Fresh from my third encounter with bedbugs in as many days (three out of my last five beds had the critters – a bad ratio by any standards), it seemed an appropriate time to share my tips on dealing with bed bugs when you travel.
Some facts about bed bugs
Most people have heard of bed bugs but few know much more beyond the fact that they’re not something you want. Unfortunately, travel for any extended period of time and you’re likely to meet these biting beasts sooner or later.
What are bed bugs?
It’s not a pretty answer – they are parasites that live off blood (human or animal – they’re not fussy diners). Although their primary residence is beds (hence the name), they will live in other places such as carpets but have been found residing in books and furniture.
Are they only found in dirty places and suffered by unclean people?
As unconcerned about the blood they suck, bed bugs equally don’t have a preference for human cleanliness (dirty or squeaky clean) or bed types. In fact, a few years ago there was a boom in reports about top hotels in cities like London and New York that were riddled with bed bugs. So, simply paying more money or taking a few extra minutes in the shower (or just stepping in the shower!) won’t make a difference.
Can you ‘catch’ them?
Bed bugs aren’t like head lice, or a cold – they can’t be caught. However, they do like to travel. So, if you have them in your accommodation, there is a risk they will hitchhike in your bag or clothes to your next place or follow you home.
Can they infect you?
Current research suggests that apart from a reaction to the bites (or more specifically the secretion of the bug’s saliva when it tucks into you as supper, yum!), you are not otherwise at risk of infection or disease.
Can you get rid of them?
Yes, but not without effort. Heat is one of the best, most natural ways to kill bed bugs, but it’s not as simple as taking your stuff to a beach for the day. You need to hit specific temperatures for certain periods of time depending on the type of infestation (age of the bugs, presence of eggs, etc.), so if you end up with bed bugs, do proper research to ensure you eradicate them properly and permanently.
7 Steps for spotting bed bugs when you travel
Of course, the best option is always going to be avoiding meeting bed bugs in the first place, but that isn’t always an option when you’re moving from one unknown guesthouse, hotel or hostel to another. The good news is that, contrary to popular myth, you can see bed bugs, and even if they are hiding when you check, there are a number of other good indicators to look out for, too.
After having had a scrape with these biters a fair number of times, here’s what I’ve learned about how to spot bed bugs.
1. Look for dander and eggs
Look for what? Dander – the skin of bed bugs that is shed over time. If bed bugs are present, dander may be on top of the sheets or under the sheets, on the mattress. Don’t just rely on sight – run your hand over the sheet/mattress to see if you feel anything crumb-like (gross, but you can wash your hands afterwards).
In a room that has recently been made-up, any dander may have been brushed away so re-check after an hour or two. If your bed seems to be getting gritty for reasons you can’t explain (you already took a shower after the beach), it’s possible bugs are on the move.
2. Check for mattress stains
Photo by: lou_bugs_pics.
Another grim fact – bed bugs comprise mainly blood. Consequently, when they get squashed (they’re ultimately no match for a person rolling over on them), they bleed out. This results in red/brown stains that tend to be focused around the mattress seams where the bugs get trapped.
3. Give the mattress and bed a shake
As it is possible to see bed bugs, one of the most obvious ways to bring them out of their hiding place is to give the bed and mattress a shake. The bugs may not oblige, but more than once I’ve seen them scurry when confronted with the bed bug equivalent of an earthquake.
4. Tune into your inner-itch
Ok, not the most scientific method for checking for bed bug presence, but before I’d figured out the other indicators of bed bugs, I woke more than once in the night feeling itchy. I didn’t have a huge number of bites, but my inner-itch instinct told me something wasn’t right.
5. Look for bites
This is a tough one, particularly when you’re in a tropical country with a number of pests vying for your blood including mosquitoes and fleas. All three bite types will leave you with a red welt that itches, so it can be difficult to distinguish between the bites. As well as looking for the other signs of bed bugs, generally I find that, unlike flea or mosquito bites, bed bug bites tend to feel itchy yet tender when scratched, unlike mosquito and flea bites, where relief usually come from scratching (at least at first).
Equally, bed bug bites broadly follow a line and are grouped in threes – commonly referred to as breakfast, lunch and dinner as the bugs feast on your flesh!
