Updated at: 14-07-2022 - By: iatsabbioneta

Bedbugs are something we all have to deal with at some point if we enjoy traveling. It’s possible to bring bedbugs back to your own home if you’re not careful. The only method to get rid of them once they’ve infested your home is to pay exorbitant fees to professional pest treatment companies.

Fortunately, bed bugs may be dealt with quickly and effectively provided you have the right information. There are many ways to get rid of bedbugs from your baggage, clothing and other belongings so that they don’t spread to your home while you’re away.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Luggage (Quick Guide)

  1. Make sure they don’t spread. Wrap your entire wardrobe in plastic bags.
  2. As soon as you get at home, leave your clothing and luggage outside. Bed bugs could spread throughout your home if you bring your present wardrobe, baggage, and its contents inside.
  3. First and foremost, take care of your clothing. Put your bags and clothing in a dryer on the hottest setting for 20 to 30 minutes to destroy any bed bugs that may be lurking in them.
  4. Your suitcase should be sanitized. This is the best way to get rid of the majority of bedbugs. Also, don’t forget to get rid of the vacuum bag.
  5. Get rid of any bed bugs that remain. A professional steam cleaner (over 160F degrees) or insecticides can be used to eliminate any lingering bed bugs.
  6. Vacuum again and do a final inspection. First vacuum everything to get rid of all the dead bed bugs, leave your suitcase outside for a week, and come back to do a final inspection. Bedbugs should no longer be able to infest your suitcase after this procedure.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Clothes and Luggage? (Long Guide)

Vacuum again and do a final inspection. First vacuum everything to get rid of all the dead bed bugs, leave your suitcase outside for a week, and come back to do a final inspection. Bedbugs should no longer be able to infest your suitcase after this procedure.

Step #1: Empty the suitcase

Do a final sweep and assess the area. First vacuum everything to get rid of all the dead bed bugs, put your suitcase outside for a week, and return back to make a last examination. Bedbugs should no longer be a problem in your suitcase.

Step #2: Wash and dry clothing

Do a final sweep and check for any last-minute stragglers. Do a final check after a week outside your luggage and vacuum everything to remove any dead bedbugs. The bedbugs in your suitcase should have been exterminated by now.

Preparation for washing, viewed from inside the washer

In most cases, items that can’t be washed can still be dried in the dryer for at least 30 minutes at medium to high heat. You must dry your clothes in the dryer to kill bed bugs. It’s best to put your delicates in a bag and take them to the dry cleaners to be handled with care. Make sure to tell the dry cleaner that the items may be infested with bedbugs before they are loaded into the machines.

Step #3: Scrub the luggage

While you’re washing your clothes, you should take care of the luggage. Extend the life of your luggage by cleaning it with a stiff nylon brush outside. Pay particular attention to seams, crevice and corner areas as well as luggage zip-off areas. Insect eggs and dead nymphs and adults can be dislodged with this method.

Step #4: Sanitize your luggage

Heat is the best approach to get rid of all of your luggage’s bedbugs. This can be done in a variety of ways. The best solution is to use your dryer to store your small carry-on suitcases. Any remaining bed bugs and eggs can then be killed with a steam cleaner that is used with great care, going slowly over all surfaces.

zapp bed bug heater oven

Alternatively, you might place the luggage in a warmer meant to kill bedbugs to get rid of them. There is no guarantee that putting your garments into black garbage bags and leaving them out in the sun all day would kill bed bugs and their eggs.

To destroy bed bugs and their eggs, the temperature inside the black sacks should be at least 125 degrees for at least one hour.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs From Getting Into Luggage While Traveling

Unpacking an opened suitcase with clothes

Even if your lodgings are cheap, you should take precautions to avoid becoming infested with bed bugs. This is possible if you adhere to a few pointers.

Use Plastic Covers for Luggage

If we know we’ll be staying in a low-cost hotel, we usually pack extra rubbish bags. When we get here, we empty the suitcase and put everything we’ll need into the garbage bag. As a result, there will be no bedbugs inside. Some luggage coverings are specifically designed to keep bedbugs out of your luggage. We’ve had no luck thus far in finding a nice one.

Keep Your Suitcase off the Ground

Flood and bed are the most prevalent places where bed bugs might be found (hence the name bed bugs.) This means that you should never place your suitcase on the floor or on the bed. Keep your luggage on a shelf or in a closet so that bedbugs cannot get inside. In addition, rather of taking everything out of your suitcase, try to keep it all in your suitcase.

Store Your Dirty Clothes Inside a Sealed Plastic Bag

Bedbugs are drawn to human body heat, sweat, and carbon dioxide. If you want to avoid your soiled clothes from attracting bedbugs, you should keep them in a sealed plastic bag. They won’t be attracted to the odors in your luggage this way.

