Staying in Hotels: What You Should Know Before You Check-In

Has the Coronavirus pandemic made you stir crazy? Can you not wait to get out of the house and start traveling again? For those who want to go on vacation or just need to go for work, you may be wondering -- is it safe? 

It seems as though the Coronavirus has ruined many plans for individuals and families this summer. However, we can resume activities with careful planning, from traveling to staying in hotels. Hotel chains across the US have announced plans to upgrade their cleaning practices to ensure sanitized surfaces for their employees and guests. It is an effort to mitigate risks for guests and employees. Many have taken extra measures, making it safer for travelers to get back out and enjoy sightseeing, vacations, etc.

In this article, we will discuss if staying in a hotel right now is safe. We will also touch on what you should know before booking a room, arriving, and how to protect yourself while on vacation away from your home. Lastly, we will go over essential questions you should be asking your hotel to ensure you and your family’s optimal safety.

 

 

Is it safe to stay in a hotel right now?

Lockdown measures have eased in some areas, which has opened ways for travelers to get back to their vacations and travel plans. Depending on your location, city, and state ordinances, hotels may be open for business now. Most have reopened their doors, but have modified fundamental cleaning practices and policies to ensure everyone’s safety while enjoying their stay. But are they safe enough? 

In general, staying at a hotel will carry similar risks to that of being in your home. At home, your rooms will not be exposed to anyone else other than you and your family. In hotels, with proper social distancing, your stay can be pleasant without too much worry. The real question is, how the hotel will handle disinfecting between guests. This is where the debate has opened up -- whether we should be booking hotels for leisure versus delaying the travel until the pandemic is over. 

The good news for those eager to stay at their favorite Marriott, Holiday Inn, or Hyatt location, hotels are taking precautions to make your stay safer.

 

What should you know before staying in hotels?

There are many points in which you might come in contact with bacteria and viruses when staying at a hotel. It's essential to be vigilant in what you're touching and to wash your hands frequently. Personal hygiene is an excellent way to safeguard you and others against the transmission of diseases and viruses. Before booking your room, consider these factors:

• Can the hotel provide a room cleaning history?
• Did the hotel have a disinfection service done, in addition to regular cleanings?
• Do they have a social distancing plan in effect?
• Does the hotel provide guests with hand sanitizer?
• Do housekeepers disinfect their hands before making the beds, hanging towels, etc.? 

Below are just a few practices you may see hotels practicing for better protection and prevention of spreading the Coronavirus.

• Frequent handwashing
• Placement of hand sanitizer
• Training staff to avoid close contact-social distancing
• Comply with food safety when handling breakfast, sanitize all dishes, cooking, and serving utensils.
• Train housekeeping with the latest procedures
• Familiarize staff with new cleaning procedures such as disinfecting wipes and frequency to clean.

 

Are guests being screened?

This will be an easy question to have answered. If you're not being screened when checking in, then it's highly likely that others aren't being screened either. Hotels should be calling guests before their stay to determine if they have been exposed to anyone testing positive, and whether or not they have a fever. These factors can help prevent the spread.

 

How does the hotel protect its guests and staff

Ask the hotel what type of cleaners they use and how frequently they disinfect surfaces in the main lobby area. What do they do to ensure sanitation of the guest rooms? All hotels should be using EPA-certified cleaners that are effective against killing the Coronavirus on surfaces. They should also be washing bed linens and towels in hot water and detergent or sending items off for dry cleaning.

 

How does the hotel handle and manage infected guests?

Should the hotel have a problem with a guest that has an infection, what is their policy? Preventing the threat of contamination is the first line of defense. If someone exhibits signs of Coronavirus or has tested positive, the hotel should take action quickly. All surfaces should be disinfected, including the guest's room and anywhere they may have been, including community areas like the gym, pool, or breakfast area. Additionally, card keys should be sanitized before the next use.

 

When was the last time your assigned room was occupied?

In addition to the cleaning practices the hotel, motel, or Airbnb have, you can also ask when was the last time your room was occupied. Rooms that have been vacant for some time may have lower risks of contraction should there have been asymptomatic guests who hadn't known they were infected.

 

What is the occupancy rate of the hotel?

To ensure that social distancing practices are in place, is the hotel limiting the occupancy rate? These are left up to the community usually. Local and state restrictions based on square footage can limit the occupancy substantially.

 

How do they implement strict sanitation on the property? 

Many hotels will look to professionals like Bug Guys Pest Control for disinfection treatment solutions. This ensures that their properties maintain health standards for their guests, without worrying that their employees are not performing the disinfection procedures correctly. 

With commercial sanitation services for hotels, both the establishment and the guests can feel confident that everything is done to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses, such as COVID-19.