6. Look for blood smears
As well as mattress stains, it’s common to see marks on sheets that look like you might have dropped a red/brown marker pen on the bed. Gross warning: this is basically squashed excrement that is mainly comprised of blood. More than once I have seen this as an early indicator of bugs after I’ve sat on the bed for a while.
7. Look for the bugs themselves
Photo by: medilldc.
They’re pretty fast movers and are human shy (despite biting you) so won’t hang around too quickly, but bed bugs are visible. They are a dark/red colour often best described as mahogany, but I have seen then looking more translucent if they haven’t fed for a while. While size will depend on age, the ones I’ve spotted have been between a quarter to half of a little fingernail in size.
If the above checks don’t show any bed bug signs, you can probably sleep peacefully. However, if you do discover the presence of bed bugs…
What to do when you find bed bugs
1. Isolate your belongings
The most important thing to do when you find bed bugs is to isolate your belongings – you don’t want to take the problem with you. Put all clothes and items that have come into contact with the bed into a plastic bag and seal it. Equally, close up your bag sealing safe all of your non-contaminated items.
As a preventative measure, try not to place your clothes on a bed until you’re confident it is devoid of bugs.
2. Get out of the room
So, it’s a nice hotel in a good location at the price you want? So what. Get out – bed bugs can seriously hinder your fun and are rarely worth the risk. Don’t worry if you’ve already paid – most places will refund your charges if you point out the issue, and if they don’t, persist and complain.
Unfortunately, there may be times when it is the middle of the night and it is not practical to move accommodation. In that case, ask for a change of room, find a hammock if there is one or an alternative place to sleep and get out as soon as you can the next day.
3. Notify the hostel or hotel
Photo by: grenade.
There will always be exceptions, but most hotel managers and owners are mortified at the idea of bed bugs and there is nothing more likely to kill custom than a review that utters the ‘B’ word. Sadly for hotel businesses, it is usually people who bring bugs into their establishment and unless you tell them that they have them, they won’t know to act.
Unfortunately, there are some also places that simply don’t care and in that case, feel free to go online and leave an informative review.
4. Get heat treatment
As mentioned above, heat treatment is one of the most effective ways to deal with bed bug. When you’re on the road, the easiest way to do this is to take your clothes to a launderette and subject them to an hour-long stint in the tumble drier at the hottest heat setting. If this is not an option, you can investigate chemical treatments and sprays, but these aren’t so kind on the environment or your clothes.
5. Check and spray your bag
As well as decontaminating your clothes, it’s important to inspect your bag and other belongings. Although it is not ideal, giving your bag a spritz with bug spray is likely to be your best option.
6. Pack bed bug killer
After my brother ended up spending a ridiculous and un-budgeted amount of money on high end hotels after two bed bug incidents on his recent holiday in Italy, I’ve given more thought to the idea of travelling with a portable bug spray. The bottles are large so I’d probably decant and put a copy of the label in my bag/on the bottle. I’ve not tried it but it would definitely give me some peace of mind.
What NOT to do when you have bed bugs
1. Freak out
Bed begs are unpleasant, they bite, they itch and they can get into your stuff, which is all pretty horrid stuff, but they do not kill you. Freaking out is a natural instinct but try to keep calm and you will be better able to deal with the situation rationally.
2. Take it out on the hostel/hotel owner
As I mentioned above, the presence of bed bugs is often the result of travellers bringing the critters with them, not the property, and it is sadly one of the hazards of running such a business. Most property owners will deal with the problem quickly and effectively when they are alerted to the problem and shouting at them will not help. Sadly, there will be times that the issue isn’t dealt with effectively, but all shouting will do in those circumstances is make you more stressed and angry. A follow-up email to the hotel or complaint or honest review online is likely to be more effective.
3. Throw everything away
Photo by: hooliaf.
When spotted quickly and before bed bugs have had a chance to come into contact with your belongings, you may not need to do anything other than move accommodation. Even if you think there is a risk the bugs have transferred to your belongings, it is possible to treat bedbugs (see above), so don’t react by throwing everything away.
4. Stay put
The longer you stay at an infested location, the more likely you will take bed bugs with you on the rest of your trip or home. Get out as soon as you can and do not go back – there are plenty of places to stay around the world, you don’t need to tolerate bed bugs.
