Examination of hotel rooms for bed bugs
Environmental Protection Agency
and
consumer reports
has these tips for hotel guests who want to avoid bed bug problems: Baggage: When you first enter a hotel room, place your luggage on a raised luggage rack or in the bathroom where bed bugs have little chance of hiding while you inspect the room. You may wish to pack large plastic garbage bags to store your luggage in during your stay. Bedding: Pull back the sheets and blankets and check the mattress and box spring seams for bugs, particularly at the head of the bed. Adults, nymphs and eggs are tiny but visible to the naked eye. Look for exoskeletons, or “skins,” and dark, rust-colored stains on the linens. Bed bugs are tiny, but you can see them with the naked eye. The bugs can also be smelled, with an odor sometimes described as an obnoxious-sweet raspberry smell. Furniture: Check upholstered furniture within 20 feet of the bed, especially along the fabric seams. Walls: Because the bugs are usually no larger than the width of a credit card, they can congregate at cracks and seams in headboards, baseboards, and wall outlets that are within 20 feet of a bed. Move: If you find signs of bed bugs, ask to be moved to a new room – preferably another area of the building. When you get home, dry your travel clothes in a hot dryer for up to 30 minutes. Complaints: If you wish to file a hotel-related complaint with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, go to:
DIA contact form
. From there you can write a complaint describing the problem and upload any photos you took to support your complaint.
The Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Reports has these tips for hotel guests who want to avoid bed bug problems:
Baggage: When you first enter a hotel room, place your luggage on a raised luggage rack or in the bathroom where bed bugs have little chance of hiding while you inspect the room. You may wish to pack large plastic garbage bags to store your luggage in during your stay.
Bedding: Pull back the sheets and blankets and check the mattress and box spring seams for bugs, particularly at the head of the bed. Adults, nymphs and eggs are tiny but visible to the naked eye. Look for exoskeletons, or “skins,” and dark, rust-colored stains on the linens. Bed bugs are tiny, but you can see them with the naked eye. The bugs can also be smelled, with an odor sometimes described as an obnoxious-sweet raspberry smell.
Furniture: Check upholstered furniture within 20 feet of the bed, especially along the fabric seams.
Walls: Because the bugs are usually no larger than the width of a credit card, they can congregate at cracks and seams in headboards, baseboards, and wall outlets that are within 20 feet of a bed.
Move: If you find signs of bed bugs, ask to be moved to a new room – preferably another area of the building. When you get home, dry your travel clothes in a hot dryer for up to 30 minutes.
Complaints: If you would like to make a hotel-related complaint with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, go to: DIA Contact Form. From there you can write a complaint describing the problem and upload any photos you took to support your complaint.
