5 Steps To Keep Bed Bugs at Bay #LearnWithOrkin

Bed Bug Prevention with Orkin

As much as bugs creep me out I was excited to attend an event at the Orkin training center here in Atlanta. Mostly I was excited to find ways to keep bugs far, far away from me! 

 #LearnWithOrkin Bed Bugs

I should have known they would have bugs there! **shudder**

But it was worth it. I learned so many great tips from the Orkin Man, entomologist Dr. Ron Harrison, that will help me keep those little buggers out of my house and I’m going to share them with you!

#LearnWithOrkin Bed Bugs

The best way to keep from bringing bed bugs back home with you while traveling is to check and make sure they are not in the hotel you are staying in. Follow these 5 steps to ensure they aren’t there and you don’t bring them home with you!

S-L-E-E-P

Survey cracks and crevices for signs of an infestation.

– Check the cracks of the mattress for the little critters. They also leave behind little black ink stains.

#LearnWithOrkin Bed Bugs

Lift and look for all bed bug hiding spots.

 – Bed bugs like to hide behind headboards and behind pictures hanging above the bed. Remember if it flys or jumps it’s not a bed bug.

Bed Bug Illustration

Elevate your luggage on a rack away from the bed and the wall.

-If at all possible put your luggage in the bathtub while you sleep and NEVER put your clothes in the dressers.

Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and when you return home.

-Make sure to put dirty clothes into a separate laundry bag, preferably not back into your suitcase. To be extra careful store your luggage in the garage and never in bedrooms or under beds.

Place all dryer-safe clothing from you luggage in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at the highest setting when you return home.

-It only takes 1 second at 122 degrees to zap those little guys, but do 15 minutes just to make sure. 🙂

If you can keep them out of your bags you should be safe. As it turns out, bed bugs do not like heat. They will only stay on you long enough to bite you so it’s not likely they would make the trip home on you. That should be comforting but it just makes me twitchy. Also, you may not always feel the bites. They release an anti-histamine and anti-coagulant so most often you may not even know you were bit. 

Other Places To Watch For Bed Bugs

Bed bugs like cool, dark, places where people sit still for long periods of time. This can include public transportation and especially movie theaters. So hold your bags and purses in your lap or leave them in your car or at home.

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The Orkin training center was so interesting! They had rooms setup just like many of the places the trainees will need to inspect once they are out in the field, a hospital room, restaurant kitchen, supermarket, they even have a house on the premises specifically for releasing bugs and other creepy crawly things so that they can study their movements and how to remove them. Suffice it to say I stayed far away from the walls and didn’t sit down on the tour. 🙂

#LearnWithOrkin Bed Bugs

#LearnWithOrkin Bed Bugs

#LearnWithOrkin Bed Bugs

Orkin would like to give one of you lucky readers an Orkin pillow encasement for those of you who like to take your pillow when you travel! Enter below using the rafflecopter form!!

 
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**I was compensated by Orkin for writing this post. All opinions are my own. And yes this post made me itchy!!