The last thing you want to happen while you’re traveling for work or pleasure is to find out that your hotel room has a bed bug infestation. Topeka, KS is no exception.
People often wonder how common bed bugs are in hotels. Unfortunately, infestations are actually more common than you might think. A survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association found that 75% of professionals working in pest control reported encountering bed bug infestations in hotels.
How do bed bugs find their way into a hotel?
Bed bugs are hitchhikers. If a person has bed bugs and checks into a hotel, the clothing he or she is wearing and packed in luggage can provide a method of transportation for the pests.
Bed bugs can also tag along, riding on someone’s briefcase or backpack. When a bed bug lays eggs on such items that are later moved, the eggs can fall off in a completely different city. It’s quite easy for them to spread around, and hotels are a very common site for transmission.
After you check into a hotel room and put your suitcases down on the floor, bed bugs in the room can hop into the luggage and get in your clothing. There also could be bed bugs left over in the closet and drawers by the previous occupant of your room. As soon as you put your own clothing in there, you run the risk of getting bed bugs too. It’s wise to carefully inspect your surroundings before placing your luggage anywhere in a new hotel room.
How to Check for Bed Bugs in Hotels
Bed bugs are typically attributed to hotels because there is so much foot traffic. People are coming and going, some from one hotel to another, especially those on business or who are tourists.
Bed bugs are parasites which means they feed on blood. With a constant supply of food, hotels are an ideal place for bed bugs to make their home.
When you first enter your hotel room, very carefully pull back the bedding to see if there are any spots on the sheets. These spots are a result of the biting and are a pretty good indicator of an infestation. Then take a look at the mattress seams. It’s recommended that you closely inspect the corners and behind the headboard as these are typical hiding spots.
Lastly, inspect the couch and chairs. If you find any signs of an infestation or live bed bugs themselves, contact the manager, and switch hotel rooms. A room furthest from the current room could have a lower chance of infestation.
How to Avoid Bed Bugs in Hotels
In addition to inspecting the bed and other furniture, it’s a good idea to protect your clothing. If possible, keep your luggage as packed as possible, only taking items out as needed.
Before putting clothing into drawers, you should always check them first for bugs. Some travelers will carry plastic bags to keep their luggage in for the duration of their stay to avoid infestation.
In the case that you do pick up bed bugs from your stay, vacuum off your luggage and put all clothing in the washer with hot water and dry on hot heat to kill any lingering pests.
How can Schendel Pest Services get rid of the bed bugs in my home?
Whether your family has gotten bed bugs after staying in a hotel or they happened to arrive some other way such as from a recent house guest, it’s a problem that professionals should be dealing with. Turning to DIY can only make the infestation worse, making it even more challenging for pest control professionals to eliminate.
At Schendel Pest Services, our team of pest control experts has years of experience handling bed bug infestations and we welcome the opportunity to serve you. To learn more about our approach to bed bug control, click here now. Fill out the form on this page or give us a call to schedule a bed bug inspection!
