How Can Your Hospitality Property Avoid Bed Bugs?

Do you know someone or have you yourself had an unexpected encounter with bed bugs at some point in your life?  If so, that is probably a memory you would like to forget, and hope you will never have to experience it again.  Bed bugs are quite a nuisance for any hospitality property or personal home.  It can take a long time to completely remove bed bugs once they become infested in your room, so it is better to avoid them all together.  They could easily find their way into the bedding, clothes, and guest luggage.

Signs Your Property May Have Bed Bugs

• Bug bites on the legs, arms, or face.
• Red stains on sheets and pillowcases.
• Miniature brown or black spots on the bed which may indicate bed bug feces.
• Eggs or eggshells on the bedding. These eggs are as tiny as a pinhead and are usually pearl-white.
• Strong, smelly odor found that generally smells musty and sweet like berries on the bedding or guest clothes.

What To Do if Bed Bugs are Found:

Bed bugs in any lodging property are an extremely serious situation and need to be addressed immediately.  A pest control company needs to be contacted to inspect the situation.  Once they deem the seriousness of the situation, they will begin the proper treatment which could last for weeks.  Bed bugs may need to be removed from areas like chairs and couches, drawer joints, the folds of curtains, and where the walls and ceiling meet.  They do not like high temperatures, so using a steamer on the floor could be a beneficial way to eliminate them.  To prevent further outbreaks, it may be wise to educate your staff about bed bug behavior and certain signs to look for.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs:

There are several preventative measures that can be taken to help protect your property from bed bugs.  Some simple steps are vacuuming the floors frequently, washing pillows and bedding, and securing any cracks which are most commonly near the windows, walls, and doors.  However, one of the best ways to keep bed bugs out of the mattresses, box springs, and pillows is by using mattress and box spring encasements along with pillow protectors on your beds. It is important for your property to have a bed bug action plan so it is prepared to handle the situation should it occur.

Bedding Protection

Mattress and box spring encasements provide many benefits including acting as a barrier to bed bugs, dust mites, pollen, spills, and stains.  These products give your guests peace of mind knowing you are taking steps to prevent bed bugs.  Mattress encasements will also increase the life expectancy and overall quality of your mattress and box spring. Pillow protectors are similar in that they also act as a barrier against bed bugs and dust mites.  They also protect against allergens, food spills, drool, and makeup.  InnStyle has a wide selection of mattress encasements, box spring encasements, pillow protectors, and even bed bug sprays to choose from. 

InnStyle Offers Bed Bug Protection Products

Two types of bed bug spray offered at InnStyle are the 24 oz. Natural Strength Bed Bug Spray and the Bed Bug Laundry Additive.  These products use all-natural preventative measures to repel bed bugs.  Popular mattress and box spring encasements offered at InnStyle are the CleanRest Pro Bed Bug Encasements and the Bed Care Encasements.  A good pillow protector option is the Soft Touch Pillow Protector or Bed Care Pillow Protector.

InnStyle Is Here for You

Bed bugs are a problem that no property wants to deal with.  It leads to a waste of money, time, and can damage a property’s reputation.  That is why protection and prevention are so important.  Encasements and protectors will add a little more to the budget, but it is an investment that will protect your bedding and show the customers that you sincerely value their stay.  Please give InnStyle a call if you have any questions about treating and preventing bed bugs.  Their account managers will be happy to answer your questions and offer their own recommendations about what product will best fit your specific needs.  InnStyle can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667. Their website is https://www.innstyle.com/.