Updated at: 02-11-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Almost every major hotel operator has reported incidences of bedbug infestations in some of its locations. In most cases, hotels with bed bug infestations turn to licensed pest control companies for help. These companies have a variety of tools at their disposal to combat the problem. Vacuuming, steam or heat treatments, and pesticides are all examples of these approaches. It is necessary to have specialized equipment and training to use the commercial insecticides. We recommend reading this post if you’ve had many complaints about bedbugs in different parts of the hotel, as we’ll discuss how to inspect, treat, and guard against bedbugs in hotels.

How to check for bed bugs in a hotel room?

  1. The closet is where most people keep their dirty clothes. Your flashlight can be a great tool for checking the corners and joints of your home for bedbugs.
  2. If you’re staying in a hotel room, bedbugs are most likely to be found in the bed. The mattress seams and box springs can be inspected by removing the sheets. The presence of little black spots is a common sign of their presence.
  3. In order to check behind the headboard, use a flashlight. The second most likely place to find a bed bug infestation is in the attic.
  4. A piece of art or a mirror is usually hung above the bed. It’s possible that bed bugs are skulking inside of it.. Check behind the mirror or artwork with your flashlight.
  5. All chairs and sofas should be inspected. Remove the cushions and use a flashlight to search for any bedbugs that might be hiding there.
  6. Take a look at the outlets around the bed, especially the ones on the wall. When the plate hits the wall, bedbugs have been known to hide there.
  7. After checking the rest of the room, go through the dresser and nightstand drawers to see if there are any suspicious items. Pull them out and go the additional mile.

10 Tips To Prevent Bed Bug Problems at Hotels

What are possible treatments for getting rid of bed bugs in hotels rooms?

  • For hotels, vacuuming all surfaces should be done. In order to avoid spreading bed bugs, it is recommended that the vacuum bag be removed and sealed as soon as it has been used. Additionally, this will prevent eggs from hatching and re-infesting the hotel room. Make sure to keep in mind that vacuums can’t go into every nook and cranny, so you may need to use other ways.
  • One of the best ways to get rid of bedbugs in a hotel room is to use a penetrating heat source like steam. There are heaters that can reach 121 degrees or more. When the temperature rises above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, bedbugs become sluggish and eventually die out. It also kills all phases of the bedbugs’ life cycle, including eggs.
  • Treatments including insecticides are the most often used in the fight against bed bugs in hotels. In addition to regions where bedbugs eat, live and crawl, our treatment covers all of these areas. Pesticides come in a variety of forms based on the type of insecticide that is being used.

How to prevent bed bugs from coming back?

NPMA suggests the following guidelines for the hotel industry to assist combat bed bugs, and they are based on their own research. The following is a non-exhaustive list of hotel security measures:

  • An infested room will not go away on its own if you leave it untreated. A pest control professional should be called immediately if you suspect that you have pests in your home.
  • Pay attention to guests who complain about being bitten or stung by pests.
  • It is imperative that employees be educated in the detection, control, and prevention of bedbugs.
  • As quickly as possible, deal with bed insect infestations. Remove the contaminated room from service, and then contact a pest control company.
  • Create a pest management strategy that employees can follow in the future if a bed bug problem arises.

4 tips for bed bug prevention in hotels

One of the most difficult pests to control is bedbugs. Because of the large number of possible hiding places and habitats for bed bugs, hotel pest management presents a unique set of obstacles. In addition to putting the health of your guests and employees at danger, pests like these can also damage the reputation of your hotel. However, they can be removed with early discovery and a deliberate strategy.

Getting rid of bugs isn’t as difficult as you would think.

1. Educate Your Staff

Your employees are your strongest line of defense against bedbugs on your site. Educating your hotel personnel on how to identify and remove bedbugs is the first and most important measure you can take to keep these pests out of your establishment. The crew must be alert at all times and look out for the following indicators:

  • Mattresses or bed linens with rust-colored stains that look like dried blood. If bed bugs are squashed while feeding or have just fed, this can happen.
  • In the bedding and skins of the nymphs as they mature, there are small eggshells or eggs. Nymphs and their eggs are around 1 millimeter in diameter, with skin that is typically tan or pale yellow in hue.
  • When wiped with a moist rag, little dark clusters appear. Dark brown or black, this substance comes from the excrement of bed bugs.
  • It’s possible to see real bed bugs in the wild; these oval-shaped insects lack wings. A reddish hue may result from recent feeding, making them appear more brown than usual. When fully developed, adults measure 4 to 5 millimeters in length and are paler in color.

2. Carry out Proper Documentation

The value of proper recordkeeping cannot be overstated. Customer complaints, inspections, and treatment results all go a long way toward helping the appropriate department combat a bed bug infestation. When it comes to good documentation as well as early detection, there is no substitute. Keeping track of prior infestations and the locations that are frequently afflicted can allow you to see where the problem is most prevalent. This helps you design a plan to rid your home of bedbugs.

