Sleep Tight: How to Check Your Indianapolis Hotel Room for Bed Bugs

If you plan to visit Indianapolis, Indiana, it’s important to ensure your hotel room is free of bed bugs. Although bed bugs can be found in any home or hotel, proper knowledge and detection tools can help you spot them immediately.

In this blog post, we’ll cover how to check your Indianapolis hotel room for bed bugs. There are many steps you can take to make sure your stay is a pleasant one.

Do you suspect pesky bed bugs may have hitched a ride from your hotel to your home?

Then, give AAA Exterminating Inc. a call at (317) 773-3797.

1. Before You Arrive

It’s always a good idea to research before booking a hotel room, especially if you’re concerned about bed bugs. Check online reviews and ratings from previous guests to see if there have been any complaints or reports of bed bugs. 

You can also call the hotel and ask about their bed bug prevention and treatment protocols. Additionally, consider packing protective covers for your luggage and pillowcases to prevent hitchhiking bed bugs from coming home with you.

Being proactive before you arrive can save you from potential discomfort and stress during your stay.

Contact AAA Exterminating Inc. for more information on staying pest-free!

2. When You Arrive

You’ve finally reached your Indianapolis hotel after a long day of traveling. However, before you settle into your room, you should take a few minutes to inspect the area for signs of bed bugs.

First, place your luggage in the bathroom or on a luggage rack away from the bed. This will reduce the likelihood of bed bugs hitching a ride on your luggage.

Next, begin your inspection by pulling back the bed sheets and inspecting the mattress seams, box spring, and bed frame. Look for small, rust-colored spots or live insects. Also, check thoroughly for any signs of insect bloodstains or fecal matter, which can indicate the presence of bed bugs.

Inspect the furniture, including the nightstands, chairs, and dresser, and check the curtains for signs of bed bugs.

If you find any evidence of bed bugs, immediately notify the hotel staff and request a different room. It’s essential to inform the hotel before switching rooms, as bed bugs can easily travel between rooms and infest a new space.

After inspecting your room upon arrival, you can rest easy knowing you’re not sharing your bed with any unwelcome guests.

3. During Your Stay

You must remain vigilant during your stay to ensure that bedbugs don’t hitch a ride home with you. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Keep your luggage elevated. Bedbugs live on furniture and the floor, so keeping your luggage on the luggage rack or a shelf can help prevent them from crawling into your bags.

2. Check the bedding and mattress. It’s a good idea to periodically check the bedding and mattress during your stay, especially if you start experiencing bites. Look for minor reddish-brown bugs or black specks (which may be their feces) on the sheets or mattress.

3. Don’t use hotel laundry bags. While it may be tempting to use the laundry bag provided by the hotel, it’s best to use your plastic bag instead. Bedbugs can crawl into the seams of fabric bags and hitch a ride back to your home.

4. Report any issues. If you find bedbugs during your stay, you must immediately report the problem to the hotel staff. They will need to treat the room and prevent the infestation from spreading to other areas of the hotel.

By being aware and taking a few simple precautions, you can ensure that bedbugs won’t ruin your trip or follow you back home. Sleep tight!

5. When You Leave

As much as you may have enjoyed your stay at your Indianapolis hotel, taking extra precautions when you leave is essential to ensure you don’t bring any unwanted guests home.

1. Check Your Luggage

The first thing you’ll want to do is check your luggage. Take a close look at the exterior of your bags and any pockets or compartments if you notice any signs of bed bugs, such as minor red or brown stains. Then, use a lint roller or tape to remove any visible bed bugs or eggs, and seal your luggage in plastic bags to prevent potential hitchhikers from escaping.

2. Inspect Your Clothes

Next, checking your clothes and any other personal belongings is essential. Before packing them away, shake everything well and check for any signs of bed bugs. If you notice anything suspicious, washing your clothes and drying them on high heat for at least 30 minutes is a good idea. This should kill any bed bugs that may be hiding out in your clothing.

3. Vacuum Your Luggage

Once you’ve packed up and are ready to leave, giving your luggage one last thorough vacuuming is a good idea. Use a handheld vacuum or a hose attachment to reach into every nook and cranny of your bags. Be sure to focus on the seams and folds of your luggage, as these areas are often where bed bugs like to hide.

Call AAA Exterminating Inc. 

By taking these extra steps, you can help ensure that you don’t accidentally bring any bed bugs back home with you from your Indianapolis hotel. With extra care and attention, you can enjoy a restful night’s sleep knowing you’ve done everything possible to avoid these pesky pests.

If you’re facing bedbug issues in your home, call us at (317) 773-3797.