A hotel worker has shared a simple method for checking for bedbugs before you unpack your suitcase – and it’s one that you should definitely try
When you arrive at a hotel and are shown to your room, your first worry probably isn’t what horrible creatures might be lurking in the darkness. Yet, one hospitality worker has disclosed why spotting these unwanted visitors should be your number one priority when you arrive.
Halee, who shares videos on TikTok under @haleewithaflair, cautioned that bedbugs can utterly ruin holidaymaker’s getaways and revealed a straightforward way to identify them before you settle down for the evening.
The method involves turning off all the lights – which probably isn’t your natural reaction when you’re thrilled about your holiday.
Halee posted her video after seeing footage of a couple who woke up covered in bumps from hotel bedbug bites, reports Dublin Live.
She said: “This is how I check my room before I unpack and get settled into the room. The first thing you’re going to want to do is make sure your room is dark. Turn off lights, close any shades and use the flashlight on your phone.
“While everything is off, you’re going to come up here under the covers. This one does have a mattress pad but you’re going to check under all the creases.”
Halee showed how travellers should examine beneath the folds at the corner of their hotel bed.
She recommended: “They usually like to hang out in the corners and the creases.”
Raising the mattress, she showed how travellers ought to examine underneath the mattress and beneath the mattress pad. The hotel employee cautioned: “Even if you don’t see bugs, make sure you check for spots, like blood spots, because that’s not a good sign either.”
Halee recommended that tourists should search for bed bugs before they unpack as these creatures can slip into suitcases. Holiday-makers should avoid placing their luggage on the bed.
It’s better to leave it on a luggage stand or near the room’s doorway.
Some specialists advise washing all holiday clothing straight away upon returning home to eliminate any stowaway pests. The hotel employee also suggested checking ironing boards and curtains for the insects.
Bed bugs are night-time creatures, so turning off the lights may encourage them to come out in search of victims. Bedbug bites can appear as red, itchy marks, often arranged in a line or cluster.
Some people may experience an allergic reaction to these bites.
The insects themselves can be dark yellow, red or brown and are typically only about 5mm long, whilst their eggs are usually white. If you can’t spot the insects directly, look out for red or rusty stains on the mattress, which could indicate a crushed bug.
Dark spots might be bedbug droppings and may bleed onto the fabric similar to a marker pen. These troublesome pests often lurk in the seams of furniture, including any chairs and sofas in the room.
Although they can endure low temperatures, they meet their end when their body temperature hits 45 degrees.
If you’re on holiday and spot any signs of bedbugs in your room, it’s vital to alert your hotel straight away.