Ugh, I found one bed bug in a room I am staying in. Time to panic?

[pRICE cUBE]

I am a history buff and am in a side trip to a US Civil War site. I had not unpacked but had my items in a room with two queen beds. I put most of stuff in a desk and suitcases still upright on wheels by the door. It has been a long day already so I did a cursory check for bed bugs in the first bed and then laid down on the second one without checking and zonked out for a nap. Woke up to my leg itching and found one beg bug. I am in for a season of pain in trying to get rid of these because I may take one or an egg home?

The establishment has a pretty good rating and they promptly move my items to another room on the the other side of the building. Then two employees checked the new room’s bed and did not find anything. I know this could happen anywhere and even at fancier places. The reviews don’t state there is a bed bug chronic infestation. The manger said he is calling someone to spray the room immediately.

There is a Walmart across the street and the web page says it has sprays. Any of these sprays safe for humans to use while occupying this room?

Ideas on what to do to keep this from coming back to my home?

[datbeme]

In a similar situation (only one or two were spotted), we were advised to wash and dry all or our clothes on hot/high, and we vacated the building altogether. Seems like you pretty much did that, but your items can easily transport the bugs. As can your vehicle if you are hopping into your own car with those items.

We left our suitcases and contents in the garage (dead of winter) for a couple months after our return flight home.

[Michael]

I'd buy the bedbug spray and spray the outside of your luggage if you haven't opened it. Of course, you should read the can about potential toxic impact on humans.

We always do a minor check for bedbugs. We leave our clothes in our travel bags either on one of those suitcase stands that a lot of rooms have or on some other hard surface if available. Our dirty clothes go into a laundry bag that's hanging up in the closet. As soon as we get home those are washed in hot water. I have a friend who puts luggage in the tub to avoid hitchhikers.

[pRICE cUBE]

New room had one emerge from the bed after I moved all my stuff from the other room.

[Speedy]

pRICE cUBE wrote:
New room had one emerge from the bed after I moved all my stuff from the other room.

Time to find a new hotel.

If you are driving leave your bags in the cabin of your car all day and park in the sun. 125°F kills them dead. Open up your bags as much as possible.

[Acer]

DEFCON ONE

[vision63]

Personally I would. Those are some hardy, indestructible mofos.

[sekker]

New hotel, and none of what you are currently transporting enters the house without a full decontamination.

[special]

Oh good luck, get the hell out of there and sleep in the car if you have to.

[pRICE cUBE]

The car and my contents were baking until some clouds rolled in.

The manager insinuated twice that maybe I brought the critters with me. My previous room in another city was three nights of no bites.

Maybe, just maybe, I bright the first one. The second one crawled out without me laying on the bed. Housekeeping employee and I checked under the mattress and sheets and the second one still got by both of us.


I tried to handle it low key since it seems like an actual mom/pop/family/business. The manager/owner suggested he give me a refund and I find another places. Going to a chain now. I tried to support small business but I think another room would result in the same problem.