They creep, they crawl, and they just might be in your hotel room. What’s worse, they could be coming home with you.
Bed bug infestations can occur at any time, but experts say it’s wise to be extra wary of the critters during peak travel times — like the holidays. Hiding in cracks and crevices, the bugs are good hitchhikers and could latch onto luggage and other belongings.
On a recent survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), 75% of pest control professionals responding have seen bed bugs in hotels and motels. “They’re not discriminating against travelers,” said Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist for the NPMA. “They don’t discriminate between a first-class resort or a low-rate motel. You could encounter them anywhere.”
A resurgence in bed bugs has been developing the past few decades, and has now reached epic proportions in some communities. While they primarily reside in sleeping quarters, increasingly they are being found in lobbies and waiting areas as well. Basically all they need to survive are (1) people, because they feed on our blood, and (2) a place to hide to avoid being apprehended. In a bedroom they often crawl between mattresses, under box springs, or behind draperies. But they’ve also been discovered under benches, sofas, tables, and chairs in public spaces.
Why are bed bugs booming now? There are three obvious reasons. First, more people live in cities now, and bedbugs love densely packed warm bodies. Next, people are traveling more than ever, giving bedbugs an opportunity to spread. Finally, they’ve developed resistance to many pesticides, and many they once succumbed to (like DDT) are no longer widely used.
Clearly, diligence is called for to prevent these pests from hitchhiking into your residence or business!
If your holiday plans include a stay in a hotel or motel, now is a good time to develop a bedbug awareness plan. It’s important to take precautions to ensure your room is bed bug free before settling in, and to maintain awareness in public areas. Here are some expert tips to defend against these insidious creatures…
During your journey…
– Acquaint yourself with the adversary before leaving. Know what bed bugs, both adults and nymphs, look like. Adults are particularly easy to spot; they’re reddish-brown and grow to roughly the size of an apple seed.
– Upon entering your hotel room, refrain from unpacking until you’ve thoroughly inspected the premises. Pro tip: As a precaution, many people leave bags on the luggage cart or put their luggage into the bathtub/shower while giving their room a once-over.
– Pull back bed sheets and look closely at mattress seams and corners for telltale stains, such as “fecal spotting” (dark spots left on material), roundish blood stains (left by feeding bed bugs), and clusters of eggs. If you find or even suspect anything, notify management and insist upon changing rooms immediately. In severe circumstances you may even need to go to a different establishment. Don’t be concerned about causing a fuss…a few upset employees are a lot easier to deal with than itchy sores and bed bugs that find their way into your home!
– After checking the bed, thoroughly inspect the rest of your room. Look for pests behind the headboard, in sofas and chairs. Flip cushions and pillows, and look around tables, in drawers, and inside closets. Once again, if you see pests of any kind, change rooms immediately.
– If a room change becomes necessary, do not agree to move to an adjacent room. You should also refuse to relocate above or below the suspected infestation. Why? Bed bugs often migrate on housekeeping carts, luggage, and through wall sockets. If an infestation is spreading, bugs typically move to rooms closest to “ground zero.”
– Pro tip: Even if your accommodations appear clean, consider putting suitcases in a plastic trash bag or protective cover during your stay. A little precaution can go a long way.
Back at home…
Despite your best efforts bed bugs can still find their way onto (or into) your items. This can occur when in or out of your possession. When your trip is over…
– Inspect luggage before bringing it into the house. Vacuum bags thoroughly before storing. Pro tip: For ultimate security, steam all pieces with a garment steamer; the heat will kill any bed bugs or eggs that may be hiding in the lining.
– Wash all clothes in hot water to ensure that any bed bugs that may have made it that far are not placed into your drawers or closet. Do this for every item…even pieces that weren’t worn on your trip. Dry them on the hottest setting possible.
As hotels all over the world are discovering, bed bugs are a serious problem that’s hard to resolve. The more proactive you are when traveling, the less likely you are to bring back a budding infestation. Hopefully you’ll never need assistance to eliminate bed bugs at your place, but if so, contact us at (405) 679-8729. We’re here to help!
