Bed bugs don’t care whether a hotel has one star or five. They travel in luggage, clothing and bags, and busy travel hubs give them plenty of chances to move. A few minutes of checking when you arrive and when you get home is the easiest way to avoid bringing them back.
What bed bugs look like
- Adults are about the size of an apple seed, flat, oval and reddish brown.
- Young bed bugs are smaller and paler, almost translucent before they feed.
- Eggs are tiny, white and usually tucked into seams and cracks.
How to check a hotel room
- Put your luggage in the bathroom or on a hard surface first, not on the bed or carpet.
- Pull back the sheets at the head of the bed and check mattress and box spring seams, piping and tags with your phone light.
- Look behind the headboard if it’s easy to check, and along the edges of upholstered chairs and couches.
- Look for the signs: live bugs, rusty or dark spots, tiny eggs, or shed skins.
If you find anything, ask for a different room that isn’t next to, above or below the first one.
During your stay
- Keep your suitcase on the luggage rack, away from the wall and bed.
- Keep clothes in the suitcase or in sealed bags rather than in dresser drawers.
- Don’t leave clothes or bags on the bed or floor.
When you get home
- Unpack in the garage, laundry room or a bathtub, not in the bedroom.
- Wash and dry clothing, including clothes you didn’t wear, and dry on high heat. Heat is what kills bed bugs and eggs, so the dryer matters more than the wash.
- Vacuum your suitcase, especially seams and pockets, and empty the vacuum outside.
- Store luggage away from bedrooms, such as in the garage.
Signs you brought them home
- Small dark spots on sheets, mattress seams or the headboard
- Rusty smears on sheets from crushed bugs
- Shed skins or live bugs in mattress seams, bed frames, nightstands or couches
- New bites, often in lines or clusters. Bites alone aren’t proof, because people react differently and other insects bite too.
Why DIY bed bug treatment usually fails
Bed bugs hide in cracks you can’t see, and their eggs survive many over-the-counter products. Foggers and bug bombs don’t reach where they hide and can spread them to other rooms. Moving to sleep on the couch often spreads them to the couch.
How professional treatment works
A professional treatment starts with an inspection of beds, furniture and the surrounding area, followed by targeted treatment of seams, frames, furniture and cracks, plus a follow-up visit about two weeks later to catch newly hatched bugs. We will give you a prep list for laundry and clutter before the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Can bed bugs live in my suitcase?
Yes. Bed bugs and eggs can hide in seams, pockets and zippers. Vacuum your luggage after trips and store it away from bedrooms.
Does washing clothes kill bed bugs?
Heat is what kills them. Drying clothes on high heat is the important step.
Do bed bugs mean a place is dirty?
No. Bed bugs feed on blood, not dirt or food, and are found in clean homes and hotels as well.
How many treatments will I need?
Most homes need an initial treatment and at least one follow-up visit about two weeks later.
Think you brought bed bugs home? Call (702) 760-2906 in the Las Vegas Valley or (954) 231-5900 in South Florida, or see our bed bug treatment page.
