Bed bugs are such a horrendous scourge that you can hardly begin to talk about them without everyone around you gasping in horror. These pests are notoriously difficult to eradicate and uncomfortable to boot. You may be convinced that bed bugs can't invade the fortress of your apartment, but when you're on vacation, all strict hygiene precautions go out the window because you never know who is going to open what's in your closet last. That’s why it’s important to know how to check your hotel room for bed bugs, because trust me, you don’t want to bring them home.
Spotting bed bugs is harder than you think, according to Bed Bug Central. Bed bugs feed on human blood and can survive for up to 18 months without eating. While bed bugs can't jump or fly, they are skilled hitchhikers and can attach themselves to clothing and luggage. This means you can bring an uninvited guest into your home, and by the time you realize it, you could be dealing with a serious infection.
"Bed bugs have made a resurgence in the United States over the past decade. Unnoticed, as travelers' belongings are transported across the country, these pests have found their way into all types of properties: transportation vehicles and hubs, hotels, colleges and universities , movie theaters and libraries, retail stores and even offices,” explains pest control company Rentokil Steritech on its blog. "Nowhere is safe."
While adult bed bugs are the size and color of an apple seed, the babies (nymphs) are invisible to the naked eye. These pests love to live in mattress seams and come out at night to get food from your body. The good news is, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bed bugs don't spread disease, but the itching and angry red welts you'll feel after a bite are much scarier. That old saying from childhood: "Good night, don't let the bed bugs bite you?" Yeah, it's not funny.
It's worth noting that unlike other pests, bed bugs only feed on blood, so they can invade any home, no matter how dirty or clean it is. The presence of bed bugs is not an indicator of the cleanliness of your home or hotel. If I've just scared you about something scary, before you swear to avoid traveling altogether, there are a few things you can do to stay bed bug-free while traveling, but it will change the way you interact with your family in your hotel room.
"In hotels, place your luggage on non-upholstered furniture away from the bed, such as a table," says Dr. Nancy Troyano, entomologist and director of technical education and training for Rentokil Steritech, which owns Western Exterminator, Ehrlich, and Presto -X, tell Bustle via email. "If you use a luggage rack, check for bed bugs before putting your suitcase down."
For many people, one of the best things about a hotel room is the ability to wrap yourself in crisp white sheets. However, before you collapse on your bed, you'll want to rip it out first. "Pull the corners of bedding back and inspect mattresses and box springs for bed bugs or signs of bed bugs," Dr. Troiano says. "When you inspect a hotel bed, there are some telltale signs to look out for. Bed bugs molt and shed their skin before each new life stage. Often you can find this shed skin around the infested area, such as in the creases of your mattress," she noted. Additionally, "bed bugs also leave behind fecal deposits after taking a blood meal. You can spot these little dots that look like you touched a black marker on a fabric, such as a mattress cover," Dr. Troiano also said. "Pay special attention to seams, where bed bugs like to hide," is recommended.
If you do find signs of bed bugs, notify the front desk and ask to be moved to a different room on a different floor immediately. Before booking a hotel, you can check the bed bug registry to see if there have been any reports for the location. You can also use the registry to inspect the apartment building before signing the lease. Additionally, Rentokil Steritech provides a detailed infographic that you can refer to to ensure you have thoroughly inspected your hotel or apartment.
Even if you change rooms, or don't find any signs of bed bugs, there are some post-travel precautions you need to take. "Treat your suitcase as if you already have bed bugs. Do not place your suitcase on a bed, couch, or other piece of furniture to unpack. Instead, try removing items from the suitcase in areas such as the laundry room, kitchen, garage Or the foyer,” Dr. Troiano said.
"After unpacking, if possible, store the suitcase in a non-living space, such as an attic, basement, or garage. If the suitcase must be stored under the bed or in a bedroom closet, place it in a large trash bag first, then Tie the bag tight." While these measures may sound extreme, it's important to follow them because once you introduce bed bugs into your home, it can take months to eliminate them. Having a safe space—like your bed and home—invaded can cause stress, anxiety, dozens of sleepless nights, and can strain even the strongest of relationships.
If you get a bed bug infestation despite taking all precautions (other people may unknowingly bring them into your home), it's much easier to quarantine a bed bug infestation in 2018 than it was a decade ago. Many companies employ bed bug sniffing dogs that can detect exactly where bed bugs are inhabiting your home with incredible accuracy. This means you can defend against germs more effectively instead of washing or throwing away everything you own.
While your pest control company will treat your apartment or house, bed bugs tend to be resistant to many common treatments. Additionally, you’ll want to ask your pest control expert about the types of chemicals they use. If you have cats, you need to isolate them in an untreated room (such as a bathroom) because pyrethroids (a common ingredient in many pesticides) can be fatal to cats.
Here, some comprehensive treatments can help eliminate or even prevent a bed bug infestation without harming you or your pets. You can order food-grade diatomaceous earth on Amazon, which is an incredible pest killer. It looks like a fine powder and the best part is that a little goes a long way. “Diatomaceous earth (DE) kills bed bugs by absorbing the oily protective layer that covers the bed bug’s exoskeleton,” notes the Diatomaceous Earth Blog. "Without this protective layer, bed bugs can dehydrate and die within a few hours."
You can sprinkle it on your bed, around your baseboards, or even apply a light coating on your suitcase before or after traveling. While you shouldn't let your fear of bed bugs stop you from doing the things you love, in this case, the more you know, the less time you'll have to spend trying to make changes in your life by getting rid of these little devils. Dr. Troiano says, "It's better to be safe than sorry." Seriously, this is one of your best bets, stay cautious.