Bed Bugs Facts & Myths

Due to the pest invasion, tourists have come up with a number of different beliefs about how to avoid and remove them. It’s time to separate fact from fiction!

Myth:

  1. Hardshell luggage are impenetrable to bed bugs! In reality, any bag or suitcase might be infested with bedbugs.
  2. Using a sleeping bag liner prevents the spread of bedbugs! Do they play a role? Nope.
  3. Bedbugs aren’t a problem in high-end hotels! What counts is how the hotel’s owners handle the bed bug problem, not the hotel’s class.

Fact:

  1. Stop the spread of bed insect infection by putting your items in plastic bags and putting them in your luggage! Yes, it’s a good way to keep yourself safe from harm.
  2. If you store your clothes in hotel drawers or wooden hangers, you run the risk of bringing bed bugs home with you. Yes, unfortunately.
  3. Diatomaceous earth is a great way to keep bedbugs away from your suitcase! It does have an impact.

It is a common fallacy that bedbugs are only found in dirty places, however you may check if your hotel has been recorded in the Bed Bug Registry.

FAQs

How to Get Bed Bugs Out of Purses, Totes, Duffels, and Backpacks?

Getting bed bugs out of smaller, flexible bags is much easier compared to large, bulky suitcases. First, you need to wash your purse, tote, duffel, or backpack in a washing machine on a hot cycle. The majority of bedbugs will be killed, but not all. It’s therefore necessary to dry your bag for 20-30 minutes on the highest setting to ensure that all of the bed bugs inside have been killed.

How Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

bed bug on a black fabric close-up

Getting bed bugs out of smaller, flexible bags is much easier compared to large, bulky suitcases. First, you need to wash your purse, tote, duffel, or backpack in a washing machine on a hot cycle. The majority of bedbugs will be killed, but not all. It’s therefore necessary to dry your bag for 20-30 minutes on the highest setting to ensure that all of the bed bugs inside have been killed.

Can Bed Bugs Get Inside Closed, Zippered Luggage?

Small, flexible bags are considerably easier to remove bedbugs from than large, cumbersome suitcases. The first step is to wash your bag in a washing machine on a hot setting. The majority of the bedbugs will be killed, but not all of them will be eliminated by this method. If there are any bed bugs still within your bag, run it through a hot dryer for 20-30 minutes to eradicate them.

How to Know If You’ve Bought Bed Bugs Home?

If you’ve been bitten by bed bugs or fleas while on vacation, it’s a good idea to thoroughly inspect your luggage before returning home. Inspect your suitcase and clothing, especially your soiled ones, for signs of bedbugs because they are drawn to dirty clothing. To be on the safe side, you should treat all of your clothing and luggage for bed bugs if you discover their droppings, eggs, or live bed bugs while traveling. A bed bug-free home does not necessarily imply the absence of any. A bed bug infestation in your home is a hundred times worse than treating your clothing and luggage thoroughly. If you have any bites that look like they could be bed bug bites, you should get a comprehensive treatment regardless.

Which Bed Bug Sprays Work on Luggage?

Because not all bed insect sprays are equal, you must do your homework before purchasing one. Apply them gently and make sure to spray all the gaps in your suitcase. When sprayed directly on the affected region, such sprays as SteriFabTM or Bedlam® are most effective. Sprays containing alcohol or soap are ineffective in killing eggs, therefore they are of limited use. In most cases, Pyrethroid sprays are ineffective against bed bugs. There are two pesticides that have recently proven to be particularly efficient against bed bugs: EcoRaider and Bed Bug Patrol. Pesticides for bedbugs can be found at this link.

Do Handheld Steamers Kill Bed Bugs?

Steam kills bedbugs instantly at temperatures of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures can be reached by most handheld steamers, but professional steamers can provide much greater results. Keep an eye on the flow of steam while using a less expensive handheld steamer. You should be able to get rid of all of your luggage’s bedbugs if the steam flow is steady and thick. Even if the steam reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need to use a handheld thermometer to be sure

Before you begin steaming your baggage to get rid of bed bugs, make sure to remove the steamer’s brush attachments. Make sure to steam each location for at least 30-60 seconds, moving the steamer slowly. In order to achieve the desired effect, the fabric must become warm and damp but not entirely saturated. Once you’ve completed the entire suitcase, allow it to dry out completely. Please repeat the procedure once more to ensure its success.

What Temperature Kills Bed Bugs?

Extreme temperatures will kill bedbugs. Using heat to get rid of bedbugs is usually more effective than using chemicals. When the temperature reaches 117 to 123 degrees Fahrenheit, bed bugs begin to die. Most bedbugs can be killed by a hot wash cycle. Use your dryer on the hottest setting for at least 20 minutes to ensure a thorough cleaning. Heat boxes and saunas above 120 degrees are also effective methods.

