Entering into a hotel room which is clean makes us feel relaxed, but sometimes there may be unexpected travelers that may ruin your vacation. The most important thing that will guarantee you won’t be carrying bed bugs inside your luggage when you return from your vacation is the physical checkup of your hotel room for bed bugs prior to unpacking your stuffs. It doesn’t matter whether you are going to a cheap motel or luxurious five star hotel for a holiday, the only thing matters to bed bugs is the host itself.
Spending ten minutes inspecting the premises of your sleeping area before you start to sleep will prevent months of inconvenience and save thousands of dollars spent on extermination procedures. All these aspects have been discussed in depth in the following guide.
What are the main signs that you have a bed bug infestation?
Before beginning a search, it is very important to understand what you should be looking for. Bedbugs that are fully grown can be seen easily and are the size, shape, and color similar to an apple seed. However, because bedbugs are nocturnal and are scared of light, there are many times when they are seen based on their signs and not actually seen.
These may include little spots of dark brown or black coloring on clothing materials, which are in fact fecal matter resembling fine dots made by a ballpoint pen. Other indicators include rusty colored blood stains on bedding as the result of squished bugs, clear casing skin left over from nymphs, or tiny clumps of white eggs.
Can electronic bug sweep services locate physical insect pests?
When one talks about “bug sweep,” the most common image that comes into mind is an advanced form of radar system or a private investigator performing a bug sweep service that can detect hidden camera, wiretapping devices, and other forms of listening devices. It is imperative to emphasize the point that any commercial bug sweeping services or corporate bug sweep detectors are created only for this purpose. They cannot find biological pests.
To locate actual insects, you have to rely on a disciplined visual and physical inspection routine. If you ever suspect that your physical privacy is compromised by hidden surveillance, that is when you call specialized bug sweep detection services. But if you are fighting off biting pests, your own phone flashlight and a systematic room-check strategy are your absolute best line of defense.
Bed Bugs Identification Process Step by Step
In ensuring that you remain clear of any unwarranted presence within your surroundings, below is a process which you must follow to a tee after entering your allocated bed space:
- Separation of Your Belongings First: Upon entry, separate your possessions and place them all on a hard surface like the tiles in the washroom or at the center of your desk.
- Inspection of Bed Edges: Remove the top layer covering of the bed such as the comforter, duvet, and even the bed sheet’s corners. Inspect the mattress’s piping, seams, cloth tags, and even the plastic corners of the box spring below.
- Headboard Area Sweep: Illuminate the gaps on the headboard with the help of your phone’s flashlight.
- Upholstery Inspection: Inspect the upholstery crevices in areas such as the armrests, cushions, and zippers in armchairs, sofa beds, and even luggage racks in the main room area.
Reporting a Compromised Room to Management
In the event that you discover live insects, the presence of black droppings, and also any groups of discarded skin, cease unloading your luggage and take some good photos.
Go down to the hotel reception and, without causing any fuss, ask for a different room in another part of the building while showing your photographs to the manager. Nonetheless, one must realize that because of the ability of such parasites to crawl to different locations through holes in the walls and through electrical outlets, moving around will not make much sense at all.
Protection of Your Belongings When You Return from a Vacation
Even though there is no doubt that there will not be any traces of parasites’ presence noticed at the first sight, one can take certain precautions after the trip.
First of all, you should not bring the luggage straight to your room upon arrival. Instead, it is necessary to unload all your belongings into the laundry room or even outdoors. First of all, everything that has been used during the travel should be washed at high temperatures. Only after that, everything needs to be put in the dryer and dried at high temperatures for at least half an hour (as bed bugs die in any state if the temperature exceeds 120°F). Also, it is essential to vacuum all the contents of the bags very carefully.
Concluding Remarks
It becomes clear now that personal safety and health while traveling require careful monitoring and controlling the surrounding area. With a little attention when checking the bed and its surrounding area, one can guarantee safety during the whole vacation.
FAQs
Do electronic bug sweep detection services find bed bugs?
No. Professional electronic bug sweep services are built to track wireless signals and hidden surveillance lenses. Finding insect pests requires a hands-on, physical visual check.
In what hotel location do bed bugs like hiding the most?
Bed bugs are usually limited to a 5 to 10-foot radius from the sleeping space, and their hiding spots include the mattress seams, bottom of the box spring, and behind the headboard.
Are bed bugs capable of crawling up smooth metal luggage racks?
Bed bugs cannot cling onto anything because they lack friction pads in their legs. They will struggle immensely when trying to move up such surfaces.