The holiday season can be a busy time for travel as many of us experience long road trips and hotel stays to visit family and friends. Unfortunately, pests such as ants, cockroaches, and bed bugs also rely on these sites for food, shelter, and transport. Here are some tips to help you avoid these pests while traveling so that leftovers are the only thing you bring back home this holiday season.
No road trip would be complete without plenty of snacks, drinks, and a couple fast-food pit stops. It doesn’t take long before crumbs get dropped, drinks get spilled, and food wrappers start to pile up. While it may not seem like much, these minor spills can lead to serious pest problems if they aren’t addressed quickly. Scavenging insects like ants and cockroaches are highly attracted to food spills, and can easily find their way into any car overloaded with sacks.
To avoid this problem, travel with a small cleaning kit stocked with items like baby wipes and a mild cleaning solution so that you can clean up food spills as soon as possible. Also, dispose of empty food containers and other waste at every stop. Lastly, be sure to thoroughly check inside the vehicle for any missed crumbs or spills when you reach your destination.
Public locations such as hotels, bus stops, train stations and airports all receive heavy human traffic, making them high-risk sites for bed bugs. To avoid bed bugs at hotels, never put luggage, handbags, jackets or other personal items on the bed or furniture until you have thoroughly inspected the room for any signs of bed bugs. Evidence can include cast skins, fecal stains and the bugs themselves. During your inspection, place your personal items in the bathroom until you have made sure the coast is clear. When visiting any public transportation sites, be mindful of benches or similar places where people may regularly stop and rest. Try to avoid putting your personal items on these areas until they have been inspected.
When you return home, be sure to thoroughly inspect your luggage and other items for evidence of pests.Wash all your clothes immediately when you return and store your luggage in a large plastic garbage bag. If you find any signs of a pest problem, call us immediately. We will make sure these unwanted hitchhikers do not spoil your holiday season.