How Long Can Bed Bugs Survive Inside Luggage?

There are no bedbugs that can survive in severe heat. Bedbugs can be killed by using heat treatments. When the temperature reaches 117-123 degrees Fahrenheit, bed bugs begin to die. Most bedbugs can be killed by a hot-water cycle in a washing machine. Take at least 20 minutes to dry your hair on the highest setting in order to get a complete treatment. Using heat boxes and saunas above 120 degrees are also effective.

Do Bed Bugs Survive in a Washing Machine?

Washing machines’ hot settings typically range between 130°F and 140°F. Washing them in 130 degrees Fahrenheit is enough to kill off most of the bed bugs because they die off at 120 degrees. As a result, the water cools very quickly and the eggs are more difficult to kill. A hot washing machine isn’t going to get rid of the bedbugs. To ensure that all bed bugs are killed, dry your garments for at least 20 minutes on a high heat setting after washing.

Do Bed Bugs Suffocate Inside a Sealed Plastic Bag?

Even in vacuum-sealed bags, it is impossible to kill bedbugs. Even vacuum-sealed containers have some air left in them, and bedbugs don’t need much oxygen, so they’ll be able to make it through. Since starving kills them, the only way they can survive is if you keep the bag shut for at least six months.

Can Bed Bugs Eat Through Plastic?

Bed bug-infested bags may only be safely transported by using plastic. What if they can’t consume that plastic? Fortunately, bed bugs lack teeth and hence cannot gnaw through plastic. Bed bugs pierce your skin using a proboscis, a needle-like beak. You’re not fully safe, however, because they can fit through the tiniest of gaps. Garbage bags should be layered on top of one other!

Can You Shake Bed Bugs off Your Clothes?

A few larger bed bugs can be removed from contaminated clothing by shaking, but this will not remove the entire population. Shaking off bed bugs isn’t going to get rid of the smaller, younger bed bugs and their eggs, which are likely to be hiding in the seams.

Can Bed Bugs Travel With You on Your Clothing?

Your mattress and your luggage are ideal habitats for bed bugs, who prefer a quiet, predictable environment. It’s conceivable, but unlikely, to carry them through your clothing. Even if you don’t have a bed bug infestation while traveling, it’s still a good idea to remove your clothing before returning home in case bed bugs have been hidden in there.

How did I bring bed bugs home from vacation?

Despite the fact that bed bugs lack wings, this does not mean they are incapable of traveling. When you travel, the most typical way to bring bed bugs into your house is to bring them back with you in your luggage. When you’re at a hotel, cruise ship, or airport, you’re most likely to encounter bed bugs in your luggage, which can be found hiding under zipper flaps and along decorative piping.

Can Bed Bugs Get Into Zippered Luggage?

Except for one with extremely fine teeth, no apertures at either end, and a zipper cover, bed bugs can get through closed zippers. Mattress encasements designed to keep bedbugs from escaping frequently have this style of zipper. As little and thin as a credit card, bed bugs can squeeze through even the tiniest of gaps. Bed bugs can easily get inside your luggage by squeezing between seams and zippers.

Can Bed Bugs Live In a Suitcase?

Bedbugs can’t stay in your luggage forever, but it’s the most typical method for them to travel from place to place. For up to a year or more, they can be kept in a suitcase without access to blood. You can’t just throw a suitcase in the garage or basement and hope that any bed bugs inside will die after a few months.

Can Bed Bugs Survive in the Washing Machine?

Yes, washing machine cycles can kill bed bugs. Bedbugs, nymphs, and eggs can all be killed in the dryer, but the majority of them will die in the washing. On the maximum heat setting in a dryer, you can get rid of bedbugs with the utmost efficiency.

Will Bed Bugs Die in Plastic Bags?

Sealed plastic bags will not suffocate bed bugs. Bed bugs can be killed at any stage of their life cycle by placing contaminated things in sealed black plastic bags and exposing them to direct sunlight on a particularly hot day. For at least 60 minutes, the bag’s inside temperature must exceed 125 degrees.

Do You Have to Wash All of Your Clothes if You Have Bed Bugs?

Because bed bugs may travel long distances and conceal themselves efficiently, it is imperative that every article of clothing be treated for the presence of the pests. However, not all garments necessitate washing. Bedbugs and their eggs can also be killed by placing infested things in the dryer for at least 30 minutes at the highest setting.

Pictures of Bed Bugs on Suitcases

If you’d want to see what bedbugs look like on bags, go here. as follows:

bed bugs in luggage

picture of bed bug in luggage

picture of bed bug in luggage

picture of bed bug on suitcase

picture of bed bug on suitcase

bed bug on suitcase

bed bugs in zippered luggage