Learn how to check for signs of bed bugs both at home as well as in a hotel room so you can sleep tight and not let the bed bugs bite at night.
What Are Bed Bugs, And Where Do They Come From?
Bed bugs are tiny parasites that burrow into mattresses and bedding and suck the blood of their victims while they sleep. They have evolved along with human beings, choosing us humans as their ideal source of food. Their bites while don’t spread disease can cause redness and intense itching.
No bigger than the size of apple seeds, bed bugs are experts at hiding and can hitch a ride back into one’s homes when one comes into contact with them. They have been known to plague hotel rooms, dormitories, offices, schools, theaters to clothing stores.
Entomologists says that the recent upsurge in the population of bed bugs are due to increased international and global travel as well as government restrictions on certain toxic pesticides that were once used to control and kill bed bugs.
How to Check For Bed Bugs At Home
If you suspect you or your family members have been bitten by bed bugs, a thorough inspection of your home or apartment is recommended. To check for bed bugs at home, the first area to begin searching is the bedroom and sleeping areas where bed bugs are most likely to be.
Before the inspection, it is recommended to clear away any unnecessary clutter in the room so as to make the inspection easier. An uncluttered room will also provide bed bugs with less places to hide.
Next, using a flashlight, you will want to inspect the seams, folds, edges and labels on mattresses as well as look at the bottom of the box spring and the back of the headboard. Another clue is to check the bedding and bed linens for any signs of dried blood or brown spots which may indicate the presence of bed bugs.
In addition, you may also want to check the closets, drawers, lampshades, nightstands or any upholstered furniture that is near the bed. If you have carpets in the room, you may also want to look underneath that as well. These are some of the common areas where bed bugs will hide other than the bed.
What if bed bugs are found at home? Take action quickly to remove them including vacuuming, applying pesticides and using heat treatment such as a mattress steamer. One can also encase the mattress with a bed bug proof mattress cover to protect against the bites of bed bugs. If the infestation is bad, the most efficient way is to contact a professional bed bug exterminator to get rid of the unwanted pests.
Also read about how to prevent bed bugs as well as using bed bug traps for detection and trapping of bed bugs in the house.
How To Identify Bed Bugs
How To Check For Bed Bugs In Hotels
For individuals or families who travel often, it is very important to know how to check for bed bugs when staying away from home. Before your next trip, first do a check at the Bed Bug Registry, a free public online database on hotels in the United States and Canada where travelers report incidences of bed bugs. This step alone will help you avoid and reduce the chances of any encounter with bed bugs.
Nevertheless, whether you’re staying in a a luxury hotel suite, a cabin, or a cheap motel that is reported bed bug free, it is still recommended that you always make a careful inspection of the room to protect yourself and reduces the chances of getting bitten by bed bugs.
To check for bed bugs in a hotel room, first keep your belongings and suitcases elevated off the floor and away from the beds, either on a luggage rack or the bathroom counter after you first check into the room.
Next, perform a preliminary check by pulling off the covers to inspect the mattress. Look for any signs of either the bugs, the bug skeletons or droppings. Check the seams of the mattress as they provide an excellent hiding spot for the pests.
Keep suitcases always away from the bed and zipped tight when not in use to reduces the chances of hitchhiking bed bugs coming home with you.
What if bed bugs are found in your hotel room? Don’t panic! It may be a brand new problem, brought about by the last guest who stayed in that particular room. Report it to the hotel management and request for a change of room. Check the new room for any signs of bed bugs as well.
Upon returning home from your hotel stay – whether bed bugs or no bed bugs – immediately bring your suitcase or backpacks to the bathroom and inspect it for any signs of the bugs. Have all your clothing launder and dry on the highest temperature settings to kill off any pests that may have hitchhike with you back home.
