No one thinks they are likely to ever get bedbugs. But it happens all the time.
Bedbugs, fortunately, don’t fly, or even jump. But they are really good at hitching rides. And contrary to what you may think, those apple-seed-sized ones that one may think of? They’re a ~little~ deceiving. Yes, full-grown well-fed bedbugs are big enough to see pretty easily. But those full grown well fed bugs lay eggs. That hatch and start wandering – and hitching – when they’re microscopic.
Not to worry though. There are things you can do to minimize your risk
Mattress encasements. Not the ones with elastics to hold them in place. Zippers – and they should say they protect against bedbugs on the packaging. Encasements protect your mattresses if you DO ever get an infestation. And they reduce the number of hiding places too. If you have box springs, those need to be in encasements as well.
NO bed skirts. Better by far to not use them – they allow bedbugs easy access to the bed. If you must use them, they should be laundered, or at least dried in a hot dryer, every time you launder your bedding.
Similarly, curtains long enough to touch the floor, also no!
Beds: the best beds are those with legs. They are much, much easier to protect and treat than designs that have frames that sit on the floor, and/or drawers, and/or cloth headboards.
Moats go under the legs of beds and are highly recommended if you have or had bedbugs, if you do a lot of traveling, if you or your kid’s time is split between places, if you live in an apartment building, if you do pest control, and/or if you have any concerns at all. They cost about $30 for a set, and they work by intercepting the bugs on their way to visit you in your bed. They get in, but they can’t get out. (of course, if they’re already in your bed, they won’t solve the problem – but as a preventative &/ monitor they’re excellent).
If you are operating a short-term rental (STR), you should do all of the above – yes, even the moats – but I know most don’t want guests to see anything that suggests bedbugs.
A smart guest would prefer to stay at a place that takes all possible precautions but that aside, we have an alternate solution for you. Beap makes a fully functional power-bar that includes a glue strip and a bedbug lure to attract bedbugs! I recommend one for each bedroom, and also another for the kitchen – for that one, I replace the lure with cockroach bait. Bedbug or roach goes for the bait, gets stuck. Whoever does the changeover cleanings pops it open and has a look and continues on their way – or calls me, if they see anything suspicious.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that it is much cheaper and easier to treat a potential infestation before it takes hold than to wait until guests can’t miss it and you have to shut down, sometimes for weeks, for treatment.
I offer these to all of my STR clients; I’m shocked at how few are willing to spend the money to protect their properties and their guests. $50/room – really?!
ANYWAY…. get back on track, Lauralee. The point is that you can reduce the likelihood of ever having to deal with a bedbug infestation.
Why would you not?!
