Charlotte is ranked ninth on Orkin’s 2024 list of the top 50 cities with the most bed bugs. This ranking is based on data from December 2022 to November 2023, which tracks the number of bed bug treatments conducted by the pest control company. Greensboro is ranked 18th and the Raleigh-Durham area is ranked 24th on the list, nationwide.
Bed bugs are pests that can easily travel by hitching a ride on luggage, clothes, purses, and backpacks. They can make their way into hotels and homes this way.
Jay Patel is one of the people who started Hotel Refuge in Charlotte. The five-room pilot hotel has a 100 sanitation rating displayed on the wall. The owner and staff put in a lot of effort to make sure that guests don’t come across bed bugs, pests, or rodents.
“We feel at ease knowing that it’s not a dangerous or harmful pest, but still, we make every effort to ensure that nobody has to come into contact with them,” Patel said.
The hotel operator says that if a guest brings in bed bugs, the affected room and any rooms next to it will be closed until the problem is fixed. According to Patel, his staff regularly check for bed bugs as part of their normal routine, just like they change the sheets between guests. Every room has a mattress cover and mattress pad for protection, which are placed under the fitted sheet.
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“There is a zipper that goes around the corner, and it prevents anything from getting in or out. We are using multiple barriers to ensure maximum protection,” Patel explained.
When staying at hotels or at home, it’s important to check the corners, creases, and seams of the mattress. This is where bed bugs usually hide during the day before moving to other parts of the mattress at night.
“Once you understand that, you can generally feel confident that there is nothing in that sleeping area,” Patel said. When staying in hotels, Orkin suggests following the acronym S.L.E.E.P.:
- S-survey the room for signs of infection
- L-lift and look in beg bed hiding spots
- E-elevate luggage away from the bed and wall
- E-examine your luggage carefully while repacking
- P-put all dryer-safe clothing in the dryer once you return on the highest setting for 30-45 minutes
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