Bed bugs have been flying under the radar for years and now that they are finally discovered, people are unsure what to do about them. Bed bug pesticides can be very harmful for us and so many of the tactics that could once be used to treat them are no longer working. Thankfully, there is a new way to protect your luggage from getting these disgusting pests in your home. Luggage treatment is a great way to keep your luggage safe from bed bugs even before you arrive at your destination. The best part of this treatment is that it doesn’t involve any bed bug pesticides. This means that you don’t need to worry about any side effects or harming others with chemical treatments you use on your luggage. If you want to get rid of bed bugs from your luggage and clothing, a good place to start is by taking these three steps:1) disassemble the luggage and remove linings that could be harboring bed bugs2) put all pieces of luggage into sealed garbage bags3) throw the bags outside for six hours. This method does not guarantee that your suitcase will be utterly bed bug free, but it will significantly reduce their numbers. For more tips on how to prevent bed bug infestations , see our article on bed bug prevention.

Bed Bug Luggage Treatment

How to treat your luggage

While treating your luggage is important, you may also want to consider other places that bedbugs can hide. If you feel that it’s necessary, treat these areas as well:

• Your car’s interior (carpets and upholstery)
• Your pets’ carriers or grooming bags

Plan ahead if you are staying in a hotel.

• Put your clothes into plastic bags.
• Pack a flashlight and extra batteries in case you need to search for bedbugs at night.
• Check the mattress and sheets before unpacking. If the hotel has a problem with bedbugs, they will likely be in these two areas first!
• Keep your suitcase off the floor, preferably on top of something like a chair or shelf. Bedbugs are more likely to crawl over luggage than through it because they like warmth, which is provided by people’s bodies when they sleep under covers/blankets/etcetera

If you suspect your luggage has been exposed to bed bugs, immediately remove all the contents from the suitcases and either wash or dry clean them according to the care instructions.

If you suspect your luggage has been exposed to bed bugs, immediately remove all the contents from the suitcases and either wash or dry clean them according to the care instructions. If you are washing your belongings yourself, use a mild detergent with no dyes or perfumes. Wash on a gentle cycle and air dry (or tumble dry on low heat). Repeat if necessary to ensure that all bed bugs have been killed.

Place the suitcase on your driveway or other hard surface, preferably in direct sunlight (if available). Do this for about 4 hours. You can also place it in an empty garage or shed.

Once you’ve determined that you have bed bugs in your luggage, it’s time to treat your suitcase. The best way to do this is by placing the suitcase on your driveway or other hard surface, preferably in direct sunlight (if available). Do this for about 4 hours. You can also place it in an empty garage or shed. Bed bugs are attracted to heat and will die within a few minutes of exposure under direct sunlight.

If there isn’t any sun available and you don’t want to leave your suitcase outside for 4 hours, at least put it on top of something like a towel or blanket so that the underside of the bag gets plenty of air circulation when left open like this.

Your luggage should smell better—and hopefully won’t be infested with bed bugs anymore!

While waiting for the recommended amount of time, vacuum out any remaining debris from your suitcase and wipe it clean with a soft damp cloth. Allow the suitcase to air dry completely before using again.

While waiting for the recommended amount of time, vacuum out any remaining debris from your suitcase and wipe it clean with a soft damp cloth. Allow the suitcase to air dry completely before using again. This is a good time to check for bed bugs as well! If you see any, call a professional right away.

Treating your luggage after a potential exposure to bedbugs will ensure they don’t hitchhike home with you.

After your trip, you should do the following steps to ensure that no bedbugs will survive in your luggage:

• Inspect the suitcase for any signs of an infestation. If there is any evidence of an infestation, don’t hesitate to call in a professional exterminator—you need someone who knows what they’re doing when it comes to killing bedbugs.
• Wash all clothes (including socks and underwear) on hot water cycle and dry them at high heat for at least 20 minutes; then launder again using regular detergent.
• Vacuum the interior of your suitcase thoroughly with a crevice tool attachment before wiping down all surfaces with a damp cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol. This will help kill any remaining eggs or larvae that may be clinging to seams or cracks inside your suitcase’s lining.
• Place the suitcase into direct sunlight for at least four hours, ensuring that all areas are exposed equally throughout this time period (you can also use an ultraviolet light). This will help kill off any remaining eggs as well as adult bedbugs hidden inside zippers or other moving parts of your luggage. The hotter it gets, the better! * After drying completely (make sure there are no damp spots), pack away clothes into plastic bags until ready for use again so none accidentally get reinfected when packing back up again after another trip!