 

Conclusion

When staying in a hotel during a pandemic or even in the future, it's important to know their standards in terms of sanitation, particularly the common areas and rooms. Contacting the hotel before check-in to ask about their policies is more than an acceptable practice in today's circumstances. It is a must. Ask if they are using a professional company for disinfection treatments and their policies to safeguard you, other guests, and their employees. 

At Bug Guys Pest Control, we are pleased to provide residential and commercial customers with disinfecting services that can keep your home, hotel, office, or business sanitized against potential bacteria and viruses. Contact us online by clicking here and requesting a free quote, or give us a call today at (442) 227-8409!

 

 

The following post Staying in Hotels: What You Should Know Before You Check-In is available on Bug Guys

Cleaning with Bleach for a Virus-Free Home: Is it Safe?

Bleach has long been used as the cleaner of choice and many homes across the US. It has been known to clean many surfaces, including tabletops, bathroom fixtures, and much more. However, while we're focused on staying safe from things like the COVID-19 pandemic, we start to wonder if cleaning with bleach is the safest option for sanitizing and disinfecting our homes.

While you can use bleach on a variety of surfaces, it is something that you do not want to have around food or anything you ingest. Household bleach can be used on non-porous materials. In this article, we will go over what bleach is, If it's harmful, safe cleaning practices for the home, and much more.

 

 

What is bleach?

Bleach, also known by the names of “household bleach” and “chlorine bleach,” is a concentration of 5.25% or 6% sodium hypochlorite. While chlorine bleach has an active ingredient of sodium hypochlorite, oxygen bleach will contain sodium percarbonate. You'll see this "bleach alternative" in a variety of places and products.

One crucial fact to consider is that because these are two different products, they will work on different surfaces and have different uses. For example, you won't want to use a stain remover for laundry to clean your bathroom or kitchen sink. Typically sodium percarbonate is not used for disinfecting surfaces. Not during standard times or during a pandemic.

 

Uses of bleach

Bleach has many uses. It is a powerful stain remover when used on white surfaces and clothing. It has been used to sanitize toys for children. However, you must be very careful to allow the surface to dry completely. Bleach can also remove mold and mildew around the home, making indoor air quality somewhat safer. Take a look at some of the other great uses households have found to put bleach to work.

• keep sheets and clothing whiter
• keep flowers lasting longer
• eliminates the presence of mold and mildew
• cleans toilets 
• sanitizes plastic toys 
• sanitize and clean kitchen sinks 
• disinfect butcher block top surfaces including cutting boards 
• whiten tile grout

In addition to these areas where bleach is highly effective, let's take a look at each room individually where you may find using bleach to be an excellent option for sanitizing services.

 

 

Laundry

Household bleach has been used in laundry rooms across the United States for decades. Most use this for their whites-only clothing. Though some are formulated to be safe for colors. 

Household bleach can also be used in other areas of the house. It is important to know its difference from the chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach can be used in different parts of the house, while the one designed for laundry should stay in the laundry room

 

Kitchen

While you can use bleach in the kitchen for things like cleaning and sanitizing a butcher block top, you'll want to be cautious about where you're spraying the bleach. Avoid any areas where food may be present, or in an area that could contaminate your food. Bleach is not edible and should not be ingested. Furthermore, you should not spray bleach or use bleach in a non ventilated area.

 

Bathroom

Bleach is particularly helpful when it comes to cleaning your bathrooms — sanitizing surfaces including the faucet, shower, tub, tile grout, toilet, and just about any other surface in the room. Pro-tip: when using bleach in the bathroom, combine in a water bottle with equal parts water and bleach. This can make it easier to clean and can save you money.

 

Patio

Bleach can be used outside the home as well as inside. Many homeowners find that they can clean patio furniture effectively with bleach too without having issues with staining. To disinfect surfaces used by visitors during the pandemic, simply use the spray bottle method on any areas that may have been touched. This includes tabletops, chairs, and door handles.

 

Proper use of bleach

When cleaning with bleach to sanitize items, it's important to follow safety precautions. Bleach should almost never be used full strength. Meaning, you should never just use it straight out of the bottle. The CDC advised that using unexpired household bleach is an effective method for killing the Coronavirus. Prepare the bleach solution by mixing a third cup of bleach per gallon of water. You can add it to a water bottle to make it easier to apply, or add to a bucket with water for cleaning larger surface areas.

 

Is it safe to use bleach?

It is safe to use bleach to clean certain items. However, as mentioned earlier, you should avoid using bleach around anywhere you may have food present. In addition to these things, you should also never clean with bleach and an area that is enclosed or not properly ventilated. Bleach can have fumes that can cause respiratory issues, which may make you feel light-headed and dizzy.

 

Bleach is toxic

Everyone should know that bleach does carry some degree of toxicity. It should not be ingested, it can also cause irritation and can be corrosive to the skin, lungs, and eyes. When handling bleach, it's important to practice safety measures, including wearing gloves, protective eyewear, and paying close attention to the surfaces being cleaned. Bleach can be toxic to almost any living thing. Remember to store bleach in a safe area away from children and pets.

