How to get rid of bed bugs in clothes and luggage – problem solved 

how to get rid of bed bugs

Are you dealing with a bed bug infestation? If it’s any consolation, you’re not alone – in fact, this annoying pest has become increasingly common over the years. Unfortunately for all of us, bed bugs are quite challenging and don’t respond very well to most conventional treatments. But never fear – hope is on the horizon! Your clothes, linen, blankets, and other items exposed to their bites can still be treated to get rid of them. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how safely and effectively you can get rid of bed bugs from your clothes, sheets, and luggage so you can once again live bug-free. Keep reading for our best tips on ridding yourself of these pesky pests – it’s time to say goodbye (for good!) To bedbugs.

7 Effective ways of getting rid of bedbugs – Proved

Planning on going on a trip? Make sure you don’t bring any uninvited guests home with you in your suitcase. Bed bugs are an unfortunate everyday traveler’s helpless enemy and can cause severe damage to your clothes, furniture, and more. To avoid bringing bed bugs back home, you can use a few easy but incredibly effective methods to ensure these pests stay far away from you. 

  1. Vacuuming out your suitcase
  2. Steam cleaning the seams of the luggage
  3. Washing clothes with hot water
  4. Wrapping items in plastic bags before packing them
  5. Freezing items for 48 hours
  6. Putting mementos in sealed boxes or bags 
  7. Heat treating the whole bag with a garment steamer 

These are great ways to eliminate bed bugs in suitcases or even prevent them from getting inside. Even better, all this can be done safely and quickly at home without harsh chemicals or treatments. Don’t let bedbugs ruin your vacation – stay safe by using these simple tips!

Vacuuming out your suitcase 

One of the most effective ways to get rid of bed bugs in luggage is by vacuuming them out. All you need is a vacuum cleaner and a few minutes of elbow grease. Vacuuming will not only polish your bag up for the journey home but also help remove any unwanted guests. Before your next trip, make sure to do a thorough vacuuming to ensure that no little bugs are tagging along!

Steam cleaning the seams of the luggage

The good news is that steam cleaning is an effective way to get rid of any critters in your luggage! All you need to do is ensure the seams of your suitcase are heated to a temperature of at least 120°F for about 20 minutes – this should kill any bed bugs that may have stowed away inside the fabric.

Although it’s not a pleasant thought, sanitizing suitcases before and after trips just might save some headaches. So don’t forget to steam clean those seams – happy travels!

Washing clothes with hot water

One of the best ways to keep your luggage bug-free is washing all clothing in hot water! Not only does the heat kill any existing bugs, but it also helps ensure that sensitive clothes don’t shrink or get damaged. To ensure that any bugs are still left behind once clothes are washed, be sure to inspect inside pockets and seams. 

Wrapping items in plastic bags before packing them

If you’re worried about bringing bed bugs home from your travels, one of the easiest ways to prevent them is to wrap items in plastic bags before packing them. Not only does it add an additional layer of protection, but it can also help you resort and organize your belongings, making your packing process much simpler. 

Freeze items for 48 hours

A natural method for removing bed bugs from your luggage is to freeze them out! Placing the item in your freezer for 48 hours can effectively destroy bed bug eggs without requiring any chemical treatments.

Make sure that whatever you are freezing is airtight — especially if you are storing food items afterward. A cardboard box might not be the best option; instead, opt for a plastic container or ziplock bag. While this process might take some time and effort, it can effectively remove even the toughest of bed bugs with minimal effort!

Putting mementos in sealed boxes or bags

To get rid of bed bugs in your luggage and avoid bringing them home, it’s important to invest in some sealed containers and packages for any mementos or souvenirs you picked up on your journey.

This will prevent bed bugs from getting out and making themselves home in the comfort of your bedroom. With some simple measures, you can ensure that all the memories and souvenirs from your travels stay exactly where they belong—with you.

Heat treating the whole bag with a garment steamer

Another way to be sure that your luggage is free of bed bugs is to heat treat it. Heat is a great way to remove these pests, but any ordinary iron or hairdryer won’t get the job done! Investing in a garment steamer may be the best solution to ensure that both the bag and its contents are safe.

By moving the steamer’s nozzle carefully over the top and sides of your suitcase, you can kill any bugs that may have latched onto it from your last stay away from home. With this simple technique, you can travel in peace, knowing that your luggage is safe from these pesky critters!

Bedbugs from suitcases to homes: How to avoid them 

It’s no fun when you discover that bed bugs have infiltrated your suitcases. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to make sure the pesky critters don’t come back for a repeat visit. 

  • First of all, ensure that your luggage is kept as far away from beds and furniture in your room as possible — this includes not bringing any luggage into the bedroom.
  • Then, if you don’t want to part with your bag just yet, seal it in a heavy plastic bag or wrap it completely in cling film before popping it in an airtight container and leaving it outside in direct sunlight for around 24 hours — that should do the trick!
  •  And finally, if all else fails, seek help from a professional pest control service – they know how to quickly get rid of those bed bugs.