How to minimise your chance of bed bugs
1. Get a Bed Bug Travel Protection Kit
I’ve just discovered they have travel protection kits on Amazon. It includes bed bug traps so you can tell if you have bugs within an hour and a protection spray. The kit includes chemicals but they’re plane safe, which helps me justify the price. If you’re paranoid (as we can easily become when we feel that inner itch), it might be a good investment.
2. Check reviews
Before you turn up at a new location, check out your intended hostel or hotel online. Reviewers on sites like Hostelworld are usually pretty frank, but otherwise searching the name of your accommodation plus bed bugs should provide you with some valuable information.
3. Eye up other guests
Itching, red and blotchy guests might be a sign that bed bugs are present. It’s possible any bites were gained in a previous place so the best way to find out is to (subtly) ask. Try not to freak your fellow travellers out – they may not know what is causing their itch.
4. Try baby oil
I know some travellers swear by baby oil to keep bed bugs away. Rubbed onto the skin before bed time, the theory is that the oiled skin keeps the bugs from getting sufficient traction to bite. Now, I’ve not tested this myself so don’t know if it will work, but at least you will wake up with super soft skin (just make sure you don’t stain the sheets with too much oil, especially if you’re likely to be charged).
Now, suitably itchy and disgusted, feel free to go take a shower…or share your own bed bug horror stories in the comments below.
Main photo by: voltrader.
Nice post. Bed bugs are real nuisance, I found bed bugs on my stuff in my room we checked in the other day, informed the hostel management and they steamed my belongings and my bed. We stayed another 2 nights there after and I woke up with more bites both nights and found another bug on my mattress the morning we were checking out. We went straight to a laundry and put all that we could through a tumble dryer. Spent last night in a New hostel, and have woken up with a few more bites, do you think these could just be a delayed reaction or do we still have a problem…
Hi, what a nightmare! Check your bag to make sure you don’t have any stowaways. Bed bugs are pretty visible. It could be that your new hostel has bedbugs also. I’ve had that happen more than once. Hope you get it sorted.
Hi! I’m travelling through panama and costa rica and right before crossing the border i stayed at a place for 1night where I got maybe 50 bed bug bites… I thought that there were just too many mosquitos in that place but after 2days i started to get suspicious and now I know I definitely have bed bugs. Because I didnt know earlier, I didn’t separate my stuff and now maybe everything is infected. I tried to look for a laundry place here but they dont wash with hot water here (i searched for it in 3different towns already). I have no idea what to do now and i will feel super guilty for sleeping in a dorm and infecting others but I cant afford private rooms.. Should I tell my next hostel about the bedbugs? They might not want me in their hostel. I really hope you can give me some advice because i feel very lost
Hi Chaira, that’s such a horrible situation. If it were me, I’d choose the hostel you want to go to next and before booking, email them to explain the situation. Most hostels (and hotels) deal with bed bugs regularly so they probably have a process in place. Ask the hostel if they can help you find a spray/laundry and when you arrive, leave your bag outside so you don’t take the bugs in. Travel early so you have time to deal with the bugs and get your things cleaned so you can finally get into your bunk bed-bug free. If one hostel won’t help, keep emailing until you find one that will. Hope that helps. Let me know how you get on. PS: I’m currently in Costa Rica having crossed the border into Panama. Hope you’re enjoying your travels despite the bed bugs!
Hello—
Last night we were in a hotel room for about an hour. We were in our pajamas sitting on the bed when my husband pulled down the bedding and there was a bed bug! He didn’t move very fast—in fact sat still while he went and got a tissue to catch it in. Did not have our luggage on the bed but on the leather ottoman—off the floor. One sweater did fall on the floor, and had my camera case on the floor.
Showed the manger and they refunded our room and we left. Put SOME of our clothes in a plastic bag and tied it shut, but didn’t do that with everything. Got to another hotel and I ironed what we had on, put out shoes next to the heater for the night, ironed the outsides off our luggage, my purse and camera bag.
My biggest question is-being we were only there an hour, how likely is an infestation? We still have over a week of traveling.
We put the luggage we had in that room on top of another suitcase in our car—could they be in that one now? (Just so you know, the temperature in way below freezing, and we left that other suitcase in the car all night now.)
Yes, I’m freaking out—the last thing I want to do is bring them home.
Any advice??
Hi Kari, it’s hard to say but it sounds like you reacted quickly. I’d recommend unpacking outdoors when you get home then washing and drying all of your clothes in a very hot tumble dryer. Bed bugs are visible so just check your bags and other items closely before taking them inside. Hope that helps!