 

Can interact with other household chemicals

It may be tempting to combine household cleaners to try and intensify the cleaning effects, to hopefully get through cleaning faster, but this is not the answer. It is extremely important that you do not mix bleach with any other household chemical, especially those containing ammonia.

 

Not environment-friendly

Bleach has long had a reputation for being not environmentally friendly. It was one of the first products to be banned by homeowners that had a focus on being eco-friendly. Swapping out bleach for alternatives including all-natural homemade products, found to have similar effects to bleach without harming the environment with hazardous fumes.

 

Use professional disinfection treatment services 

With professional disinfection treatment services, you don't have to worry about the time and extra expenses needed to clean your home. At Bug Guys Pest Control, we are proud to offer disinfection treatments throughout the Coachella Valley. Contact us today by clicking here, or give us a call at (442) 227-8409 to request a free estimate.

Cleaning with Bleach for a Virus-Free Home: Is it Safe? is courtesy of https://www.bugguyservices.com

How to Clean the Interior of the Car? – COVID-19 Tips

We’ve been told that hand washing and being sanitary are excellent ways to safeguard ourselves against the Coronavirus, along with wearing masks and social distancing. But with information being traded, it can be confusing to know what you should and shouldn’t be doing. One particular instance is with surfaces, including our cars. We’re still learning day to day something different with regards to COVID-19. How to clean the interior of the car using this new information about the virus? 

When it comes to cars, people are a little leery. Our mode of transportation to places like the store and work all present a certain level of risk. If you touched a surface that had the virus or came in contact with an infected person, every part of your car could be a potential hot point for spreading the virus. There are estimates that the virus can stay on surfaces ranging from a few hours to 9 days.

For those that want to keep their property safe and clean, you might be wondering how to go about cleaning your car during these times of a pandemic. Take a look at these top COVID-19 tips on how to clean the interior of the car in this time of the pandemic.

Can your car get Coronavirus?

The risk of getting a Coronavirus in your car is slim. You are more likely to get the Coronavirus from a store or in a group setting than in your own vehicle with no other individuals in the car. If you were to transport someone with the virus, then you might be at risk for spreading the virus throughout your vehicle. However, again spreading the virus this way, an infected person would need to be present and touching parts of the car, sneezing, or coughing. 

Those that are most at-risk for transmitting the virus via a vehicle would be Uber and Lyft drivers. These autos transport a variety of individuals and are at the greater potential for coming in contact with the virus. It is essential for ‘for-hire’ drivers to sanitize their vehicles after every customer. 

How to clean the interior of the car to prevent Coronavirus inside?

Before getting started with cleaning the inside of your vehicle, consider acquiring a pair of gloves. Not only is this great for avoiding contact with chemicals, but it can also prevent touching infected surfaces. 

There are many surfaces inside your car to clean. These can include the dash, the seats, carpet, windows, center console, buttons, door handles, and, most importantly, the steering wheel. Remember, for a successful cleaning, you’ll need to have some attention to detail. 

 

 

What do you need?

Before getting started, you’ll want to make sure you have the right cleaning solutions and materials. Here is a short list of items you might need:

• Vacuum
• Carpet brushes
• Microfiber towels
• Cleaning cloths ( or antimicrobial soap and water)
• Window cleaner
• Paper towels
• Spray bottle of water with equal parts of isopropyl alcohol and water.

To reduce the risk of coming in contact with the Coronavirus, if possible, perform cleanings at your home. If not possible, visit car wash when it’s least busy.

 

Cleaning the carpet and floor mats

Remove the floor mats from your vehicle and hang up. For rubber mats, you can wash these at the same time you wash the exterior. Simply rinse with water, apply soap, and rinse again. If you have cloth floor mats, use the spray of alcohol mixture after vacuuming. This can sanitize the carpet fibers. Note, just like hand sanitizer, the concentration of alcohol needs to be over 60%. 

 

Cleaning the seats

Those that have leather or vinyl seats may find it easier to keep these surfaces cleaner. A quick wipe down with a Lysol wipe or an anti-microbial cleaning wipe can sanitize the surface. For cloth seating, you’ll want to vacuum then spray with alcohol. It isn’t advised to spray alcohol directly onto leather seating. Instead, you should spray the alcohol on microfiber towels then wipe down. 

As some of these materials can stain, you should test the cleaning products in inconspicuous areas first. It is important that if you use alcohol on your leather seats, that you follow up with a conditioner. Failure to do so could result in cracking or discolorations of the seats. Meguiar's® Gold Class™ Leather Conditioner is an excellent choice for preserving your car leather. 

