Every Airbnb stay should be a positive experience, but there’s always a potential threat lingering in every rental: bed bugs. An infestation of these pests is not only uncomfortable but one that can continue to haunt you if you end up taking these critters with you as they transfer from the mattress to your luggage or clothing.
You should trust your Airbnb host to make sure that their vacation rental isn’t infested by bed bugs, but you should always err on the side of caution to make sure that you never run into the issue yourself. Here’s a quick guide on how to check for bed bugs in an Airbnb so that you have a desirable stay, every stay.
Spotting Bed Bugs: Know the Signs
Bed bugs are tiny insects that primarily inhabit mattresses, often hiding in headboards and box springs. They can also be found on couches, furniture, and behind baseboards. They prefer dark areas and can easily access their primary food source: blood.
Adult bed bugs look like small, flat brown seeds with legs, although they will start to swell if they’ve recently fed, in which case they’ll have a reddish-brown color and a much more rounded body. Younger bed bugs are typically whitish-brown and more difficult to spot, although not impossible. Bed bug infestations are most noticeable when dark areas are illuminated, as bed bugs hide until the lights go off and they can feed. The larger the infestation, the easier it is to detect bed bugs, as they will leave behind molted skin and eggs, or even be out and about because there are so many of them around.
Identifying Bed Bug Bites: What to Look for
It can be difficult to find bed bugs in a room if you’re not actively searching for them and the signs aren’t immediately obvious. In such cases, it’s important to know how to identify bed bug bites in case you suspect bed bugs in your Airbnb. Symptoms of bed bug bites may include:
- Red, raised bites that are similar to hives or welts
- Itching
- Burning
- Blistering
- Straight-line patterns of many small bites
There are also psychological symptoms that come with bed bugs. Bed bug bites can naturally make a person feel unsafe in Airbnbs and have trouble sleeping (going to a new room or a different room likely won’t solve the issue either given how far these pests can travel). The good news? While bed bug bites can be concerning and undesirable, they’re unlikely to transmit diseases or long-term health effects that will impact you down the road.
Taking Preventive Measures: Protecting Your Home
Finding bed bugs in your Airbnb can quickly ruin the vacation experience. But bringing home bed bugs can be worse. Bed bugs can travel home with you, and then they’ll infest your property, which will likely require a call to pest control, deep inspection of your belongings, and maybe new furniture.
Fortunately, there are strategies you can use to prevent bed bugs from coming home with you. Here are a few tips that you should always follow regardless of whether you’re booking a hotel or Airbnb.
- Keep luggage elevated and on a hard surface where bed bugs likely won’t travel.
- Make sure to keep your belongings secured and in a safe place rather than all over the floor. If there are bed bugs, you don’t want to accidentally pick them up before you’ve done a thorough sweep of the property.
- If you find bed bugs in your room, don’t panic. Put your contaminated clothes in a bag and then bag all of your other items as well. Before you enter your home, conduct a thorough sweep of your belongings and look for bed bugs. If there are hitchhikers in your belongings, they can generally be killed with high heat.
It might seem like a lot of extra work when you’re going on vacation, but it’s well worth it if you don’t want to deal with bed bugs at home after you’ve already had to deal with them at your Airbnb.
Inspecting Your Airbnb: Step-by-Step Guide
A thorough inspection is the only way to avoid bed bug bites and accidentally taking home bed bugs. But what does an inspection entail? Here’s every step you should take when inspecting your Airbnb for bed bugs.
- Always start with the mattress and the various items under or surrounding the mattress. Look for bed bugs along the mattress fabric and the seams, around the headboard, in the box spring, and nearby furniture like nightstands. Use a flashlight to see if you can spot anything moving.
- Remember to look for more than just live bugs when checking for bed bugs. Bed bugs can leave behind various signs, such as excrement, shells, and eggs. Always check for these signs in the same places where you normally look for bed bugs.
- It’s important to remember that bed bugs can and will hide. Evidence of bed bugs doesn’t always manifest in the mattress but elsewhere throughout the home. Some other places to check for include where baseboards and carpeting meet, behind pictures and wallpaper, in the corners of rooms, near electrical outlets or appliances like wall ACs, along curtain rods, or even infesting personal belongings throughout someone’s Airbnb. The more thoroughly you check, the more confident you’ll be that there are no bed bugs.
Make sure there are no eggs, feces, or live bugs on the property before you start to settle in. Taking a moment to do this will give you peace of mind.
Dealing With Bed bugs: Actionable Tips
If you encounter bed bugs in an Airbnb, it’s important to remember that it is not your responsibility to address the issue. Attempting to eliminate bed bugs, especially on someone else’s property, is not advisable.
The first action to take is to let the host know that there are bed bugs on the property. If the host takes great care of their guests, they will immediately issue you a refund, apologize for the inconvenience, and get pest control to come out and deal with the bed bugs so that future guests don’t encounter the same issue.
That being said, not every host may be so caring or considerate. If you run into a host that is not communicative or will not issue you a refund, you can reach out to Airbnb to manage the situation. They may also take further action regarding the host’s listing so that guests can’t make a booking until the host has verified that there are no longer any bed bugs on the property.
Reporting Bed Bugs: Ensuring a Safe Stay
If you encounter a problem with a host and need to file a report or complaint, you’ll need to reach out to them using the contact information provided on their customer service page. If you need to report bed bugs on a property, follow the instructions on their customer service page.
The most effective way to ensure everything goes smoothly is to thoroughly document the situation. While Airbnb is dedicated to offering excellent customer support, they must ensure that a property is genuinely infested and that it’s not a situation where a guest has an issue with a host and wants to retaliate. Take photos of bed bugs and any evidence of infestation, and immediately contact Airbnb if the host does not respond or cooperate. It’s important to follow up with them as needed to expedite the resolution process.
Bed Bug Myths Debunked: Fact vs. Fiction
There are plenty of myths surrounding bed bugs that make them far more fearsome and concerning than they truly are. This can unnecessarily stress you out should you find bed bugs in your room or make it so that you believe things that lead you to miss them entirely. What is fact and what is fiction?
- Myth #1: Bed bugs only live in dirty environments.
- Truth: The degree of cleanliness does not determine where a bed bug lives. Bed bugs can live in clean spaces because they feed on people and animals, not dirt. That being said, bed bugs may be more prominent in dirty spaces because it’s easier for them to hide and propagate.
- Myth #2: Sleeping with the lights on will keep you safe.
- Truth: Much like cockroaches, bed bugs will come out while the light is on when infestations are severe. Moreover, light does not act as a deterrent to feeding.
- Myth #3: Bed bugs will stick to you.
- Truth: While bed bugs must bite you to feed, they don’t attach themselves to you. They avoid heat and will only approach you to feed before returning to a safe space.
Final Thoughts: Staying Bug-Free in Your Airbnb
Bed bugs can be a major concern for travelers, but they are not as fearsome as they are made out to be. There are ways to check for them and prevent bringing them home. Whether you’ve experienced their bites in the past or are looking to stay safe when you travel, the tips provided above will help you learn how to inspect for bed bugs in an Airbnb, avoid bringing them home, and address the situation with the host to ensure the best possible stay experience when using Airbnb.
