Bed bugs are a significant threat to all hotels or any establishment with overnight guests. With new introductions of people coming in and out, there is a constant opportunity for a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers and travel by with humans through their suitcases, clothing, or other belongings.
If you have a bed bug infestation in your hotel, the best thing you can do is find it early. Treating an introduction of bed bugs will save you a lot of time and money compared to a large-scale bed bug problem. However, a few bed bugs can quickly turn widespread without an immediate response.
That is why being prepared to combat these pests is an essential part of a successful hotel management system. Additionally, catching bed bugs early requires detailed inspections and knowledge on these pests, as they can be challenging to find.
Signs You May Have a Bed Bug Infestation in Your Hotel
There are a few tall-tale physical signs that you and your hotel staff should be continuously alert for that you may have bed bugs. These include:
- Rusty bloodstains, especially on sheets and bedding
- Small dark dot-like spots. These may be bed bug excrement
- Tiny white eggs or eggshells
- A musty order
- Moving bed bugs
Preventing Bed Bugs in Your Hotel Through On-Going Monitoring
The best way to defend yourself against these pests to take preventive measures to stop an infestation. Accomplishing preventative measures includes ongoing monitoring. If your goals to catch bed bugs prematurely, it is important that you be as thorough as possible, as they will be even harder to spot.
Having a checklist to inspect areas for bed bugs will optimize your efforts. Below we listed a few areas to include in your search.
Checklist for Hotel Room Bed Bugs
- Mattresses. This includes seams, beading, under buttons, labels, handles, and corner protectors. If there is a sofa bed, treat the same as a mattress.
- Base underside and interior. For a thorough examination, disassemble and remove the material covering the base and check hollow plastic caster legs.
- Cracks and crevices.
- Bed frame (wooden slats, bed posts, etc.).
- Bedhead (if attached, remove from wall), all joints & rear.
- Bedside furniture and drawers.
- Electrical fittings & appliances, e.g., telephone.
- Underneath carpet edges & the straight edges.
- If loose, check behind the wallpaper and paint.
- Behind wall hangings, picture frames, wall mirrors.
- Curtains and curtain rods.
- On and behind electric outlets.
- Cushions of chairs and sofas, including seams and buttons.
- Window casings, wall voids, and crevices in all doors and windows.
- Guide tracks of closet doors. Have track removed by maintenance staff, & treat.
- Lounges in common rooms of backpacker lodges.
- Housekeeping carts and rooms.
- Laundry areas.
- Rooms where extra mattresses and furniture are stored.
Continue to check all areas for potential signs. Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed can fit through very narrow cracks and crevices.
Responding with a Cryonite System
As we mentioned, an immediate response is critical. We have designed the Cryonite System to provide that. Having this tool on hand gives you the ability to respond quickly and reduce damage costs in a nontoxic way.
The Cryonite System uses carbon dioxide “snow” to rapidly freeze and kill all stages of the life-cycle of bed bugs. After treating with Cryonite, no pesticides or residues left. As a result, rooms treated with Cryonite can be re-occupied as soon as treatment is completed, thereby enhancing occupancy rates.
Additionally, because our product contains no pesticides, Hygiene/Housekeeping Staff can train to use the Cryonite system. An on-staff response gives you the first line of defense against infestations.
Everywhere you would check for bed bugs, you should also treat in the event of an infestation. With functionality in mind, the Cryonite lance is flexible and extendable to make it easy to reach nearly all areas. So you can thoroughly treat your room. Unlike heat and chemical pest control methods that often damage furniture and electronics, Cryonite is a dry system. The dry “snow” is safe to use on almost all electrical systems and furniture.
To learn more about the Cryonite System, contact us today. You can book a call using the link below.