All it takes is a quick Google search to see dozens of horror stories of hotel guests complaining about their nightmare stay — expecting a peaceful getaway, they ended up with creepy-crawly guests of their own, ruining their experience and damaging the hotel’s reputation. With the right know-how, you will be able to quickly manage this situation if it ever happens to you and understand how to prevent it to begin with.
Managing the Problem
It’s always best to be prepared for the situation, should it arise, to keep your guest calm and reassured that they will be taken care of. Part of that preparation should include the acquisition of a commercial steam cleaner — these machines produce steam that kills around 99% of household germs, as well as dust mites and, you guessed it, bed bugs! Industrial steam cleaners and industrial carpet cleaners may be a little intense for your business as they’re designed more for factories and industry production workshops. Remember to do your research to make sure you know what you’re looking for.
To Eliminate You Must First Understand
It’s important to be knowledgeable about the common pests you might encounter. Bed bugs, in particular, can’t spread disease, but their bites cause itching, which increases the risk of getting a skin infection. They prefer to live in furniture — couches, chairs, especially beds — so they have easy access to their food source (your guests). Train your staff to check these areas and look for the minuscule, brown insects, particularly around the corners of love-seats and couches, and the headboards and corners of beds.
Prevention Is Key
Since beds are the most common place for bed bugs to live, mattress and box springs covers are a great idea. These plastic covers create a tight seal on the fabric of the mattress and are an affordable way to keep the puny pests from settling. Additionally, clean your bedding on high heat to kill any potential intruders that may have been brought in by hotel guests.
Prevention is the easiest option since it will stop the problem from arising in the first place, but sometimes even the most diligent cleaners and owners encounter these menaces. Remember to find the right steam cleaning system — make sure it isn’t too harsh for your needs (like industrial steam cleaners or industrial steam generators) — and you will be ready to face whatever nasty critter comes your way!