It’s no secret that with hotels, you usually get what you pay for. However, there is one thing no hotel is immune to, and that is bed bugs. Even if you are staying at a five-star resort, there is still a possibility of bed bugs in CT. That being said, as long as you know what you are looking for, and you thoroughly inspect the room before getting comfortable, then you won’t have to worry about being bitten.
What You Are Looking For
CT bed bugs are small, oval-shaped, and flat, and are usually brown in color; however, they can be red if they have just eaten. They are not easy to find because they tend to hide in any crack or crevice they can find. Oftentimes, it is the signs of an infestation that are more easy to locate, including dark red stains on the mattress or sheets, or the egg shells or fecal matter of the bed bugs.
Steps to Take When Entering a Hotel Room
Now that you know you are looking for, let’s go over the steps you need to follow every time you enter a Connecticut hotel room to keep yourself free from the bite of a bed bug—or the chance of them harboring in your luggage and infesting your home.
- Step 1: Don’t Unpack. Keep your luggage off the ground and place it in a bathtub or other hard surface until you know the room is clear.
- Step 2: Get a Flashlight and a Credit Card. You will use these items to inspect the room. And yes, the flashlight on your phone is fine.
- Step 3: Start with the Bedding. Pull back the blanket and top sheets off the bed and look for any visible bugs or blood spots.
- Step 4: Remove the Bottom Sheet. Now it’s time to take off the bottom sheets, starting at the corners, until you can see the full mattress. You can do one corner at a time so there is less of a mess to put back together.
- Step 5: Carefully Inspect All Seams. Folds or seams are a very popular location for bed bugs. Use the credit card to open up the folds and look at them closely with a flashlight to make sure you don’t miss any.
- Step 6: Inspect the Upholstered Furniture. Beds aren’t the only location bed bugs can be found. They like any soft surface that is dark, so don’t forget to check the seams and folds in all upholstery as well.
- Step 7: Look for Any Other Soft Surfaces. Survey the curtains, a cushioned headboard, and even the carpet for any signs of bed bugs. Using your flashlight, look in all dark areas and be ready for fleeing bed bugs.
If you have completed all of the above steps and have come up clean, then you can unpack and rest easy knowing your hotel room is safe. However, if you notice even the slightest sign of a bed bug infestation, you will want to leave the room immediately and notify the hotel staff. They will want to call a professional bed bug exterminator without delay. At Richland Pest & Bee Control, we perform bed bug extermination for both commercial and residential properties in Connecticut and we would love to help them get their hotel clean again.