I’m a pest expert – the huge mistake guests make with their bags that risks taking bed bugs home
WHILE most guests are likely to keep their suitcases in their bedroom, a pest control expert has revealed why this is a huge mistake.
As a plague of bed bugs sweeps through the French capital, UK holidaymakers will want to know exactly how to avoid bringing the nasty critters home.
If the right precautions aren't taken, those Brits who holiday in a bed bug-infested hotel rooms are likely to bring some of the critters home with them.
The microscopic insects actually get their name because they generally feed on humans in their sleep.
For this reason, bed bugs often live inside mattresses and items of clothing, which means they are also likely to hitchhike into your luggage,
According to one pest control expert, there's one way guests can easily halt the spread of the nasty little bugs.
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Missy Henriksen, the former vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association, said: "Bed bugs are least likely to be found in the bathroom.
"They don't like the tile floors, and there aren't as many hiding places. They like to be closer to where people may be sleeping."
This means holidaymakers are better off storing their luggage in hotel bathrooms where the bed bugs are less likely to thrive.
Meanwhile mattress expert, and CEO of , Martin Seeley, revealed several other ways holidaymakers can fight back against the bugs.
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While it may be enticing to neatly fold your holiday clothes into drawers, it's actually safer to hang clothes in a wardrobe.
This is because bed bugs can't fly, so it's unlikely that they'll reach clothes that are hung high in the air.
As you make your way through your holiday wardrobe, you'll want to separate your clean clothes from your laundry.
Because bed bugs are more attracted to dirty clothes, it's best to keep the clean ones at arm's length.
In a bid to stop the two from mixing, make sure to pack a laundry bag, or a plastic bag, to store dirty garments.
During the night, you may want to make sure your room is nice and cool too.
According to the British Pest Control Association, adult bed bugs thrive in temperatures ranging from 21C to 32C, so making the most of the hotel's aircon could help to keep the bugs at bay.
Meanwhile, a flight attendant revealed an 80p item they use to keep the bed bugs out of their suitcase.
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Some people suggest that hard-shell suitcases reduce the chance of bringing bed bugs back from trips away.
