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Hello, travelers! I'm Elizabeth with DoMyOwn.com. Welcome back to our channel.  Today, we're going to talk about a topic that  might not be the most pleasant, but is crucial for anyone hitting the road: how to avoid bed bugs during your hotel stays. Believe us, the last thing you want after a great trip is to bring these unwelcome hitchhikers home. So, let's dive into some essential tips to keep your travels bug-free.First things first, the biggest risk of staying in a hotel with bed bugs isn't just being bitten during your stay – it's bringing them home with you, leading to a full-blown infestation.  But fear not, we've got you covered with some foolproof strategies.

Choose the right luggage.  Opt for hard-sided luggage with outside locking or latching as opposed to zippers.

Bed bugs are sneaky and can maneuver through most zippers and cling to fabric cases easily, but it’s much more difficult for them to get a grip on rigid suitcase shells.

Next up, seal your items tightly. Use large resealable plastic bags or travel space bags inside your suitcase. Make sure they are airtight – if not, they're not bed bug proof.

And here's a handy tip: keep your luggage off the floor. Use a metal luggage rack to place your suitcase on in your hotel room. These are usually provided by the hotel.

Bed bugs don't like to climb or stay on smooth surfaces, such as metal and plastic, so therefore your luggage is

going to be safer up there than on the floor.

Now, let's talk inspection. When you arrive, start by checking around the mattress and pillows, then proceed to inspect the rest of your room for signs of bed bugs: tiny black spots, blood stains, light brown skin castings, or even the bugs themselves. If you find any, don't hesitate to ask for a different room or change hotels altogether!

However, there are instances where you may already have bites or notice bed bugs after the fact. If you do, we have a strategy to help you.

It’s important to take a few precautions before heading home if you either have found bites on your person or are sure you encountered bed bugs or their eggs. Bed bug eggs are tiny white-ish dots, smaller than the head of a pin, that can often go unnoticed. When checking out, inspect your items for traces of bed bugs or their eggs again. If possible, launder your clothes in hot water and dry them on high heat. This kills any potential bed bugs on contact. Place your sanitized clothing in air-tight resealable plastic bags, and pack them directly into your suitcase.

And when you're back home, before you walk inside, perform a final check. Scan your luggage outside before bringing it in. Inspect each item as it's removed and drop it into the laundry immediately, if possible.

Wash and dry the clothing once more at the hottest setting that your washer and dryer has and also 

Spray all of your luggage as a final measure.

We recommend the use of an insecticide labeled for use on luggage. Make sure to read the full label for application instructions.

Simply shake it well then apply to any desired treatment areas such as along the inner and outer seams of your luggage,

on the inside pockets and compartments, and places like that.

If you brought home bed bugs after taking these protective measures, theres no need to worry.

We have a wide variety of products to kill and control bed bugs and we specialize in helping customers like you get rid of them. Since there's not one product alone that will eradicate bed bugs, we recommend using one of our bed bug kits. 

These kits contain our most powerful and effective products for a variety of applications to save you both time and money. 

For our detailed guide and videos on our website that outline the entire treatment process, visit our website at DoMyOwn.com.

Remember, a little diligence goes a long way in keeping your home bug free.

And there you have it! With these tips, you can enjoy your travels worry-free. If you found this video helpful, give it a thumbs up, share it with your fellow travelers, and don't forget to subscribe for more travel tips and tricks. Safe travels and see you in the next video!