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Don’t Pick Up Bed Bugs on Summer Vacation

A bed with a no bed bug sign on it.

With summer vacation in full swing, many of us are packing our bags and heading out for a well-deserved trip. But with the resurgence of bed bugs across the country, it's smart to have a plan. Don't let these unwanted pests hitch a ride home with you.

A few simple precautions in your hotel room can save you a massive headache later. Here is a 4-step guide to inspecting your room before you unpack.

Step 1: Secure Your Luggage in the Bathroom. Before you do anything else, take your luggage into the bathroom. As you enter your hotel room, don't drop your bags on the carpet, the bed, or the luggage rack. The tiled bathroom floor is the safest place for your bags until you've had a chance to inspect the room. Bed bugs are easily transmitted from carpets and fabrics, so don't give them a chance to hitchhike.
Step 2: Inspect the Bed Thoroughly. Bed bugs hide in and around fabric and upholstery, usually within 15 feet of the bed. Before you relax, perform this quick inspection:

  • Pull back the linens and the mattress pad at the corners of the bed.
  • Carefully examine the mattress seams and the box spring, paying close attention to the area nearest the headboard.
  • Look for tiny, black, ink-like specks (fecal material) or small red or brownish-brown stains (crushed bugs).

If you don't see any of these signs, your bed is likely clear.

Step 3: Check the Furniture and Headboard. Don't stop at the mattress. Bed bugs also hide in other furniture.

  • Check the corner seams of any upholstered couches or chairs in the room.
  • Examine the headboard. Many hotel headboards are bolted to the wall, and the crevice behind them is a common hiding spot. Use your phone's flashlight to look for any signs in the seam between the headboard and the wall.

bed-bug-inspection

Step 4: What to Do If You Find Signs. If your inspection turns up any suspicious specks or bugs, don't panic. Gather your luggage from the bathroom and go to the front desk.

Request another room, but be specific: ask for a room that is at least two floors away from the infested one. Bed bugs are known to travel through hallways and even inside walls using electrical and plumbing conduits.

Even the most careful traveler can accidentally bring bed bugs home. If you return from your trip and notice signs of an infestation (like the specks you looked for in the hotel or small, itchy bites in a line or cluster), you must act fast.

This is not a problem you can solve with store-bought sprays. Effective bed bug control is notoriously difficult and requires professional-grade treatments. Your first and most important call should be to a professional Sacramento bed bug exterminator. They have the training and tools to assess the extent of the infestation and eliminate it completely, ensuring your home becomes a relaxing, pest-free space once again.

author avatar
Jim Lopez President
Jim Lopez is the President and founder of Pinnacle Pest Control, a top Sacramento based pest management company he started in 1998. He brings decades of hands on experience in residential and commercial pest control across Northern California.