 

Cleaning the dashboard

Pay attention to the dashboard and glove box locations. Wipe down with a wipe soaked in alcohol or pre-bought cleaning wipes. Make sure to clean in between buttons and the vents. There are many areas that can be missed on the dashboard, including the instrument cluster or even inside of the glove box. 

Anywhere that you may touch, make sure you wipe down or spray with alcohol. Again with cleaning with alcohol you’ll want to be careful with the material type. This will dry out certain materials making it prone to cracking. Ensure you’re using some type of conditioner for plastic surfaces if applicable. 

 

Cleaning the windows

Along with cleaning the exterior windows, you should also focus on the inside too. Simply spraying with a solution like Windex and wiping up with a paper towel will do nicely. You can then go over with alcohol spray to sanitize. By doing the window cleaner first, you’ll eliminate any dirt and have a streak-free shine.

 

Have a professional vehicle sanitation service

Now that you know how to clean the interior of the car, it may all sound like a ton of work. Well, you might be right. Ensuring your vehicle is clean and sanitized can take hours to complete. This is especially true if it’s been a while since you’ve addressed cleaning your vehicle. Items including wiping down the dashboard and door handles, many have gone unnoticed for some time, but these areas are critical to be cleaned to prevent spread. 

Professional vehicle sanitation services are an excellent way to eliminate the challenges of having your car cleaned and protected from things like the Coronavirus, without the hassles of purchasing products, finding a car vacuum, and avoiding unnecessary interactions with other individuals. 

Bug Guys Pest Control is now offering virus protection plans that can sanitize surfaces, including your vehicle. These services are perfect for anyone that is looking to have greater peace of mind that their car, trucks, or SUVs are sanitized against COVID-19. To inquire about our virus protection services, contact us today at our website or give us a call during regular business hours at (442) 227-8409. 

 

The following post How to Clean the Interior of the Car? – COVID-19 Tips was first published on Bug Guys Pest Control

4 Tips on How to Deal with Ants in Apartment

Have ants overtaken your apartment? As the most common household pest throughout the world, it would come as no surprise. These often annoying insects, though not dangerous, are not something anyone wants to deal with. But what happens when ants start to invade your cozy home? How do you get rid of them? Do all-natural pest control remedies work? Should you consider professional ant control services? 

In this article, we go over a few tips on how to deal with ants in apartment. We will also go over some all-natural methods for stopping them in their tracks. 

 

 

#1 Keeping the place clean

The number one way to stop pests from vacationing in your home is to keep the apartment clean. This is not only great for pest control, but also for getting organized. The top tip for renters is to not leave food out and to limit eating in one area. Typically, those who eat in multiple areas around the house or leave food out, are more likely to encounter an ant problem.

Before you begin another ant control method, if your apartment needs to be cleaned, do so first. Any food on counters should be covered or kept in a sealed container. A good deep cleaning can eliminate an ant problem. Because ants are generally only in your home to look for food, if you have no food source, they will quickly leave.

 

#2 Lemon juice

Before you go to the store to pick up harsh chemicals, consider more all-natural solutions, lemon juice. Lemon juice is readily available, inexpensive, and many homes already have a bottle in their pantry or fridge. Lemons act as a deterrent for ants, making your home less inviting. Place lemon juice around windows and doors, paying particular attention to anywhere there are cracks. 

 

#3 Essential oils

When you think of essential oils, do you think of them more as aromatherapy scents? Essential oils have been used for ages at deterring pests, along with their many other benefits. They are often used in the gardens to distract insects and spiders, including ticks. When dealing with an ant problem in your apartment, essential oils can be a great alternative to more drastic chemical solutions. 

Peppermint 

Peppermint is a well-documented pest deterrent that works incredibly well against ants. To use, add a few drops to water in a spray bottle. Spray around the perimeter of the living room, window sills, or anywhere there could be a potential infestation. Look for vulnerable areas such as gaps and cracks in the doors and windows.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon can do more than increase the level of deliciousness of recipes, like cinnamon rolls. This spice has been proven effective against ants and ant infestations. When in an essential oil form, cinnamon can be applied to many surface areas prone to ant issues. These can include doorways or window sills. 

 

#4 Professional Pest Control For 100% Protection

To get the best protection against your apartment, having professional preventative pest control is the better option. Not only can professional pest control help eliminate unwanted pests, like ants in your residence, they can also keep them away. If you’re not having your rental currently treated, speak with your landlord about having professional pest sprays done. 

 

Conclusion

When dealing with an ant problem or can’t seem to eliminate them from your apartment, consider the above tips to naturally remove the problem using common household practices. However, for the absolute best and the most effective means of eliminating ants and keeping them out of your home, a call to your local pest controller is the top solution.

If you’re tired of seeing ants in your rental or are looking for affordable pest control service for your rental properties, contact Bug Guys Pest Control today. Request service by giving us a call at (442) 227-8409, or visit us online by clicking here. 

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