British tourists should not unpack their luggage in their bedroom unlesss they wish to invite unwanted guests in their bed, expert have warned.
The team at MattressNextDay has explained that unpacking in another area of the house can prevent bed bugs from infesting your household.
Martin Seeley, CEO and mattress expert, said: “Unpack on a hard floor and not in your bedroom.
“When you get home, unpack your luggage in another location – apart from your bedroom. Even better if it’s on hard flooring, as you won’t be able to spot bed bugs on a carpet.
“Inspect your suitcase closely and use a flashlight or torch to look into the seams, folds, and pockets of your suitcase.”
According to Mr Seeley, travellers should also vacuum-clean their suitcases before putting it away as a precaution.
Bedbugs are small insects that usually live on furniture or bedding, and have itchy bites. They can hide in many places, including on bed frames, mattresses, clothing, furniture, behind pictures, and under loose wallpaper.
When arriving at your holiday accommodation, the same unpacking rules should apply.
The expert advised: “Never put your suitcase on the hotel bed. It is common that when you initially arrive at your hotel, you might put your suitcase straight onto the bed without checking for bugs and begin unpacking.
“However, by doing this, you’re putting your luggage and clothes right onto the place where bed bugs are commonly found and giving them a free ticket home.”
For maximum precaution, it is recommended that tourists should store their suitcase as close to the hotel room door as possible, or keep it on the luggage rack.
Additionally, as bed bugs are usually more attracted to dirty clothing rather than clean, it is preferrable to bring a spare bag for worn clothes or, if the accommodation provides it, to use a washing service.