Went to Tokyo for new year. Few days later noticed a rash on my shoulder. I thought it was a reaction to the detergent as I had the hotel do laundry two days before. On the day I was leaving Japan found someone had posted a review about bed bugs in the hotel 6 days prior. When I got back to the states went to urgent care and the thought it was just a rash but didn’t rule out bed bugs. I left all my stuff in garbage bags on my deck for 3 days went through my suitcase outside and saw nothing. Still left it outside. Until I was forced to bring my stuff in because of a thunder storm. Even though everything was still in trash bags. A few days later started noticing what look like bug bites in a line. Rip my bed room apart and killed something. Called my pest control guy to come do a inspection today, but I can’t sleep, currently doing laundry as I found a blood stain on my pillow. This sucks, I got back on the 8th.
Urgh. I’m sorry you’re having this experience. It really is horrible and if it is bed bugs, they scatter quickly. However, keep in mind they are horrible and annoying but they won’t cause you harm beyond the bites. Pest control is the way to go. Good luck!
Hi everyone. Good news!!!! Area flea spray!!!! I had bed bugs in an an apartment (3 story house)….from my cat who caught a bat and brought it to my bed…yay. I had flea spray for a pets bedding. I had to do something so I tested it out. KILLED INSTANTLY. Do not waste money on an exterminator or fancy bed bug treatments. Flea spray and wash your stuff. TRUE STORY. THE END
Are you sure they were bed bugs? I’ve not heard of bed bugs living on bats….
We had a very bad encounter with bedbugs more than a year ago. I know that the general opinion is that they don’t carry disease, but we’ve been coming down with various symptoms since. Mainly joint pain and other inflammatory symptoms, yet we are negative for tick-transmitted boreliosis and other such infections. We just haven’t been the same since.
Hi GJ, joint and inflammatory symptoms are very typical of so many issue. There have been no links between bed bugs and bad health. Stress can trigger both join and inflammatory problems. I’d speak to your doctor if you’re worried about your health but also trust that they would have found a link if there was one. Wishing you better health.
We are currently in Laos and found our bed full of bedbugs around 20 minutes after check-in. They changed our room, but I found another one in the new bed. Currently 4am and I refuse to go back to be bed. In the morning we are traveling to another destination. As soon as we get there I guess we just best leave our luggage outside, strip, put everything in plastic bags, bring to the laundry. And then wash the backpacks as well.. I feel like non of my clothes is ‘safe’ anymore but I will need to wear something today…
Hi Merel, try not to be paranoid. Taking the precautions you mention is a good idea but you just inspect your clothes. Bed bugs don’t tend to live in clothes you wear so you will shake them off pretty quickly. Good luck with the rest of your trip.
Im in Laos right now and the same thing is happening to me and my boyfriend… This is freaking horrible
Hi Lucia, I’m so sorry you’ve been plagued by bed bugs. Hope some of the tips in this post have helped.
I stayed at a nice hotel last week and when I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom (happens a lot..I’m 7 months pregnant!), I found an engorged bedbug on my sheets. The hotel moved me to a new room, and my belongings were either washed in hot water and dryer on hot, or dryer on hot and then sent to the dry cleaners for more treatment. After I treated my clothes, I got moved to another room just in case I had carried any bugs to the 2nd one. My shoes and the baby blanket I’m knitting are currently in plastic bags in my home freezer. When I got home, I repeated the heat treatment in my home washer/dryer. I was only checked into the infested room for 6 hours before moving, and my luggage was on the desk across the room from the bed. I haven’t gotten any bites since that first night, and haven’t seen any signs of bugs…but I’m feeling super paranoid. As I said, I’m pregnant and setting up my nursery, and am TERRIFIED that I might end up with a home infestation. The hotel said they had the eco lab come and they only found 4 bedbugs in the bed, nowhere else, and that they hadn’t started laying eggs yet. Do you think I’ve done enough to prevent these suckers from taking over my house and making the first months with my baby bedbuggy?
Hi Sarah, that’s a horrible experience and amplified because you’re pregnant and probably not in the market for a fumigation. I’m no expert but if you have been home and not seen any bedbug signs, I think you’re probably ok. But for peace of mind, can you get a pest inspector to come around and check. Just make sure you get a legit one. Good luck with the new baby.
