Hotels and short-term rentals are one of the most common sources of new bed bug infestations. The fix is a five-minute routine you can do at every check-in.
Before you book
Search the property name on a bed bug registry site like the Bed Bug Reports database. Recent reports don't necessarily mean the room you're getting has bugs, but they're a useful signal.
First five minutes in the room
Drop your luggage in the bathtub — bed bugs can't easily climb porcelain. Then inspect the mattress: pull back the sheets, run a flashlight along the piping on all sides, lift the corners, and check behind the headboard if it pulls away from the wall. Spend 30 seconds on the nightstand and luggage rack.
If you find anything
Don't unpack. Take photos, request a new room in a different part of the building (not adjacent or above/below), and re-inspect there. If the property can't accommodate, leave.
During your stay
Keep luggage on the metal luggage rack, away from walls and the bed. Don't store clothes in the dresser — keep them in your suitcase. Hang clothing in the bathroom rather than the closet when possible.
Coming home
Don't bring luggage straight into the bedroom. Unpack in the garage, mudroom, or bathroom. Run all washable clothing through a hot dryer cycle for at least 30 minutes — the heat kills any bugs or eggs that hitched a ride. Vacuum the inside of your suitcase, then store it away from sleeping areas.
Symptoms after travel
If you start seeing welts a few days after a trip, inspect immediately. Catching travel bed bugs in the first week usually means a fast, single-treatment fix. Sleep Tight Pest Control offers same-day inspections across Chicago.
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Sleep Tight Pest Control offers same-day inspections and a written guarantee across Chicago and the suburbs.