Bed Bugs, Hotel Rooms, and You: Separating Myth and Reality

Nothing can poison the memory of a good trip like bed bugs. They’re the worst kind of souvenir, the kind you most assuredly do not want to take home in your luggage. Unfortunately, hotels and bed bugs often go hand in hand. As such travelers have developed numerous myths about bed bugs, how they travel, how to find them, and how to get rid of them. We are here to separate myth and reality for you.

Myth: Ironing your bed sheets is a good way to attract bed bugs to the surface of your mattress making them easier to spot and deal with.

Fact: Bed bugs aren’t attracted to heat beyond a very short distance. They’re attracted to Carbon Dioxide (CO2) that you exhale while you breathe and sleep. While it’s true that bed bugs can detect heat at a short range, their ability to detect CO2 is significantly longer. Ironing sheets or mattresses won’t attract bed bugs. If anything, it may drive them away since it’s a clear sign of danger.

Myth: The more expensive the accommodations, the less likely you are to get bed bugs.

Fact: That’s usually not the case. A hotel's star rating and cost do not correlate with whether or not a hotel has bed bugs.   When choosing a hotel, carefully read the reviews, even the finest of hotels occasionally get bed bugs. We have treated rooms costing several thousand dollars a night. 

You shouldn’t let a single mention of bed bugs dissuade us from staying at a hotel. Multiple reviews over time, however, could raise alarm bells, however. A brief search utilizing the hotel name, location, and the word "bed bug" may also yield results as some third-party sites do exist that spotlight problematic locations.

Myth: Bed Bugs live in mattresses and there’s no need to check anywhere else.

Fact: Bed bugs are infrequently found in mattresses because hotel staff regularly changes the linens. More often the little biters are found in headboards, bed frames and nightstands which stay put and aren’t always searched between guests. It’s best to check in a 6-foot radius around the bed.

Now, the big question is what to do if you do find bed bugs in your temporary lodgings.

If you find a bug, collect a sample, and take a picture. When you report the bed bugs to the front desk, they will most likely attempt to take the sample from you. Having a picture as proof may assist you in recovering some of your treatment expenses from the hotel later, should you bring the bed bugs home and require a treatment which can be rather pricey.

If you suspect that you have been exposed to bed bugs, you should place all suitable items from within your suitcase into the dryer to run on the highest heat possible for 15-20 minutes. This will kill all life stages. Luggage can be treated with an appropriately labeled product.

If you are worried your brought bed bugs home or are have other pest issues, contact Viking Pest today.