Choosing the Best Mattress Protection for your Hotel

Bed bug incidents in hotel rooms are becoming increasingly more common. Hotel guests, news reporters and social media boards are all taking notice. A recent article in Conde Naste Traveler warns that Bed Bugs in Hotel Rooms Are on the Rise. As a hotelier what can you do to protect not only your mattress but your guests sleeping on them as well? When it comes to bed bugs, protection begins with your mattress and box spring; two places where bed bugs strike most frequently!

Finding the best bed bug mattress cover can be a good first step to prevention, assist in the early detection of bed bugs and become an essential component of an ongoing bed bug program. You will quickly find out that not all mattress covers are created equal. Here is a list of features to consider when comparing encasements to active mattress liners:

• Determine what is most important for you to protect: the person sleeping on the mattress, the mattress itself or both. Some covers offer protection to just the mattress or box spring; encasements are one example of bedding-only protection. Just as their name suggests an encasement fully encases the mattress preventing bed bugs from infesting it. This does not prevent bed bugs from infesting the surface(s) of the encasement where people sleep; it simply protects the mattress. Encasements are also available for the box spring, a major repository for bed bugs. However, they are highly prone to ripping and tearing given the sharp edges associated with bed frames. Unfortunately, encasements once damaged, cannot be repaired
• If you are looking for a cover liner that kills bed bugs, you effectively have one option. Active mattress liners are specially formulated with an active ingredient built-in that kill bed bugs. Encasements rely on starvation of bed bugs, typically over a one-year period, and ONLY for those bed bugs trapped inside.  This also assumes that the encasement has not be ripped or torn through use, rendering it no longer useful.  Encasements have NO impact on bed bugs on its surface or on the outside.
• Ease of installation is typically an important factor particularly in cases where you have a large number of beds to cover. For these circumstances, consider a liner that can be installed as easily as a fitted sheet and does not disturb hotel operating efficiency. Encasements typically require two people for installation and require lifting of the mattress and/or box spring.
• Minimizing time-intensive ongoing maintenance is likely of importantance to your hotel staff. If you are looking for a maintenance-free product be wary of mattress protection products. For example, encasements are meant to trap bed bugs inside and require constant inspection to ensure that rips or tears have not occurred, allowing bed bugs to escape.

Finding the best bed bug mattress cover for you and your hotel’s needs doesn’t have to be difficult. We hope the list provided above offers you a good starting point to help you make an informed decision. For more information about bed bugs in hotels and mattress covers visit www.hotelbedbugprevention.com.