Hi! So i’m staying in a private room in a hostel and last night my friend and I found what looks like a bed bug. We checked our beds and could not find any more. She maybe has 2 bites but they also may be pimples. We had to stay in the room after we noticed them but my question is how to know if my things are ok and bed bug free. I am planning to take all of my clothing to the laundromat to clean and dry before bringing it home. But for things such as postcards, eye contact solution and my water bottle if I don’t see any bed bugs is it safe to bring them back or should I be doing something else? Also I have a leather jacket and leather books that I want to make sure I don’t bring bugs back in but I’m not sure how to clean them. I also had 2 books in my bag but since I was only in the room for 2 nights I’m not sure if I need to worry about these. Thank you so much!
Hi Rachel, my first question is are you sure they were bed bugs? Also, they are visible so if it were me and I was still worried when I got home, I’d put my bag in the garden/outside and take the items in one by one after giving them a proper inspection. They’re not going to get into contact lens solution or your water bottle (unless they’re trying to drown themselves). I don’t want to advise you incorrectly but I think you’ll be fine.
We have been dealing with bed bugs for a long time. We lived at The Courtyard Inn here in Reno, NV. It is a by the month motel that is going to be closed soon for remodeling. Last Summer, the former manager sprayed our room for bed bugs, but since he didn’t spray adjoining rooms, they came back.
On November 1, 2019, a new owner and manager took over. We were moved to Renova Flats, a co-housing place that was remodeled and reopened last Summer. It is owned by the Courtyard people. We washed all our clothes.
As of today, we have been here two weeks, but most of our possessions are back in the old room. Things like a laptop and printer, knic knacks and kitchen supplies. The new manager said they would heat treat before they brought our things to us. I am terrified that they won’t get ALL of these disgusting bugs.
Urgh, That is really unpleasant. It’s good to know that the hotel is dealing with it but it’s not good having the constant worry. Is there another nearby hotel by the month you could move to?
Thank you for writing about this, Jo. I have been traveling since April of 2018. This past year I have stayed in hostels, hotels and nice homes. Every single place has a bed bug infestation. I have spent hundreds of hours and dollars dealing with it. Now I travel with one small shoulder bag that I can clean and one small bag of toiletries. Every time I leave a place I spend hours cleaning everything, so that I do not carry them with me to the nrxt place. I pour alcohol in my shoes because it will kill all five stages of a bed bugs life. A hot dryer does not kill the babies, nor does a freezer. Anything that does not kill them immediately gives them time to have babies which look like a tiny piece of white paper.
Oh no – that is really bad luck and I can understand why it would make you so diligent. I’m travelling at the moment and had a panic moment the other day but I think I’m good. Thanks for the alcohol tip!
Hi ! We really need your help.
We recently in costa rica suffered a bed bug infestation in a fancy hotel that we carried around for 2 weeks. We washed everything but probably not good enough.
Finally after a month, we were entirely covered. My partner had 180 bites (the bugs preferred him) and 50 myself. We were so weak from the sleep deprivement and the bites infections that we ended up in the Hospital. They’confirmed it was bed bugs and told us to wash everything again. We went into a cleaning frenzy, moved hotel, washed EVERYTHING Hot and dried hot. (The bags, the vanity case, the clothes…) I personnally boiled the clothes we had on ourselves, and cooked our shoes 200 degrees for 45 minutes. I sprayed our computer and books with DEET. I checked everything as a paranoid girl and never saw a thing. Never saw an egg, never saw a bug. Nothing. (Spent maybe 5 hours total checking). We had some quiet time, moved hotel again, and today (5days later) the bites are back. It is not from the hotel as I checked. Now the bites happen through the day, as if the bugs were in our clothes. I was even bitten on my leg, through the day, when I was wearing mini shorts. Checked the clothes, nothing. We boiled them again, to be sure. We are getting completely mad, especially as we cannot see any of them, and as people have no cure for us but what we already did. What shall we do ? I read 100 websites already and i am powerless. Do you know if there is another specie of bugs that would bite like bed bugs but be invisible ? How could the bed bugs survive the boiling ? We are so helpless, if you have any idea, please let us know. We thank you dearly
Hi Laura, what a horrible, horrible experience you’re having. I’m so sorry this is happening on your trip 🙁 Coming at this as an outsider, it seems to me that the only ‘evidence’ that you’re being bitten by bed bugs (as opposed to other bugs) is the word of one doctor. You have gone to great lengths to get rid of any bugs and have not seen any bugs recently – they are visible. Personally, I would go and get another doctor’s opinion. Bites can be easy to confuse and doctors can be wrong. Are you covering yourself in high-level DEET – I know this might not be a good idea if you have open wounds but I’m wondering whether they are other bites e.g. mosquitoes. Especially if you’re getting the bites outdoors. I’m not a bed bug expert and I suppose one could hitch a ride with you for the day but as far as I know, they like to live in static place rather than follow you on days out. Visiting a different doctor would be my first next step. After that, I’d see if you can get the advice of a local exterminator. Speak with your hotel – they are likely to have a contact and might be able to come and spray your room with your things in it. I really hope your trip gets better. Good luck and come back and let me know how you get on…
Hello, just got back from traveling..
