In short
The most effective bed bug check is the one housekeepers carry out at every check-out, in a few minutes, on the mattress, headboard and luggage area. It goes hand in hand with a simple alert procedure: room blocked, head housekeeper told, professional inspection before it goes back on sale.
In a hotel, bed bugs don't come in through the front door: they arrive in suitcases. No category of property is spared, and the first traces are easily missed during a clean done against the clock.
This protocol is written for head housekeepers and their teams. It adds little time to the check-out clean, relies on the same moves every time and sets out clearly what to do when in doubt.
When to check
The full check happens during the check-out clean, with the mattress uncovered. For a stayover clean, a glance at the sheets and pillowcases is enough: small blood spots, black dots.
On top of that, schedule an in-depth inspection of each room, headboard off and base lifted, at regular intervals, for example during deep cleaning.
The inspection route
Always in the same order, from the bed outwards, with a torch.
- Pillowcases, sheets and mattress protector: blood spots, black dots.
- Mattress: piping, seams, handles and labels, head end first.
- Bed base: corners, fabric staples, joints with the legs.
- Headboard: back panel and wall fixings.
- Bedside tables: drawers, underside and back.
- Luggage rack, armchair, curtains, skirting and sockets near the bed.
Recognising the signs
Show your teams reference photos in a short training session: visual recognition is what makes a check worthwhile.
- Droppings: small black dots that stain the fabric.
- Shed skins: empty, translucent husks in the shape of the insect.
- Eggs: white grains about 1 mm long tucked into crevices.
- The insect: brown, oval, flat, 5 to 7 mm as an adult.
The alert procedure
The aim isn't to make a diagnosis, but to react the same way every time.
At the slightest doubt, the housekeeper photographs the clue, stops touching anything and tells the head housekeeper. The room is blocked in the property management system. Linen goes in a sealed bag straight to the laundry, and the trolley stays out of the room. A professional then inspects the room and its neighbours before it goes back on sale.
Record the checks
One sheet per room, with the date, the housekeeper's name and the result, is enough. If there's a complaint or review, you can show the checks were done; if there's an infestation, you know since when the room was clear.
The check-out inspection in 6 steps
Build it into the check-out clean, before remaking the bed.
- 1
Step 1
Leave the trolley outside
The trolley stays in the corridor; only the kit you need goes into the room.
- 2
Step 2
Strip the bed gently
Roll the linen inwards, look at it, then bag it.
- 3
Step 3
Inspect mattress and base
Low-angle torchlight along seams, piping, corners and staples.
- 4
Step 4
Check headboard and bedsides
The back of the headboard, the drawers and backs of the bedside tables.
- 5
Step 5
Check the luggage area
Luggage rack, armchair, skirting and sockets near the bed.
- 6
Step 6
Fill in the sheet
Record the result; if in doubt, photo, room blocked and head housekeeper told.
Printable checklist
Room inspection protocolTick as you go, or print the page: the list fits on a single sheet.
Frequently asked questions
How much time does this check add?
A few minutes per room once the routine is learned. That's little compared with a room blocked for several days.
Should neighbouring rooms be inspected?
Yes, as soon as an infestation is confirmed: bed bugs can travel through ducts, skirting and sockets. Inspecting the adjoining rooms is part of our visit.
Could staff take bed bugs home?
The risk exists if clothes or personal bags are put down in an infested room. Provide work uniforms changed on site and lockers away from the guest floors.
Can a detection dog replace this check?
Canine detection is a recognised technique for screening a large number of rooms quickly. It complements visual inspection but doesn't replace the daily checks by your teams.
A suspect room this morning?
Close it, book an inspection in a 2-hour slot and get the photo report the same day.
