5 Things Hospitality Industry Needs to Know About the Bed Bug Threat

With the relaxation of covid-19 limitations, the holiday season has arrived here, and with it comes one of the busiest travel periods of the year after being in town for so long. When it comes to serving their guests, hospitality companies have a lot on their plates; and with the regular turnover of beds and new passengers, unpleasant bugs can sneak by unnoticed.

Bed bugs may be found almost anywhere and are one of the most difficult pests to eradicate. Because there are so many potential hiding spaces and areas like under mattress toppers, mattresses, under the bed, hotels comfy all seasons duvet, sometimes pillows for bed bugs to grow, hotel pest control presents its own set of issues. These pests are not only dangerous to your guests' and employees' health, but they may also affect your hotel's reputation. They can, however, be removed with early discovery and a deliberate strategy.

Here are some helpful hints for dealing with pests:

1.      Educate Your Employees

Your strongest line of defense against bed bugs on your property is your employees. The first and most important step is to educate your staff on how to spot bed bugs and the best measures to follow in order to keep these persistent pests out of your hotel. The crew must remain alert at all times and watch for the following warning signs:

On mattresses or bed linens, there are reddish or rust-colored stains that resemble dried blood. These happen when bed bugs are crushed while feeding or have just finished feasting.

Skins shed by the nymphs as they grow, as well as small eggshells or eggs in the bedding.

The eggs are about 1 millimeter in diameter, and the nymphs' skins are typically tan or pale yellow in hue.

When you wipe a moist rag over a group of tiny black spots, they smear. It's bed bug faces, which is usually dark brown or black in appearance.

Bed bugs are wingless, flat, oval-shaped animals with no wings. They are normally brown in color, but if they have recently fed, they may seem reddish. The nymphs are darker and smaller, with adults about 4 to 5 millimeters in length.

2.      Documentation should be done properly.

The value of proper recordkeeping cannot be overstated. Customer complaints, inspections, and treatment reports assist the responsible department in effectively combating a bed bug infestation. Just as early detection is critical, so is proper documentation. You may keep track of previous infestations, as well as the frequency with which they occur and the locations that are commonly contaminated. This will assist you in developing a clear bed bug elimination strategy.

3.      Take the necessary precautions.

Planned prevention is the next stage.Because of their ability to hide in hard-to-reach spots and how fast they breed and spread, ignoring a bed bug infestation for a long time makes it more difficult to eradicate these pests. It is critical to seal places that are prone to infestation. Use sealed mattress and pillow casements, for example. If your hotel is susceptible to bed insect infestations, professional bed bug exterminators should be considered.

4.      Use Effective Elimination Techniques

Vacuuming, freezing, and steam heat are some of the most efficient treatments for bed bug removal. Vacuum all of the headboards, seams, and other locations where dust could hide. Bed bugs prefer to hide in dark places.

After that, check all of the vacuum brushes to make sure no pests are caught in the roller, then dispose of the vacuum bag in a tightly sealed container. These pests can be eliminated by freezing the linen, pillow, and bed coverings in extreme cold for 48 to 72 hours. To kill bed bugs and their eggs, professional bed bug exterminators utilize carbon dioxide under pressure. Another successful option is steam heating.

Remove all affected bedding and covers and put them through a steam cleaning. This not only helps you get rid of bed bugs, but it also kills their larvae, pupa, and other little bugs.

5.      How Can You Reduce Your Risk?

Many business owners are unaware of the difficulty of containing and controlling a bed bug infestation after it has occurred. When it comes to these pests, the key to minimizing your risk is to act quickly and aggressively. Failure to act quickly exposes your company to a higher risk of property damage and lawsuits.

If the infection spreads, you'll need to get rid of everything. If the afflicted area is not successfully contained, these expenses can soon mount.

When it comes to reducing your risks and expenditures, education and prevention techniques are your best friends.