| Along with dust mites and the lesser talked about | | | | it happens all the time. Even commonly used |
| scabies, bedbugs are infesting hotel after hotel in | | | | plastic zipper bags, like the ones used for food |
| every major city in America, as well as Europe | | | | are effective. Heavy duty garbage bags also |
| and Canada. While this modern outbreak has been | | | | work well but you must seal them very well. |
| going on for the past 5 years, the media has only | | | | Bedbugs can fit through the smallest of spaces. |
| began reporting on this scourge over the last | | | | 3) Painters Tape - An excellent deterrent, painters |
| couple of years. | | | | tape will not damage your room but will prevent |
| Tourists who, a few years ago, would just shrug | | | | bedbugs from crossing over wherever it is applied. |
| off any report on bedbugs, have begun to sit up | | | | Around the headboard, mattress, bed, bed legs, |
| and take notice. Bedbug blogs and web sites litter | | | | inside drawers etc. It takes very little time to |
| the in internet as do products to protect against | | | | apply, is inexpensive and can even be used in |
| the little vampires. | | | | luggage. |
| One of the primary reasons for the interest in | | | | 4) Non Toxic Sprays - There are so many |
| bedbugs from the public is the frequency by | | | | products on the market that claim the ability to kill |
| which these vermin are transported back to the | | | | on contact and continue providing protection. Be |
| homes of vacationers and business travelers. | | | | aware, some work, some don't. The best way of |
| Once bedbugs enter a home or hotel, even office | | | | determining which brand to use is either by word |
| complex, they are excruciatingly hard to eradicate. | | | | of mouth or testimonials. Included in this group is |
| Bedbugs have evolved over tens of thousands of | | | | food grade diatomaceous earth, powder made of |
| years to adapt to their main meal ticket, humans. | | | | the exoskeletons of microscopic sea creatures. |
| Newly resistant to a broad range of chemicals, | | | | DT kills by wearing away the protective coatings |
| bedbugs have flourished since the banning of DDT | | | | or scratching the exoskeletons of the bedbugs |
| in the seventies. | | | | causing them to eventually die of exposure or |
| Although bedbugs have never been proven to be | | | | dehydration. I say " eventually " because it takes |
| a transmission vector for any disease, few | | | | time for DT to work. Remember if you buy DT it |
| studies have been done on this subject. The only | | | | MUST be food grade otherwise it is a danger to |
| danger to human health so far , is the allergic | | | | humans and pets. |
| reaction people can experience after being bitten. | | | | 5) Luggage Sanitizers - Most of these are sprays |
| Bedbugs are spread 2 ways. By people | | | | meant to kill bedbugs. Sprayed in luggage, they kill |
| transporting them in luggage or belongings and by | | | | bedbugs and their eggs so they won't infest your |
| migration between rooms, condos or apartments. | | | | home. There is one product on the market that |
| With the above said, here are the top 5 travel | | | | kills by heat. Luggage is placed into the product |
| accessories to protect yourself, and prevent | | | | which is turned on and heats up to a pre |
| infesting your home with bedbugs. | | | | determined temperature and holds this |
| 1) A Travel Sheet - Make sure, whichever | | | | temperature for a period of time, long enough to |
| travelsheet you choose, that it is zippered and | | | | kill the bedbugs and eggs. A great idea if |
| enclosed on 3 sides and that it is washable in hot | | | | chemicals are not your choice. This product is |
| water and dry-able in hot air. Heat is the only way | | | | especially efficient for a frequent business traveler |
| to effectively kill bedbugs and their eggs. A travel | | | | as it is a one time investment. |
| sheet can't be 100% effective, only a heavy duty | | | | Bedbugs have made a spectacular comeback, |
| garbage bag sealed all the way around can | | | | affecting all walks of life and the problem is not |
| guarantee no bedbug bites. But a travel sheet will | | | | going to go away anytime soon because bedbugs |
| mitigate your exposure and protect you from a | | | | are spread by people who have no idea they are |
| host of other ills. | | | | spreading them. Bedbug infestations can only be |
| 2) Bedbug-Proof Bags for your belongings - Many | | | | prevented through vigilance and education. All it |
| companies make bags especially for the purpose | | | | takes is one pregnant bedbug to start an |
| of protecting your clothes from being infested by | | | | infestation. Check your room, use a travel sheet, |
| bedbugs while they are folded in the drawers of | | | | inspect your luggage, good luck. |
| your hotel room. This might seem like overkill but | | | | |