I am pretty sure I got attached by bedbugs at one of the favorite hostels I stayed at. I had a bad reaction right away to some bites on my wrist. Thought it was a spider because I had the same kind of reaction from a spider not long ago. I checked the bed area but didn’t know the sign to look for. Within the next few days more bites started to appear on other wrist, my thumbs, and behind my knee is a line of bites.
Then I researched it and some of those signs were present in the bed when I looked, I just didn’t know. Their were spots on sheets and i think there was a tiny micro bug, the size of a dirt speck that I squished and it was a dark color on the sheet. At the time didn’t know it could have been a bug, though could have been dirt. I wrote to hostel to tell them and they never responded.
Now I am freaking out a bit. I returned home, left everything in the garage. Bagged it all the next morning.
My question is not what to do with all the clothes and fabrics. I will wash and dry tomorrow with hot water and air.
What about my stuff? My papers, makeup, money, books, souvenirs I bought, plastic stuff, money, charges. Etc.. also now I am paranoid about my stuff being in the car when I returned home, myself sitting in the car, before I could bag stuff up. Possibly contaminating the car.
This morning I saw another micro bug in the bag with all my stuff.. not positive what it was, was so tiny like a dust speck. But worried it was a bedbug.
I read that you can freeze things for 4 days that can’t be washed, so I am doing that now to some things.
I am also wiping down my stuff or rinsing with water before I bring it in, like the make up bathroom stuff etc.. no room to freeze all that.
My husband and I are very sensitive to poisons and stuff like that so poisoning bug spray is not an option for my stuff.
But I heard a horror story from a friend who had a bedbug infestation in her house and she had to burn everything she had.
So now I am overly paranoid i think.. worried about all my things , even the ones i wiped down.
Do you think little micro bugs could still be on my stuff? I know you said you can mostly see them. I’ve never seen a big bug just the two micro ones, at the hostel and today in the plastic bag of stuff- if that’s what they were. And what about a fold up umbrella and stuff like that, could they be hiding in anything?
I know I sound neurotic but I cannot bring this stuff into my husbands family home.. where I am now. And none of the family understand about bed bugs and already think I am super strange for freezing my stuff and not bring anything inside.
So I am trying not to be over the top, but feel like the bugs could be everywhere in all my belongings. Please help ease my mind..
Hi Marie, I’m so sorry you’ve had such a bad experience. First of all, try not to panic. Are you absolutely sure the micro specks are actual bed bugs? They sound too small to me. Take a picture of one and check online. Next, the research suggests that heat is better than freezing. But tumble dryer heat not just a warm room. I’d suggest getting a pest control expert to visit if you’re worried. Otherwise, for peace of mind, how attached are you to the things affected? Would it be cheaper to get a new umbrella/book than a fumigation. At the least, you could pay for an inspection from an expert. Hope that helps…
Nice post. Bed bugs are real nuisance, I found bed bugs on my stuff in my room we checked in the other day, informed the hostel management and they steamed my belongings and my bed. We stayed another 2 nights there after and I woke up with more bites both nights and found another bug on my mattress the morning we were checking out. We went straight to a laundry and put all that we could through a tumble dryer. Spent last night in a New hostel, and have woken up with a few more bites, do you think these could just be a delayed reaction or do we still have a problem….
Hi, it’s hard to say except that sometimes the bites didn’t irritate me at first so you might not have noticed the bites. Steaming wouldn’t usually be hot or long enough to kill the bugs. Check your bag and bed but usually moving location is enough.