The great American road trip. There honestly is nothing more exciting. Right from the planning stages down to the drive or flight itself, the entire process just builds the excitement from start to end. There is no denying, this is a lengthy and expensive process, but like most things in life, it’s what you make of it. You can make your next road trip, flight, or vacation an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience with the right planning. To do so, you’ll want to make sure you are taking the proper precautions to safeguard yourself and your traveling companions. The only problem is most people don’t know what they need to be safeguarding themselves from. You are probably aware of the potential for scams, robberies, and potential carjackings, but what about the
bed bug?
SURVEY
Learning the SLEEP theory and living by it while on vacation will keep you and your traveling companions free of
bed bugs. And it all starts with the “S” or the surveying step. This is where you survey the room that you will be calling home for the next couple of nights, weeks, or months if you are lucky. This step sounds simple, and it is, but you’d be surprised at just how many people overlook it. That is a huge mistake, especially if you are staying budget-friendly. Be sure to check everywhere, including the sheets, and keep your nose open for sweet soda pop-like odors, as this will indicate a large infestation.
LIFT And LOOK
The second part of the theory is the “L”, and it is nothing more than a continuation of the first step. It means to physically check the room. Scour under the mattresses, box springs, remove the pillowcases and lift the carpet and rugs if you feel necessary. This step helps if you know all the potential hideouts for
bed bugs. Be sure to familiarize yourself before your trip and this will be so much smoother.
ELEVATION
While there are two “Es” in the SLEEP theory, it is the first one that starts the offensive approach. This step represents the elevation part of the process. Do you know those wall-mounted luggage racks, usually installed where the bathroom meets the living quarters? There might be some in the closet as well, but either way, you’ll want to stick your luggage up here while you check the room.
Bed bugs are adept hitchhikers with a mind, unlike anything you’d expect. These pests are so smart they go out of their way to avoid detection. This is where placing your luggage up high comes in handy. It might make the bug think that the effort to get at it is too great. It might make the bugs feel like the chance of getting caught is too great, as these insects are a path of less resistant kind of bug.
EXAMINATION
When most people see another examination step, they think, haven’t I examined the room enough? It would be hard to over-examine a room for
bed bugs, but that’s not what this step implies. This one is also more of an offensive tactic, as it means to examine your luggage before heading home. Just because you’ve spent a week in a room and haven’t experienced any symptoms of bed bugs, it doesn’t necessarily mean you haven’t been exposed. Some people, as rare as it might be, don’t even react to the bug’s bites. Therefore, you’ll want to examine all your belongings before packing up and heading up. You can do this upon your arrival at your home, but it increases the chances of you exposing your home. Plus, you’ll want to do it in a garage or basement. Somewhere away from the sleeping quarters.
PLACEMENT
You probably feel like you’ve been through the wringer by now with all these steps. Do not fret, this last step is key, and it’s just a little bit more work. This part of the theory represents placement, and it means to place your belongings in the washer, wash them in hot water, place them in the dryer, and then follow that up by drying them on the highest heat settings possible. It is a well-known fact that bed bugs cannot survive certain amounts of heat. When exposed their bodies dehydrate out, causing their vital internal organs to shut down. Washing in hot water and on the highest heat will likely be enough heat to kill the bugs in all stages. Heat kills adults, larvae, eggs, and nymphs.
Why Hire Us!
We are Raleigh’s best defense against
bed bugs. Our extermination team is skilled in bed bug management, whether it be an
eco-friendly, chemical-base, or complex treatment, we can help. We understand the importance of safety throughout the pest control process. When we implement a bed bug strategy, we implement a safety strategy as well. To learn more
reach out to our Raleigh extermination team, today.