Bed Bugs In Hotels – Find Them Before They Attack You

For an individual who travels around for business or pleasure often there is something you must be aware of – there may be bed bugs in hotels

Bed bugs over the last few years have risen in numbers at an amazing rate around the USA. Homes, hospitals, nursing homes and hotels have all been infected. Bed bugs in hotels do not discriminate – they enjoy up market accommodation too, so by avoiding cheap, grotty motels and hotels you will not be certain to avoid bed bugs!

Why have bed bugs spread so widely? The main reason for this is down to the chemicals which once killed many of the common bugs being removed from the market. These chemical solutions were toxic both for people and pets and also the environment, one of these chemicals was DDT. Today, there are many chemical solutions to replace them but they do not have as broad spectrum and only deal with one type of bug say for example cock roaches. Somehow, bed bugs have been left to multiply happily!

How would you recognise a bed bug? Bed bugs are flat and oval in appearance and measure about 1/4 inch in length when fully grown. They are a reddish brown in colour and their favourite food it blood – human blood. Although your pet animals such as dogs and cats will also suffer if there are no humans around.

Where will you find bed bugs? These pests are nocturnal so will hide out in all sorts of obscure places during the day. The regular hiding places are usually in any cracks or crevices in walls, in carpets, bed frames, bed box springs, mattresses in particular along seams, around buttons or handles and in any folds. But don’t be fooled you will also find them in some very silly places too – like for alarm clocks, picture frames, even smoke alarms. If you suspect there are bed bugs in your hotel it is better you find them before they attack you.

How do you avoid bed bugs in hotels? Well, the simplest way is to manually check the hotel room yourself BEFORE you unpack your belongings. Possibly the best place to begin is the bed, remove the sheets etc. and carefully inspect the mattress – bed bugs especially like hiding in the folds of the fabric so check along seams, around decorative buttons, around handles on the side of the mattress. Next, lift the mattress and look at the bed frame particularly next to the headboard. Don’t forget the beds box spring as well if it has one. Tell tale signs that bed bugs are living there are often the dark faecal marks they leave behind and blood smears where bugs have been squashed. Other places to check include the furniture – thoroughly check inside closets and drawers before you place any items in them. If you see any peeling wall coverings or cracks and crevices in the wall or floor inspect these closely, you may not see any live bugs but there may be faecal marks if they are around.If you have any doubts DO NOT UNPACK. This may be a bit of a pain but to avoid your belongings becoming bed bug ridden keep everything inside your suite case and keep the suite case zipped! The same must be done with any smaller luggage such as bags and laptop cases. Remember as well to keep your luggage off the ground!

How do bed bugs in hotels find their way in? The fact of the matter is they have most definitely been carried in someone’s baggage or clothing from their home or a previous hotel. Regular travellers for example airline crew, salesmen and so on can very easily pick up these uninvited guests and be totally unaware and begin many infestations at different locations.

Got bed bug bites? What should you do? First don’t panic for the majority of bed bug bite victims the only ill effects are the red rash, welts or bumps which become visible on the skin. A visit to the nearest drug store to buy some medication like for example hydrocortisone or antihistamine tablets should ease the itch. Avoid scratching the bites as this might cause them to become infected. In which case medical treatment might become essential. Next, report to the management that they have a problem and leave as quickly as possible.

What next? If there were bed bugs in your hotel only remove your belongings in one shut off room of your house and do not unpack in another hotel room. If you possibly can put all garments, shoes etc. in sealed plastic bags before leaving the infested hotel room. Once you reach home remove items from the bags and launder on a hot cycle. Items which are not suitable for laundering may be put in a tumble dryer on a hot setting for around 10 minutes. This should kill the bed bugs at all stages of development. Items which cannot be treated in this way like for example business suits you may want to try using a steam cleaning machine on them as steam is a successful way to kill bed bugs. Make sure you through way any unnecessary items such as magazines, newspapers and so on in sealed plastic bags. Closely inspect all suit cases and other baggage properly you could perhaps spray them with a non toxic bed bug spray such as Bed Bug Bully, which will kill any bed bugs without a nasty chemical smell.

It is essential that once you have dealt with clothing etc. that you carefully clean all work tops and flooring with disinfectant to prevent any spread of the bed bugs.

Don’t let bed bugs in hotels spoil you vacation – just be vigilant!

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