too subtle to notice, especially at night when they feed and people are asleep. Some experience phantom sensations or itching due to anxiety or bites, while others feel nothing at all because the bugs are small and use a numbing agent when biting, making detection difficult until welts appear later.
 

Can bed bugs survive a washing machine?

Yes, some bed bugs can survive a wash cycle, especially in cold or lukewarm water, but they are effectively killed by the high heat of a dryer or a very hot wash cycle (around 120°F/49°C or higher), which is crucial for eradication. The agitation and detergent help, but heat is the main killer, so always follow washing with a thorough, high-heat dry for at least 20-30 minutes to eliminate all life stages, including eggs. 

What smell do bed bugs hate?

Bed bugs hate strong, pungent smells, particularly essential oils like Tea Tree, Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Blood Orange, as well as Vinegar, Cayenne Pepper, and Garlic, which can overwhelm their senses and make an area less hospitable, though they aren't a guaranteed solution for a full infestation. While these scents deter them, professional treatment is usually needed for complete removal, say experts from Kodiak Pest Control. 

What hotel has the most bed bugs?

The chains with the greatest number of bedbug reports:

• Holiday Inn (732)
• Days Inn (560)
• Super 8 (550)
• Best Western (519)
• Hampton Inn (505)
• Comfort Inn (503)
• Marriott (395)
• Hilton (338)

What state has no bed bugs?

Bed bugs are found in all 50 states. Specifically, the pests were encountered by 17 percent of respondents in the Northeast; 20 percent in the Midwest; 20 percent in the South; and 19 percent in the West.

What kills bedbugs 100%?

To 100% kill bed bugs, you need extreme, sustained heat (whole-room heat treatment or high-temp dryer/steam for items) or professional-grade chemicals, as DIY methods often miss eggs; integrated approaches using steam, laundering, vacuuming, diatomaceous earth, and targeted insecticides offer the best chance, but often require professional help for total eradication.
 

How likely is it to bring bed bugs home from a hotel?

It's quite possible to bring bed bugs home from a hotel because they're experts at hitchhiking on luggage and clothes, but the risk isn't guaranteed; most bugs stay in the room, but a few can easily get into your bags, especially if they were on the bed or floor, so taking precautions like using sealed bags and high-heat drying upon return is crucial.
 

Why should you not squish bed bugs?

You should not squish bed bugs because it spreads their eggs, larvae, blood, and waste, making the infestation worse, creating stains, and potentially spreading pathogens or causing allergic reactions. Crushing them doesn't solve the problem; it just disperses the infestation, so using methods like vacuuming, steam, or professional pest control is far more effective for elimination.