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Over 46 million Americans predicted to celebrate with a holiday getaway, most since 2007. Local pest management company provides tips to prevent bringing home bed bugs during the popular travel season
Sun Prairie, Wis., November 24, 2014… As Thanksgiving, the busiest travel day of the year, approaches, people will travel from near and far to spend the holiday weekend with their loved ones. Unfortunately, with an increase in travel comes an increase in bed bug infestations. The pest control experts at Wil-Kil Pest Control, the Upper Midwest’s quality leader in pest management, share timely bed bug prevention tips to ensure travelers don’t bring home an unwanted house guest at the end of their trip.
According to AAA, more than 46 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more during the 2014 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the highest volume for the holiday since 2007, and a 4.2 percent increase over 2013. Air travel is also expected to be at its highest level since 2007, with 3.55 million Americans taking to the skies. For travelers taking flight, hopping on a train or riding in an automobile, the risk of bed bug infestations increases during key travel times as bed bugs cling to clothing, sneak into luggage and hide out in hotel rooms.
“Bed bug infestations tend to spike during key travel times since the bugs have more opportunities to hitchhike from one location to another. However, it is important to fight bed bugs not with fear, but with education and proactive action,” said Shane McCoy, Director of Quality and Technical Training for Wil-Kil Pest Control. “Despite their ability to quickly move from one piece of clothing or furniture to the next, bed bugs can be easily managed with a few preventative measures.”
Once thought to be a pest that only invaded dirty motel rooms, bed bugs are now found everywhere from five-star hotels and high-end clothing stores to movie theatres, schools and public transportation. Whether they’re headed to a relative’s house or just to the movies, travelers should be on the lookout for bed bugs over the holiday travel season.
This holiday travel season, McCoy recommends taking a few simple precautions to avoid the most unwanted travel companion – hitch-hiking, blood sucking bed bugs.
Wil-Kil Pest Control’s Bed Bug Prevention Tips
· Check hotel bed sheets and mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for unusual blood spots upon arriving.
· Thoroughly inspect the entire hotel room with a flashlight before unpacking, including behind the headboard, under lights and inside dressers, drawers, sofas and chairs.
· Avoid placing suitcases on hotel floors or the hotel bed – the safest place is in the bathroom or on a luggage rack after it has been thoroughly inspected.
· If you notice bed bugs in your room, immediately notify management and request to change rooms.
· Inspect suitcases for any signs of bed bugs before entering your home.
o Tip: pack clothes in zip lock bags for easy cleaning upon return home.
· Vacuum suitcases thoroughly before bringing indoors and storing away.
· Wash and dry all clothes – even those items that were not worn – in hot water and on high heat to remove any bed bugs or eggs that may have traveled home.
o Tip: dry clean only clothes should be thrown in the dryer and run on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
For more information about bed bugs and Wil-Kil’s prevention tips, please visit: http://www.wil-kil.com/bed-bug-services
About Wil-Kil Pest Control
Wil-Kil Pest Control, founded in 1924, is a regional pest management company that provides quality pest management for residential and commercial properties throughout the Upper Midwest – including Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, parts of Iowa, Chicagoland and all of Northern Illinois. Earning the reputation as the “Upper Midwest’s Quality Leader” in pest management, Wil-Kil utilizes the latest technologies and techniques of Integrated Pest Management methods while delivering customized programs with personalized service. Wil-Kil is an operating division of Copesan Services, Inc, with offices located in Sun Prairie, Menomonee Falls, Eau Claire and Appleton, Wis. For more information, please visit www.wil-kil.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter.
