How To Inspect a Hotel Room for Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are the fear of any traveler with good reason.
The likelihood of anyone encountering these blood sucking pests in the next three years is statistically 100% and the more you travel, the sooner that encounter will be.
To lessen the risk, the steps to inspecting a hotel room are outlined below.
These steps should be customary each time you enter a hotel room - or stay at Aunt Mildred's house - as they can be anywhere.
Adult bed bugs are visible - they are typically the color of dried blood and are about half the size of an apple seed.
The nymphs look the same only smaller and can range from almost opaque to the brownish-red look of a scab.
Eggs are clear and hard to detect without a magnifying glass.
But the tell-tale sign of bed bugs are the small streaks they leave behind as the go to the bathroom while they walk.
Look for dark dots, red or brownish streaks, actual bugs and eggs along seams, along the cording of pillows & mattresses, etc.
If you see any evidence, get another room! To begin, shift to thinking like these pests.
They are nocturnal, hate light, and seek out expert hiding spaces.
Carrying a small, high-powered flashlight is a great idea.
Here are the steps: 1.
If you are staying one night only, remove the bedspread, fold it and place it on the floor in the corner.
These are often wild, dark prints to mask any staining and extremely difficult to inspect therefore, taking it out of the equation is best.
If you are staying more than one night, you'll have to inspect it as Housekeeping will re-introduce it when they clean.
2.
Pillows.
If you are only staying one night, choose whatever pillows you want to use (which you will inspect thoroughly) and place the rest with the bedspread.
Otherwise, inspect all of them.
3.
Now inspect each linen layer all the way to the mattress.
Do one side of the bed at a time.
It is a good idea to create a barrier as you are inspecting so a light spray of a safe, natural & green bed bug killer/repellent on each layer as you go will create a barrier that no bed bug will cross.
This ensures you a good night's sleep.
4.
Mattress.
Inspect along the cording on the edges, in the crevices that make up the mattress cover, and the space between the mattress and the box spring.
A light application of your green bug spray is warranted here too.
5.
Lastly, inspect the area surrounding the bed while applying your green bug spray.
This includes the headboard, the bed side tables and the artwork above the bed.
These wily little creatures love to hide here! This process takes maybe 6 minutes.
It is a wise investment of time to keep you from being a bed bug victim.
The likelihood of anyone encountering these blood sucking pests in the next three years is statistically 100% and the more you travel, the sooner that encounter will be.
To lessen the risk, the steps to inspecting a hotel room are outlined below.
These steps should be customary each time you enter a hotel room - or stay at Aunt Mildred's house - as they can be anywhere.
Adult bed bugs are visible - they are typically the color of dried blood and are about half the size of an apple seed.
The nymphs look the same only smaller and can range from almost opaque to the brownish-red look of a scab.
Eggs are clear and hard to detect without a magnifying glass.
But the tell-tale sign of bed bugs are the small streaks they leave behind as the go to the bathroom while they walk.
Look for dark dots, red or brownish streaks, actual bugs and eggs along seams, along the cording of pillows & mattresses, etc.
If you see any evidence, get another room! To begin, shift to thinking like these pests.
They are nocturnal, hate light, and seek out expert hiding spaces.
Carrying a small, high-powered flashlight is a great idea.
Here are the steps: 1.
If you are staying one night only, remove the bedspread, fold it and place it on the floor in the corner.
These are often wild, dark prints to mask any staining and extremely difficult to inspect therefore, taking it out of the equation is best.
If you are staying more than one night, you'll have to inspect it as Housekeeping will re-introduce it when they clean.
2.
Pillows.
If you are only staying one night, choose whatever pillows you want to use (which you will inspect thoroughly) and place the rest with the bedspread.
Otherwise, inspect all of them.
3.
Now inspect each linen layer all the way to the mattress.
Do one side of the bed at a time.
It is a good idea to create a barrier as you are inspecting so a light spray of a safe, natural & green bed bug killer/repellent on each layer as you go will create a barrier that no bed bug will cross.
This ensures you a good night's sleep.
4.
Mattress.
Inspect along the cording on the edges, in the crevices that make up the mattress cover, and the space between the mattress and the box spring.
A light application of your green bug spray is warranted here too.
5.
Lastly, inspect the area surrounding the bed while applying your green bug spray.
This includes the headboard, the bed side tables and the artwork above the bed.
These wily little creatures love to hide here! This process takes maybe 6 minutes.
It is a wise investment of time to keep you from being a bed bug victim.
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