You May Read: Hardside Vs Softside Luggage – Which Is Best In 2023

Step-by-step guide: How to treat your luggage if it gets bed bugs – at home 

Worried about bed bugs invading your luggage after a long journey? Don’t fret, as you can easily get rid of tiny bed bugs without making a trip to the pest control expert. All you need is patience and a few simple steps to successfully remove those pesky bugs. 

Step 1: Start by isolating

When it comes to dealing with luggage bed bugs at home, the first step is to isolate your affected items from the rest of your belongings. This will help keep the bed bugs from spreading further and increasing the infestation. Make sure only those items that you suspect may have been exposed to bed bugs are placed in one designated area- away from other rooms or furniture. 

Step 2: Vacuuming 

Vacuum around and on the items thoroughly, ensure that all the bed bugs are vacuumed, then empty the vacuum bag carefully away from your house or maybe in a plastic bag so that they will not come back again.

You should also vacuum out your suitcase from the inside and outside to clear any remaining eggs or adult bugs. 

Step3: Laundering all items

Laundering all items in extremely hot water, ensuring that they reach 60℃. You can also put them in a hot dryer for 30 minutes. 

Step 4: Use rubbing alcohol

For remaining items that can not be washed with hot water, use rubbing alcohol for them, or you can spray them with pesticides. To make doubly sure no bed bugs are still lurking around, check every item and then place them into airtight plastic bags so they remain cut off from their food source – us! 

Step 5: Keep all the items in sunlight or freeze them

Finally, take all the bags outside to a hot dryer and let them heat up for 30 minutes, or even freeze these items overnight before bringing them back into your home.

With these simple steps, you can keep those pesky hitchhikers at bay!

What precautions should you take to get bed bugs out in your luggage?

Prevention is vital when it comes to avoiding bedbugs in your luggage. 

Use of plastic bags

Before you start packing, make sure any items you are bringing on the trip are in sealed plastic bags. This helps bring peace of mind, knowing that clothes and other things are safe and will not get any pest.

Don’t put your suitcase on the floor

Additionally, try to avoid putting your suitcase on the bed or floor of a hotel room; instead, opt for hard surfaces such as a table or luggage rack, which help block access points for possible infestations while you’re staying away from home. 

Use a plastic bag for your dirty clothes

The important thing to remember is that these tiny pests tend to be drawn to dirty clothes much more than clean ones. Therefore, the best way to ensure the safety of yourself and your belongings is by storing any dirty clothes inside a sealed plastic bag. Doing so helps starve bed bug populations of their primary food source; dirty garments act as a great attractant for bed bugs since pheromones are used as signals between them and this food source. 

Don’t put your dirty clothes in the suitcase directly. First, put them in a sealed plastic bag, then put them in the suitcase. This way, you can avoid bed bugs.

Related: How To Store Luggage In A Proper Way?

Final words

So there you have it, a surefire method to get bedbugs out of your clothes and luggage for good. With these easy steps, you can travel without worry and enjoy your time away from home. Do you have any other tips for getting rid of bed bugs? Let us know in the comments below!

FAQs

What repels bed bugs on luggage?

There are a variety of strategies one can use to repel bed bugs. Key things that help repel bed bugs include using elevated luggage stands if possible, preferably metal as they do not offer any crevices or cracks that can provide shelter for the critters; placing heavy items on top of smaller ones so as to form a kind of buffer zone; encasing suitcases in protective covers; and sprinkling diatomaceous earth over your luggage before storing it away. These tips should help you sleep soundly, knowing that no uninvited guests will be hitching a ride with you on your next trip!

Can bed bugs hide in suitcases?

Bed bugs are notorious for hiding in obscure places such as cracks and crevices, behind walls, under carpets, and even inside furniture. It is quite possible that they can also hide in your suitcase when you’re traveling. In fact, studies show that it is one of the common ways for them to transport from one place to another.

How Long Will Bed Bugs live in a suitcase?

Bed bugs are incredibly hardy creatures and can live in a suitcase for an impressively long time. Depending on external conditions like temperature and food availability, bed bugs can survive for up to one year without food in pieces of luggage. Because bed bugs naturally lay eggs in their hiding spots, a suitcase can turn into the ideal breeding ground for them, meaning that a single piece of luggage contaminated with bed bugs could give rise to an infestation that could last indefinitely if not handled properly. To prevent this from happening, it is important to take necessary precautions such as inspecting sleeping quarters for signs of bed bug activity, using protective covers on mattresses or furniture, and regularly vacuuming any areas where bed bugs may be present– including suitcases!

About Maida Sajjad

Maida Sajjad is a content writer and professional chef. She loves to travel with her family to different destinations and enjoys cooking different cuisines. Maida is always looking for new challenges and loves to learn about new cultures.

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