How Do You Get Bed Bugs & How to Check If You Have Them?
Bed bugs are one of the most dreaded pests to find in your home. These tiny insects are notorious for invading mattresses, sofas, and other cosy spots where humans sleep or rest. Although they’re small, the nuisance they cause is anything but.
Understanding how people get bed bugs in the first place—and how to detect an infestation early—can help prevent a full-blown outbreak in your home.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover:
- How bed bugs spread
- Where they hide
- Early signs of an infestation
- How to check for bed bugs
- What to do if you find them
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, wingless insects that feed exclusively on the blood of humans and animals. They are reddish-brown in colour, about the size of an apple seed, and tend to hide during the day. Bed bugs are most active at night and are attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and the scent of human skin.
A single bed bug can lay hundreds of eggs during its lifetime, and infestations can spread quickly if not dealt with immediately.
How Do You Get Bed Bugs?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that bed bugs are attracted to dirt or poor hygiene. In reality, bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers. You can get bed bugs from any number of places—even clean, upscale environments.
1. Hotels and Hostels
One of the most common sources of bed bugs is hotel or hostel stays. If the room has an infestation, bed bugs can climb into your luggage or clothes and travel home with you.
Tip: Always inspect hotel beds and keep luggage elevated on a rack, not on the bed or floor.
2. Public Transport
Buses, trains, taxis, and even airplanes can be breeding grounds for bed bugs. Since these environments involve many people sitting in the same spots, the pests can easily transfer from one person’s belongings to another.
3. Secondhand Furniture
Picking up a free couch or purchasing a used mattress? It might come with unwanted guests. Bed bugs love to nest in upholstered furniture, especially in seams and folds.
4. Visitors
Bed bugs can hitch a ride on your friends or family without them knowing it. If a guest unknowingly has bed bugs at home, they could unintentionally bring them into your space on their clothes, bags, or shoes.
5. Shared Laundry Facilities
If your clothes or linens come into contact with items from an infested home in a shared laundry setting, bed bugs could jump onto your belongings.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
Bed bugs prefer small, tight spaces close to where people sleep. Their flat bodies make it easy for them to hide in:
- Mattress seams and box springs
- Bed frames and headboards
- Behind wallpaper or picture frames
- Inside electrical outlets
- Under rugs and floorboards
- In the folds of curtains or upholstered furniture
Their hiding ability makes it difficult to spot them until the infestation becomes more severe.
How to Tell If You Have Bed Bugs
Bed bug bites are often the first clue. They’re typically red, itchy, and appear in clusters or lines, usually on exposed skin like arms, legs, neck, and back. However, not everyone reacts to bites, so it’s important to look for other telltale signs.
Common Signs of Bed Bugs:
1. Bite Marks
Clusters of small, red, itchy bumps that often appear in a line or zigzag pattern are a major warning sign.
2. Blood Stains on Sheets
After feeding, bed bugs may get squashed, leaving behind small blood stains on your pillowcases or sheets.
3. Faecal Spots
These look like tiny black dots, similar to ink spots. You may see them on mattress seams, furniture joints, or walls.
4. Shed Skins
As bed bugs grow, they shed their skin. Look for translucent exoskeletons near their hiding spots.
5. Musty Odour
A large infestation may emit a slightly sweet or musty odour from the pheromones they release.
How to Check for Bed Bugs
Early detection is key. If you suspect an infestation, follow these steps for a thorough inspection:
Step 1: Inspect Your Mattress
- Remove all bedding.
- Check the seams, tufts, and under the mattress.
- Use a flashlight to spot bugs, eggs, or black faecal dots.
Step 2: Examine Bed Frame and Headboard
- Use a card or scraper to check cracks or crevices in the bed frame.
- Look behind the headboard if it’s attached to the wall.
Step 3: Look at Other Furniture
- Inspect seams and joints of chairs, sofas, and cushions.
- Don’t forget to check under furniture and inside drawer joints.
Step 4: Search Near the Bed
- Check baseboards, picture frames, curtain hems, and even alarm clocks or books near the bed.
- Look inside and around power outlets with a flashlight.
Step 5: Use Bed Bug Detection Tools
- Interceptor Traps: These are placed under furniture legs and catch bed bugs as they try to climb.
- Active Monitors: These use heat or carbon dioxide to attract and trap bed bugs.
What to Do If You Find Bed Bugs
Finding a few bed bugs doesn’t always mean a large infestation, but it must be taken seriously. Here’s what to do:
1. Don’t Panic—But Act Quickly
Bed bugs don’t carry disease, but they reproduce fast. It’s crucial to begin treatment as soon as possible.
2. Isolate the Area
- Don’t move bedding or furniture into other rooms (this can spread the bugs).
- Isolate affected items in sealed plastic bags.
3. Vacuum Thoroughly
Vacuum your mattress, bed frame, furniture, and floors daily. Dispose of vacuum bags in sealed plastic immediately after each use.
4. Launder and Heat Treat
- Wash sheets, blankets, clothes, and curtains in hot water.
- Dry on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes.
5. Use Bed Bug Sprays or Dusts
There are DIY treatments available, including:
- Diatomaceous earth (a powder that dehydrates insects)
- Pyrethrin-based sprays
However, these may only work for small infestations and must be applied carefully to avoid health risks.
6. Call a Professional Pest Control Service
If the infestation is more than minor, hire licensed exterminators. They may use:
Professional extermination often requires 2–3 visits for complete eradication.
If you’re looking for a trusted provider, Expert Pest Control offers professional bed bug treatments tailored to the severity of your infestation. Their experienced technicians use safe, effective methods and can help ensure that the infestation is not only eliminated but also that steps are taken to prevent it from returning.
Whether it’s your home or business, Expert Pest Control provides peace of mind with thorough inspections and targeted solutions.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs in the Future
Once you’ve gotten rid of bed bugs, you’ll want to keep them away for good. Prevention steps include:
- Inspect hotel rooms when travelling
- Don’t place luggage on beds or floors in unfamiliar places
- Vacuum luggage and wash clothes immediately after returning from a trip
- Avoid picking up secondhand furniture unless it is inspected
- Use mattress and pillow encasements
- Reduce clutter to eliminate hiding spots
Final Thoughts
Bed bugs are a persistent and stressful problem, but with early detection and a proactive approach, they can be managed. Your first line of defence is knowing how bed bugs spread and what signs to look for. If you suspect an infestation, don’t delay. Quick action—whether DIY or professional—will save you from a bigger headache down the line.
Whether you’re living in an apartment, house, or hotel, stay alert and inspect often. In the world of bed bugs, a little prevention goes a long way.
