If you’re worried about bringing bed bugs home, I understand. It’s an unsettling thought, and it can be hard to relax when you’re wondering what might be hiding in a hotel room or a piece of furniture. I want you to feel prepared, so worry about bed bugs doesn’t limit where you go or what you do.
At Cimex K9, we’ve been inspecting for bed bugs in Arizona since 2009, and our team has completed more than 35,000 inspections. Through that work, I’ve seen how much worry this subject can cause. The advice I give my customers is practical: build a few sensible habits into your routine, and ask for help when you have a concern you can’t sort out on your own.
Simple precautions for hotel stays
When you arrive at a hotel, be thoughtful about where you put your bags. I recommend keeping luggage and most of your belongings away from the beds, often closer to the entrance if the room layout allows it.
An inspected luggage rack is a good place to start. The EPA recommends using one instead of putting bags on the bed or floor, and checking the mattress and headboard before sleeping. Take a little time to look around before you unpack.
Keeping bags near the entrance is my preference for giving them some distance from the bed. No spot in the room comes with a guarantee, so check wherever you plan to put them. My aim is to make these precautions a manageable part of your travel routine.
Simple steps after a possible exposure
If there’s a particular reason you think you’ve been exposed, start by taking care of your clothing. I recommend doing that promptly and taking a normal shower. You can take those precautions while you work out whether there is a problem.
For clothes that can safely handle high heat, the National Pesticide Information Center recommends 30 minutes in a dryer on high. Here’s how to approach it:
- Keep the clothing in a sealed bag until you’re ready to deal with it. That helps you avoid spreading potentially exposed items across your bed or other furniture.
- Check what the fabric can safely tolerate before using high heat. If you wash the clothing first, dry it completely, then give it an additional 30 minutes on high, following University of Arizona guidance.
- Put the clothing into a clean bag or container afterward. Give your luggage, shoes, and other belongings their own careful look before unpacking them at home.
The University of Arizona also recommends a regular soap-and-water shower for workers returning from potentially infested homes. That takes care of anything on the person. Your clothes and luggage still need their own attention, so think of showering as one part of these steps.
Buying used furniture with more confidence
I still buy used furniture myself. Inspecting for bed bugs is my livelihood, so I bring that experience with me when I’m looking at a piece. I personally prefer buying directly from the owner rather than a thrift store because I can see where the furniture came from.
I pay attention to the condition of the piece, what I can learn about its history, and my gut feeling about the situation. Then I look closely at the furniture itself. I encourage you to take that time, too.
Bed bugs can travel in furniture, which is why the EPA recommends inspecting secondhand beds, couches, and other pieces before bringing them home. Keep in mind that a lovely, clean home can have bed bugs, too. As the EPA explains, bed bugs aren’t attracted to dirt or grime. The way a home looks can’t tell you everything about a piece of furniture.
When we inspect, we look closely at seams, folds, joints, fasteners, and small cracks for live bugs, eggs, shed skins, or dark spotting. You can see examples in our identification guide with photos from inspections. A mark alone doesn’t confirm bed bugs, and a visual check can miss something hidden. If you find something you’re unsure about, get help identifying it before bringing the furniture inside.
Get advice before throwing belongings away
I’ve seen people become so worried that they’ve ripped out carpet and baseboards or thrown away furniture and personal belongings when it wasn’t necessary. Some still had bed bugs afterward. Those are difficult situations to see, especially when people have already gone through so much expense and disruption.
I understand the urge to do something right away when you’re worried about your home. Before making big changes, give yourself a chance to find out what’s happening. Have a professional inspector take a look and help you understand the findings. Then you can decide what needs to happen next.
The National Pesticide Information Center also advises against immediately discarding furniture, because moving infested items can spread bed bugs or pass them along to someone who takes the items home. Getting advice first can help you decide what to keep, what may need treatment, and whether anything needs to go.
Find someone you trust to help
The internet can be useful for finding a professional you feel comfortable hiring. Look into their experience, and ask what their inspection includes, how they check possible signs of bed bugs, and how they’ll explain and document what they find.
If you find yourself reading one frightening story after another, it’s okay to step away. Someone else’s experience doesn’t tell you what’s happening in your home. Focus on getting help from someone who will listen to your concerns and take the time to evaluate your situation.
At Cimex K9, we use both the dog’s nose and the handler’s eyes. We’ll explain what we find, and if we can’t confirm what caused an alert, we’ll explain that and put it in the report. We provide inspections only and don’t sell or perform bed bug treatments.
Talk through your concerns
A hotel stay or a used-furniture purchase doesn’t automatically mean you’ve brought bed bugs home. If you’ve found something suspicious or you’re still concerned, you’re welcome to talk it through with me. We can discuss whether an inspection makes sense for your situation.
You can read about our bed bug inspections in Phoenix and surrounding communities, or contact me and tell me what you’ve noticed. If you’ve already tried a treatment, please let us know the method, products, and timing before scheduling. I want you to have clear information and feel supported, so you can take sensible precautions without letting the possibility of bed bugs limit your choices.