How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Hotels

There is nothing peskier than bedbugs to deter customers from staying at your sustainable tourism hotel on the coast of Mexico. The damage of word-of-mouth referrals among the hiking community against your hotel can have lasting negative business implications. Follow these steps to get avoid housing only critters in your establishment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

How to Get Rid of Bedbugs

Step 1

Get rid of clutter in each room to find all the hiding spots of bedbugs. Dismantle bed frames, remove drawers from dressers, turn furniture over and remove fabric from the room. If possible, bring all fabric items (e.g. couches, beds and curtains) outside to diminish the chances of bedbug reproduction.

Step 2

To check the mattress, tilt the box spring of the bed against a wall and use a flashlight to find bedbugs. Remove any torn fabric to thoroughly investigate the existence of bedbugs.

Step 3

Wash all fabrics in the room, including bedspread, sheets and curtains, at a minimum of 120 degrees F. Treat all furniture fabrics by vacuuming and cleaning with an industrial cleaner.

Step 4

Once the room is empty of fabric or places bedbugs can be hiding (e.g. furniture), vacuum the floors and any areas bedbugs might have originated from (e.g. corners, joints in the furniture, edges of carpet or bedding). For smaller crevices, you should use a vacuum attachment.

Step 5

Place vacuum bag in a plastic bag and dispose of it in a garbage dumpster outside.

Step 6

Caulk crevices and cracks in hotel rooms or walls, thoroughly investigate interior and exterior walls, and caulk any crevice you notice.

Step 7

If the bedbugs are centralized in a room or two, you may want to throw away infected mattresses to ensure the problem does not spread.

Step 8

Rent or purchase a steamer machine. If the bedbugs have infested a large area, like the entire hotel, it would be more economical to purchase or rent a bedbug steam cleaner machine than purchase all new mattresses. Bedbugs are extremely sensitive to high temperatures, so using a steaming machine is incredibly efficient in killing the bedbugs.

Step 9

Consult with your local pest control company. It may be more economical to rent your own steamer machine than to pay the company for the job. If you will be using the machine, check the instructions to properly apply the correct temperature for a sufficient amount of time. You will want to treat both sides of the mattress with the nozzle, as well as couches, chairs and cushions.

Tips & Warnings

If your eco-lodge is in the middle of the Amazon and you are far from any pest control company, your best bet is to place all fabric and furniture out in the hot sun. Place the mattress on blocks a few feet above the ground. As the sun warms the mattress, the bedbugs will die naturally. After a few days, flip the mattress upside-down to get the other side.

Article Written By Kay W

Kay W has more than 10 years of freelance writing experience, including technical papers, grants for youth and environmental nonprofits and consulting materials. With a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering and a Master of Arts in environmental organizational leadership, Kay W has a diverse educational and technical professional background.

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