You should always check for bed bugs in your hotel room. Even luxury hotels can have bed bugs.
To protect yourself from bed bugs and prevent them from hitching a ride home with you there are steps you should take to check for them.
I’m a travel lover and I’ve stayed in probably hundreds of hotels at this point in time and I never thought to check for bed bugs until my encounter with them.
So in this post you’ll learn how to check for bed bugs in your hotel room and what to do if you find them.
How To Check For Bed Bugs In Your Hotel Room
The next time you check into your hotel room the following steps will help you prevent bed bugs from biting in your sleep and protect your home from an infestation too.
#1. Place Your Luggage In Clean BathTub Or On Rack Off Of The Floor
Don’t unpack your suitcase until you have completed your inspection of bed bugs in your hotel room.
#2. Do This Before Sleeping On Your Bed
Pull blanket and sheets off the bed and start by checking the corners of the bed this is a place bed bugs like to hide. Check for dark brown or rust colored stains.
You may want to use a flashlight to give you a better view of this area. Check the pillowcases and pull them off of the pillows. Look Inside the pillowcases and check corners of the pillows.
Peel off sheets to check the mattress. Examine folds and seams especially at the corners of the bed. You may want to use a credit card or business card to assist you to get underneath the folds of the mattress.
Again you will be looking for rust-colored or dark brown stains. Also, keep an eye out for any live or dead bed bugs.
Make sure to closely examine dark spots with a flashlight. You can even use a flashlight on your phone if you don’t have one with you.
#3. Check upholstered Furniture
This is another area that bed bugs like to hide. Pay careful attention to dark places and check the seams and folds of the furniture.
#4. Check The Curtains
Look in dark places of the curtains and do a careful inspection to make sure there are no bed bugs hiding in them.
#5. Look Behind The Headboard
Take your flash light and examine dark areas or any grooves. Be aware of any bed bugs moving or trying to flee the area as you start your inspection.
#6. Check the Night Stands
This should complete your inspection of bed bugs with this last step go through the night stand and use your flash light to check drawers and again pay close attention to dark areas.
What Should I Do If I Find Bed Bugs In Hotel Room?
If you didn’t find any bed bugs then you can be pretty sure that you will be able to sleep in peace without the bed bugs biting.
Now that you have completed your inspection and if you found bed bugs you should leave the room immediately and notify the hotel.
There are precautions you should take to help you avoid taking bed bugs home with you.
The following steps should be taken:
- Luggage should be kept in the garage or outdoor porch when you arrive home
- Place washable clothing in a garbage bag and immediately place in the washing machine.
- Wash clothing on High temperature for at least 30 minutes
- Then Place in dryer on High temperature at least 30 minutes
- Tie up and throw away the empty garbage bag immediately outside
- (toiletry, shoes, suitcase, etc.) should stay isolated outdoors until they can be carefully inspected
Bed bug infestations can be reported online via several consumer registries like the one here.
Final Thoughts On How To Check For Bed Bugs In Hotel Room
If you read my story, then you know that I brought home bed bugs from a hotel stay. It was an awful experience and one I hope this post can help you prevent.
Following the steps on here can greatly help reduce your chances of bringing home bed bugs and from getting bed bugs bites on your next hotel stay.
Just remember even the most expensive luxury hotels can have bed bugs. So you should always check your room before unpacking your luggage.
If you do find bed bugs leave the room immediately and notify the hotel. Also follow the percautions here to avoid any bed bugs hitching a ride with you.
An infestation of bed bugs is a nightmare and if you find you have bed bugs act immediately to kill them before they spread to other rooms of your home.
