Thanksgiving is all about gathering with loved ones, reconnecting with family, and enjoying good food, but it’s also a prime time for a less-welcome traveler: bed bugs. Whether you’re a college student heading home for break or a family making a trip across the Front Range, it’s important to know that bed bugs love to travel too.

At EnviroPest, we’ve helped hundreds of families across Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Northern Colorado eliminate bed bugs from their homes for decades. We’ve seen firsthand how quickly these pests can spread after the holidays, and we’re here to share our best advice for keeping them far away from your home this Thanksgiving.

live bed bug crawling along mattress seam

Why Bed Bugs Love to Travel

Bed bugs are master hitchhikers. They don’t care if you’re staying in a five-star hotel, a ski lodge, or a relative’s guest room; they just need an opportunity to sneak into your belongings. They’ll hide in suitcases, dirty laundry, and even your favorite travel blanket, waiting for their next meal (that’s you).

Once inside your home, bed bugs can be tough to eliminate without professional help. Taking a few preventive steps while you travel can make all the difference.

How To Check for Bed Bugs While Traveling

Before you settle into your room, take a few minutes to inspect the space. It’s a small effort that can save you a considerable headache later.

Here’s what to do:

  • Use the luggage rack, not the bed. Place your suitcase on a hard surface or luggage rack until you’ve checked the room.
  • Inspect the mattress seams and box spring corners. Look for live bugs, shed skins, or dark brown or rust-colored stains.
  • Check behind and under furniture. Bed bugs often hide behind headboards, picture frames, and lamps, as well as in nightstands or dressers.
  • Don’t forget soft furniture. If you’ll be using a pull-out couch or upholstered chair, check seams and folds carefully.
  • Store dirty laundry in sealed plastic bags, as bed bugs are attracted to the scent of used clothing.

If you’re just staying for one night, consider leaving your suitcase in your vehicle and bringing in only what you need.

When You Return Home: Post-Travel Bed Bug Prevention

Even the most careful travelers can unknowingly bring a hitchhiker home. When you return from your Thanksgiving trip, take these precautions:

  • Unpack directly into the washing machine. Wash and dry all clothes on the highest heat setting.
  • Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly. Focus on seams and zippers, then empty the vacuum outside.
  • Store luggage away from bedrooms. Keep travel bags in a garage, basement, or storage area rather than under the bed.
  • Watch for early signs. Small itchy bites, dark specks on bedding, or tiny live insects around the mattress are all possible indicators.

If Bed Bugs Follow You Home, Call EnviroPest

Even with all the proper precautions, bed bugs can sometimes slip through. When that happens, EnviroPest is here to help. We’re the trusted bed bug control experts in Denver and Northern Colorado, utilizing advanced, eco-friendly methods to restore your home to normal quickly.

Our professional bed bug control services include:

  • Comprehensive inspections to confirm bed bug activity and identify hiding spots.
  • Targeted heat treatments that eliminate bed bugs at all life stages—eggs, nymphs, and adults.
  • Mattress and box spring encasements to protect against re-infestation.
  • Follow-up monitoring to ensure complete elimination.

DIY methods rarely solve the problem, and over-the-counter sprays often make infestations worse by driving bed bugs deeper into walls and furniture. With EnviroPest, you’ll have the peace of mind that your home is in the hands of Colorado’s most experienced pest exterminators.

Enjoy a Bed Bug-Free Thanksgiving

Don’t let bed bugs spoil your holiday plans. With a bit of caution and the local expertise of EnviroPest, you can travel confidently this Thanksgiving knowing that if bed bugs try to tag along, we’re just a call away. Contact us at the first sign of bed bugs! 

This blog was originally published on November 21, 2017, and has been updated with new information.