Summary
Hot tip: Never put your bag on your bed.
With stories of bed bugs crawling all over the news, a flight attendant, with trusted TikTok advice, is here to arm you with much-needed tips for traveling.
“It is more important now than ever to be checking your hotel rooms for bed bugs — and your Airbnbs,” Cari Curri, a flight attendant known as @cici.inthesky on TikTok, said.
As a flight attendant, Curri noted that she doesn’t get to choose where she stays. However, no matter where she stays, she always checks for bed bugs, mentioning that she’s even encountered bed bugs in an Airbnb.
The Importance of Scanning for Bed Bugs
Her cautionary post comes after a wave of bed bugs has emerged over France, specifically in Paris, where these creepy crawly bugs have been spotted everywhere, from luxury hotels to the metro, movie theaters to the train lines, and everywhere in between.
Pro Tips for Check-In
To protect herself and her belongings, Curri shared several essential tips upon check-in. First, she doesn’t allow her bags to “go past the hard floor onto the carpet, and definitely never go on the bed,” as this could increase the chances of contamination.
- Pull up the bedding all the way to the mattress level and check every corner.
- Use a flashlight to inspect under the mattress and in creases.
- If the headboard is fabric, check that area as well.
- Avoid fabric seating or check it thoroughly, including the luggage rack, particularly in crevices.
“If you do find bed bugs or what you suspect may be evidence of bed bugs, contact the front desk immediately,” she advised. “I suggest you get another room and check again. Those suckers are sneaky.”
Natural Bed Bug Repellents
Similar to lice, bed bugs are deterred by tea tree oils, peppermint oils, and lavender, she noted in her video. You can make a spray and apply it to the outside of your bag as a deterrent, a fact supported by experts at bedbugsinsider.com, who point out that tea tree oil can kill bed bugs instantly by penetrating their exoskeleton, though it does require direct contact.
Curri also suggests using lemongrass oil for added protection.
Post-Trip Precautions
Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends unpacking immediately upon returning home and putting your clothing directly into a washing machine. Inspect your luggage thoroughly, and dry your clothing immediately. Finally, store your luggage away, preferably in a basement or garage far from your bedroom, and avoid keeping suitcases under your bed.
