The Most Common Place to Pick Up Bed Bugs Is a Hotel Room-and Experts Say This Simple Hack Can Kill Them Fast

"It is a given that a spotless hotel room can still harbor bed bugs. These bugs are not drawn to dirt, after all. Instead, they are attracted to carbon dioxide, blood, and warmth-things that can be found anywhere one sleeps."

"topical application of alcohol to bed bug adults resulted in minimal mortality; however, high rates of alcohol is effective for killing bed bug nymphs when directly sprayed. rates applied in this study represent very high application volumes and may not be practical or safe."

"It doesn't eliminate eggs or deeply hidden bugs."

Hotel rooms are the most common places to encounter bed bugs, and spotless rooms can still harbor them because they are attracted to carbon dioxide, blood, and warmth rather than dirt. Travelers should inspect rooms before unpacking, but the greater risk is transporting bugs home in luggage or clothing. Rubbing alcohol dissolves bed bug exoskeletons, dehydrating and killing adult bugs quickly, but it does not reliably destroy eggs or deeply hidden individuals. A 70 percent alcohol concentration improves penetration. Experimental results found topical alcohol produced minimal adult mortality overall, though very high volumes can kill nymphs; such volumes may be impractical, unsafe, and alcohol is highly flammable.

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