{"id":4479,"date":"2022-08-03T00:13:18","date_gmt":"2022-08-03T08:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dpgo.com\/go\/?p=4479"},"modified":"2022-08-23T06:19:07","modified_gmt":"2022-08-23T14:19:07","slug":"managing-the-problem-airbnb-bed-bugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dpgo.com\/go\/managing-the-problem-airbnb-bed-bugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing the Problem: Airbnb Bed Bugs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having pests in your home is a nightmare. Airbnb bed bugs can ruin your business. Without a contingency plan in place, your reputation as a host may never recover.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bed bug infestations are hard to shake. Almost impossible in fact. Once you know about them, you need to act swiftly and definitively to ensure that the problem is kept under control. Unfortunately, once they get into your house, they\u2019ll likely spread from room to room pretty quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start at the beginning!<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are Bed Bugs?<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to <\/span>Wikipedia<\/span><\/a>, \u201cBed bug bites are caused primarily by two species of insects: Cimex lectularius (the common bed bug) and Cimex hemipterus, found primarily in the tropics. Their size ranges between 1 and 7 mm. They spread by crawling between nearby locations or by being carried within personal items. Infestation is rarely due to a lack of hygiene but is more common in high-density areas. Diagnosis involves both finding the bugs and the occurrence of compatible symptoms. Bed bugs spend much of their time in dark, hidden locations like mattress seams, or cracks in a wall.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Is My Listing Infested?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Luckily, bed bugs are rarely a sign of poor hygiene. Instead, they are believed to travel from place to place by attaching themselves or their eggs to luggage, clothing, and other materials. Bed bugs can also find their way into your property when you buy furniture that already has an infestation. Interestingly, bed bugs are increasingly found in air travel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What Should I Do If I Find Bed Bugs?<\/b><\/h2>\n

First, you\u2019ll need to identify whether the bug you have found is indeed a bed bug. Bed bugs range in color between brown and reddish-brown and are roughly 4-5mm in length when fully grown.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the bug you found is a bed bug, you\u2019ll need to start containing the infestation. <\/span>Healthline<\/span><\/a> recommends using a vacuum cleaner as a fast way to suck up all of the bugs and their eggs. Seal up the contents of your vacuum, as well as any linens, towels, or clothes until you can wash them. Wash them on the hottest setting for at least 30 minutes and dry them in a drier on the hottest heat setting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the items cannot be washed and dried, tie them up in a sealed bag and leave them in there until the hidden bed bugs die of starvation. If you cannot clean furniture, the best thing to do is throw it away. Sadly, some things simply cannot be uninfested.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next comes the debugging treatment. If money isn\u2019t an object, we would recommend hiring a professional. You can get things done yourself, but it\u2019s a whole lot more work to get rid of Airbnb bed bugs on your own. There are a few <\/span>chemicals<\/span><\/a> you can try (all of the following are FDA-approved): pyrethrins, pyrethroids, pyrroles, neonicotinoids, desiccants, foggers, and bug bombs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n