How to Prevent Bed Bugs

Don’t Bring Bed Bugs Home With You

If you experience bed bugs, unpack your whole suitcase outside your home (like in a garage or on the fire escape). Pull out clothes and put them through a hot wash or dry cycle—if you have delicate items, know that even a low dry cycle will kill bugs. Disinfect your suitcase with no-pest strips that you can drop into a garbage bag along with your emptied suitcase. Seal up the garbage bag and store it for two or more weeks. The pesticide will fumigate the area in the bag and kill any remaining bed bugs. Way cheaper—and less traumatic—than bringing a whole bed bug incident into your home.