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3. Take Appropriate Preventive Action

Preventive action is the next logical step. Because bed bugs can hide in hard-to-reach places and swiftly multiply and proliferate if left unchecked, it becomes more difficult for pest control to rid a home of these pests. Insect-infested places need to be sealed off. Use mattress and pillow casements that are sealed to keep allergens out. Professional bed bug exterminators should be considered if your hotel is plagued by bed bug infestations.

4. Employ Effective Elimination Methods

Vacuuming, freezing, and steam heat are three of the most efficient methods for getting rid of bed bugs. Vacuum all of the headboards, seams, and other potential hiding spots. Within five feet of the bed is where bed bugs prefer to hide. Vacuum brushes should be checked to ensure that no pests are caught in the roller and vacuum bags should be securely sealed before they are thrown away. The best way to get rid of these bedbugs is to put the mattress cover, pillowcases, and sheets in the freezer for 48 to 72 hours. Carbon dioxide under pressure is a common bed insect extermination technique used by professionals. Another option is steam heating. All affected bedding and covers should be sent for a steam wash. Bedbugs, as well as their pupae and larvae, are killed by this method of treatment.

How Hotels Prevent Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs can be found in a variety of locations. That’s why it’s important to know how hotels keep bedbugs out of their establishment.

A few pointers:

#1. Make sure to educate your staff

Your employees are your best line of defense against bedbugs.

My buddies, here’s what you need to do:

Make sure your staff is aware of the best practices for spotting bed bugs.

Teach them how to get rid of these pests and how to prevent them from coming back.

Consequently, they must pay close attention to the signals listed below at all times:

  • Stains on the bed or mattress that are crimson in color and resemble dried blood
  • Tiny eggs or eggshells, or the remnants of the nymph’s skin, in the bed sheet;
  • When you wipe them off, they leave smears. Also,
  • Insects that have no wings and are oval in shape.

#2. Proper documentation

My friends, adequate documentation is essential.

Complaints from customers should be noted.

Also, keep a record of inspections and treatments in order to ensure that the infestation is dealt with efficiently.

As soon as you suspect bed bugs are in your home, act quickly.

In addition, appropriate documentation is as crucial.

As a result, you must keep track of the locations where infestations occur, as well as the frequency of illness.

If you follow these steps, you’ll have a clear approach for eliminating these bed bugs.

#3. Preventive strategy

The next step is to devise a strategy for keeping these pests at bay.

The longer you neglect an insect infestation, the more difficult it will be to get rid of them.

Remember how these pests spread and breed; they also tend to form in hard-to-reach places.

As a result, it’s critical to block off any spaces that could potentially be contaminated with bed bugs.

Pillow casements and sealed mattresses, for example, can be used.

Friends, let me tell you something:

Moving as soon as you’ve learned that your hotel is more likely to have a bed bug infestation is a good idea.

In order to get rid of bedbugs, you’ll need the help of a professional.

#4. Use elimination methods

Steaming, freezing, and vacuuming are just some of the methods that can be used to get rid of bed bugs.

It all depends on the situation, of course, but these tactics may or may not be beneficial.

Remember to check the seams, headboards, and other spots for signs of wear and tear.

What you need to know is this:

Most of the time, bed bugs can be found within a five-foot radius of the mattress.

It’s thus imperative that one scout about for their hiding spots.

Make sure there are no bedbugs left in the brushes or bags after vacuuming the area.

Dispose of these items in a safe location.

Additionally, you can attempt to freeze your bed linens, comforters, and pillows for two to three days in an exceptionally cold location.

Using this method, pests can be eliminated.

Bed bugs and their eggs are swiftly eliminated by professionals using carbon dioxide under pressure.

Steam heating is another option that you can experiment with.

Bed bug-infested coverings and bedding must be thrown away.

Steaming is the next step, after which you should put these items in the washing machine.

You’ll be guaranteed to get rid of bedbugs this method.

There are additional bugs like pupa and larvae that can be removed as well.

#5. Other things to do (especially if you’re a traveler)

You must scrutinize the seams or sheets, particularly at the corners, to find spots or stains.

Try to find out if you have bedbugs if you think you have them. See if you can find them!

Inspect the entire room, including the chairs, sofas, and headboard before unpacking.

You need to notify management if you spot any pests.

Keep out of the rooms next to or below you if you’ve recently moved rooms, as they are most likely infested.

Do you know that bedbugs can easily stow away in baggage, carts, and even in the walls of your home?

While staying in a hotel, you may want to consider encasing your belongings in plastic.

You may rest easy knowing that bed bugs won’t follow you around again.

In the same way as I mentioned earlier, they frequently ride along.

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Examine your belongings for signs of bedbugs as soon as you depart.

Make sure to vacuum the suitcase before storing it.

Steaming can also be an option. Bedbugs will be eliminated in this manner.

Lastly, make sure to wash all of the garments you brought along with you on your trip.

It’s A Wrap!

So, how are hotels able to keep bedbugs out of their establishments?

My friends, there are five simple ways to do this.

Follow the advice you’ve just read if you’re in business for yourself.

This is especially critical if you’re a frequent traveler who needs to keep your belongings free of these pests.

Hopefully, you’ve gained a lot of knowledge from this course!