Hotel Room Inspection Protocol
On arrival, place luggage in the bathroom on the hard floor or in the bathtub — not on the bed or upholstered furniture — while you inspect the room. Bed bugs do not infest hard, smooth bathroom surfaces. Use the flashlight on your phone for the inspection.
- Pull back the bedding to the mattress — Inspect the seams and piping along the top and sides of the mattress, especially at the head of the bed. Look for live insects (apple-seed sized, brown, flat), shed skins, and small rust-brown fecal spots on the mattress fabric.
- Check the box spring — Lift the dust ruffle or skirt and inspect the upper corners and seams of the box spring. This is a primary harborage site in hotel rooms.
- Inspect the headboard — If the headboard is attached to the wall, run the flashlight along the gap between the headboard and wall. Check screw holes and any cracks in the headboard frame.
- Check nightstand seams and drawer joints — Bed bugs harbor in the joints and seams of wood furniture adjacent to the bed.
- If signs are found — Request a room change on a different floor and in a different section of the hotel. Inspect the new room before unpacking.
Luggage Protocol During and After Travel
Keep luggage on hard surfaces or on a luggage rack away from the bed during the stay — never on the bed or floor. On returning home, unpack luggage in the garage or on a hard floor rather than in the bedroom. Wash all clothing on hot and machine dry on high heat immediately — heat above 120°F for 30 minutes kills all bed bug life stages. Store the empty suitcase in a sealed plastic bag in the garage between trips rather than in a bedroom closet. For high-risk travel (extended stays in urban hotels, international travel, used accommodation), consider encasing the suitcase in a large plastic bag during the hotel stay. D&D Pest Control treats bed bug infestations throughout Franklin County and rural Missouri — visit ddpestcontrolmo.com.