How to Check a Hotel Room for Bed Bugs

Co-authored by Kevin Carrillo and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: September 3, 2023 References

Bed bugs are really icky, and they aren’t always visible with a passing glance. Thankfully, these pests tend to leave an obvious trace, so it only takes a few minutes to spot signs of bug activity in your mattress, bedding, and room furnishings. If you notice any signs of bugs in your room, talk to an employee at the hotel and ask if you can switch rooms before you get settled in.^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Searching the Bed

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1
Identify bed bugs by their eggs, casings, and stains. Keep in mind that dead bed bugs tend to leave red-brown stains when they’re squashed on a mattress or section of bedding. Additionally, look for tiny white eggs or light yellow casings, which are other prominent signs of bed bug activity. Living bed bugs are small and brown, and may be found crawling around the sleeping areas.^{[2]
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- Small, dark dots may be a sign of bed bug waste.
- Bed bug eggs are about the size of a pinhead.^{[3]
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2
Examine the bare mattress and box spring for bugs. Pull off any bedding and sheets, including any elastic bedding that goes around the mattress. Look for any visible signs of bed bugs, such as eggs or the bugs themselves. Additionally, search for hard leftover casings that were shed by the bugs, or red-brown splotches on the mattress, which are both telltale signs of an infestation.^{[4]
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- Even if it seems tedious, it’s better in the long run if you examine all 4 corners of the mattress.
- Look carefully at the seams of the mattress, as this is a popular hiding place for bed bugs. To get a closer look beneath these seams, lift them up with the thin edge of a credit card.^{[5]
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3
Search under the mattress with a flashlight. Prop up the mattress with 1 arm, or ask a friend or family member to help you. Turn on your phone’s flashlight and search along the bottom of the mattress. Inspect beneath the mattress for any significant stains or splotches, as well as any eggs or casings.^{[6]
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- Even if the top of the mattress looks okay, the bottom of the mattress might be hiding some signs of bed bugs.
4
Inspect the bedding and sheets for bed bug activity. Pull off the quilt or duvet and look for staining or other signs of bed bugs. As an extra precaution, look over the other sheets and blankets to make sure no bed bugs have set up shop beneath the covers.^{[7]
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- While you don’t have to inspect every blanket, doing a quick examination might give you some extra peace of mind.
5
Shine a light behind your headboard or nightstand. Turn on your phone’s flashlight and hold it behind both your bed’s headboard and the back of your nightstand. Look for any sign of bugs crawling away, which is a big indicator that your room is infested.^{[8]
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- Let a hotel employee know as soon as you spot any bed bugs. The sooner you report it, the sooner you can be unwinding in a clean, bug-free room!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Examining the Rest of the Room

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Check extra furniture in the room for bed bugs. Take a closer look at any couches, recliners, or other seating in the room. Focus especially on the seams, as this is a popular hangout for bed bugs. Before placing any clothing or other luggage on this seating, take a minute or so the inspect the entire surface of the chair or couch first.^{[9]
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- This can be something as simple as a desk chair, or a comfortable recliner that’s set up somewhere in the room.
2
Look through the curtains. Check your room for any side windows and curtains. Give the curtains a once-over by straightening them out and inspecting the individual creases and folds. Once again, keep an eye out for any signs of bugs, or any icky stains.^{[10]
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- Since curtains are typically creased and fanned out, it may take you a few minutes to check your drapes completely.
Take a closer look at the valet cart or luggage rack in your room. Check for signs of living bugs, along with any leftover casings. While this isn’t the usual hotspot, these racks can collect bed bugs from other people’s belongings.^{[11]
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4
Lift up framed pictures and look for bugs. If possible, pick up each framed picture and lift it up and away from the wall. Keep an eye out for any live bugs scattering away as you remove the painting, as these pests will sometimes take shelter there.
- Don’t worry about this if the art is firmly mounted to the wall.
5
Inspect the outside and inside of the nightstand. Kneel down and examine the screw holes and outer edges along the sides of the nightstand. As you’ve done before, look for signs of living bugs, along with their eggs and casings. Additionally, search inside each drawer to see if there are any signs of bug activity.^{[12]
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- These pesky bugs can fit in the top of a screw.^{[13]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Will I be able to see bed bugs?

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Answer

Absolutely. Bed bugs, bed bug eggs, nymphs, and all of their forms are 100% visible to the human eye as long as you have the right lighting.

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Question

Does steam kill bed bugs?

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Answer

Yes, if done properly. Bed bugs and bed bug eggs will typically die off at around 121 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam is between 180 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit, so it will kill them. Steam is hot enough to kill most insects. However, you need to make sure you're completely steaming the surface that has bed bugs. For example, if there are bed bugs on a couch and you're not able to steam inside the deep crevices, you won't be able to kill the bed bugs hidden in there.

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Tips

Store your luggage on a rack or in the bathroom when you first arrive so bed bugs aren’t as likely to crawl into your belongings.^{[14]
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Keep your dirty clothes in sealed bags so bed bugs aren’t as likely to sneak into your clothes.^{[15]
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To give yourself some peace of mind, go through your suitcase with a vacuum to suck out any potential bed bugs once you’re back home.^{[16]
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