These days people are taking more time to plan and evaluate before traveling. While this is a great thing, it does that all the planning in the world can’t prepare you for the potential dangers lurking out there today. Not only are there infectious dangers like germs and diseases that one must be worried about, but there are also insects and critters. That’s right, locked away at night safely in your hotel room, you’d think that you would be just that, safe. Unfortunately, that is becoming less and less true because of one troublesome insect known as the bed bug. Here’s what you can do while traveling to greatly reduce your chances of bringing home bed bugs. It starts with what is referred to as the SLEEP theory.
Survey
The first and perhaps, the most significant letter of the SLEEP survey is the S. It is the starting letter and it represents a survey. Upon first glance at the word, you might think that you have a good handle on what it means. Yes, it does mean to survey your room. Bed bug infestations are not limited to wealth or economic classifications. Bed bugs today have been found in some of the cleanest and most expensive hotel rooms in the world. This is why one must take the appropriate time to properly survey the land before just moving in and making themselves at home for the week or weekend. During this process, you’ll want to keep your nostrils open for sweet, musty smells. Large infestations create sweet smells. Something that smells somewhat similar to that of soda pop syrup.
Lift And Look
The L in the theory is so important that it has two meanings. And, both of these meanings represent lifting and looking. It is basically just a continuation of surveying. It means that while you are surveying the room, you’ll want to take the time to lift and look under components that could be concealing the infestation. Start in the sleep quarters. Lift the pillows, check under the mattresses and box spring, look behind the drapes. Heck, pull the baseboards off the walls and check behind them if you feel that there is a need.
Elevate
There are two E’s that make up the Sleep theory, but it is the first that represent elevate. And, when it comes right down to it, this is without a doubt one of the smartest concepts of the entire theory. This one means elevating your luggage and other items. Don’t just move right into the hotel room and place your belongings on the ground or in the drawers. Instead, keep them elevated. Why? Bed bugs are adept hitchhikers. They’ll hitch on to just about anything and ride for hours on in undetected. Well, they cant hitch on if they can’t reach it in the first place. Take advantage of the racks and closets to keep your belongings up high. Of course, this isn’t completely foolproof, but it will greatly reduce the chances of contracting an infestation.
Examine
The next E in the theory represents examine. And, while the name is pretty self-explanatory, the process is probably applied differently than most think. When most people see examine in the theory, they likely think of examining their luggage or the room. Well, this does represent examining your luggage, but it means to examine your belongings before heading back home. You always schedule enough time to pack before your trip back, right? So, why not add an extra hour to thoroughly examine those belongings before bringing them back home. Check everything, including the new items that you may have purchased during your stay.
Place
The final letter of the entire theory. It stands for placement and it ties the whole equation together rather nicely. It is a well-known fact that bed bugs cannot stand the heat. Right at about 113 degrees F their bodies dry out and lose moisture. They lose so much moisture that it is like they dry from the inside out. The only problem is, trying to find a means to apply this much heat to your belongings. Well, this isn’t a problem for clothes because they reach these temperatures and higher every time you dry them. This is why you’ll want to take the time to wash and dry your clothes before completely unpacking them back into your drawers at home. Use the highest heat settings for the longest amount of time possible.