Small but a huge trouble, bed bugs can be to any hotel. They spread fast and can create a great deal of discomfort to guests and the staff working there. Knowing how they gain entry into a hotel is part of bed bug control. The top ways bed bugs enter into your hotels are outlined in this blog, along with what you can do to stop them getting there.
Bed Bugs Being Brought in by Guests
Luggage
The most frequent way bed bugs infest in a hotel is through guest luggage. The guests might have some bed bugs unintentionally inside the bags, and after entering into the room, they will transfer to the bed, furniture, and other places.
Clothings and Personal Items
The bed bugs can even move with the guests’ clothes and personal belongings. Items like jackets, shoes, and books can also serve as their carriers. When the guests unpack their clothes or other personal items, bed bugs quickly begin to spread.
Used Furniture and Mattresses
Second-Hand Furniture
It is known that second-hand furniture has been sometimes used by some administrations of the hotels just to save money. However, this can also be dangerous. Used furniture can host bed bugs that further lead to bed bug infestation inside the hotel.
Mattresses
A second common source of bed bugs is within mattresses. Mattresses may be infested with bed bugs even if they have been cleaned since bed bugs can hide inside the seams and other small crevices. Always inspect, and treat as needed, used mattresses before introducing them into your hotel.
Hotel Staff
Uniforms and Personal Belongings
The staff at the hotel may also introduce the bed bugs into the building. Bed bugs often latch onto uniforms and other personal items. The staff should be trained to inspect their personal items for bed bugs before reporting to the hotel.
Cleaning Equipment
Believe it or not, cleaning equipment also harbors bed bugs. The vacuum cleaner, laundry carts, and other equipment may transport bed bugs from one room to another. Regular cleaning and maintenance of this equipment will further minimize the risk of transfer.
Shared Spaces
Common Areas
Lounges, laundry rooms, and lobbies are high-risk places for bed bugs. Since these places are accessed by both guests and workers, there is an easy spread of bed bugs from one place to another. More frequent inspections and cleaning would avoid the occurrence of bed bugs in these areas.
Public Transport
Many visitors and staff travel to the hotel via public transportation. Bed bugs can conceal themselves in buses, trains, and taxis and afterwards enter a hotel. Knowledge about bed bug management can reduce this risk.
Protecting Your Hotel from Bed Bugs: Proactive Measures for an Environment Free of Pests
Bed bugs can be a serious problem to any hotel, but the knowledge of how they infest may prove of paramount importance. Guests’ bags, second-hand furniture, and even staff at the hotel are among the paths these nasty pests can use to find their way into your establishment. Regular inspections, good cleaning practices, and hiring commercial pest control services help keep bed bugs out of your hotel. By being so proactive, you’ll have ensured safety and comfort for all visitors.
Keep your hotel friendly and bed bug-free. Let us at E&G Exterminators partner with you for a complete pest management plan that will protect your good name and let you rest easy. Our staff will quickly detect, prevent, and eliminate bed bugs with the least amount of intrusion into your operations. Be prepared by calling on us, E&G Exterminators, today for a consultation on how we can maintain your property in pristine and pest-free order.
