As the summer holiday season winds down, travellers across the UK are heading home – but a pest expert is warning that some may be bringing back more than just souvenirs.
While most people are quick to throw their laundry into the wash and shove their suitcases away after a trip, many overlook a crucial step that could help prevent a nasty infestation.
James Rhoedes, pest control specialist and owner of Thermo Pest, has warned holidaymakers to immediately inspect their luggage for bedbugs as soon as they get home.
He says bed bug activity spikes during the warmer months, making summer travel a key time for the pests to hitch a ride home undetected.
With thinner bedding and lighter clothing common in summer, Rhoedes says it’s easier for bed bugs to access skin – and with millions of people checking in and out of hotels, guesthouses and Airbnbs, the risk of picking up an unwanted guest rises.
He adds that many infestations start right after a trip when beg bugs are accidentally brought into the home inside luggage or laundry – once inside, they can spread rapidly.
To avoid this, Rhoedes urges travellers to be vigilant both while away and when they return.
At the hotel or rented accommodation, holidaymakers should inspect mattress seams, headboards and furniture for dark spots, shed skins, or live bugs.
While most people are quick to throw their laundry into the wash and shove their suitcases away after a trip, many overlook a crucial step that could help prevent a nasty infestation (Stock Image)
James Rhoedes, pest control specialist and owner of Thermo Pest, has warned holidaymakers to immediately inspect their luggage for bedbugs as soon as they get home (Stock Image)
He also advises to keep luggage off the floor using racks, and store clothes in sealed bags inside suitcases to reduce the risk of bugs crawling in.
When returning home, he recommends unpacking directly into the washing machine and putting the load on a hot cycle.
Suitcases should also be checked thoroughly – especially the seams, pockets and lining – for any signs of the pests.
As reported by the Mirror, Rhoedes added: ‘If you travel frequently, making this a routine step can help you spot potential issues early before they spread.’
While it might feel like an extra chore at the end of a long journey, the benefit could be avoiding the costly – and stressful – process of calling in pest control.
It comes as a woman was left with more than 30 red and itchy bites on her body after staying in a hotel room infested with bedbugs.
Sharon Aggarwal, 53, shut herself in the bathroom for two hours after she woke up in the middle of the night ‘scratching’ at a three-star hotel in Henley-on-Thames.
The IT worker, who frequently travels to the picturesque town in Oxfordshire for work, said she pulled back the sheet and could see several bugs ‘crawling on the bed’.
With thinner bedding and lighter clothing common in summer, Rhoedes says it’s easier for bedbugs to access skin – and with millions of people checking in and out of hotels, guesthouses and Airbnbs, the risk of picking up an unwanted guest rises (Stock Image)
Mrs Aggarwal said she squashed a large one on the pillow and was horrified to see blood spurt out of it.
The 53-year-old from the Midlands was staying at The Catherine Wheel last month – a historic 12th century pub and guesthouse that is now owned by JD Wetherspoon.
Mrs Aggarwal told the Daily Mail: ‘I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night all itchy.
‘I pulled the sheet back and all I could see were these things crawling on the bed.’
