Bedding

Published April 20, 2022

10 min

How To Check for Bed Bugs: Common Hiding Spots and Signs

Nectar Editorial Team

Table of contents

Early signs of bed bugs Where do bed bugs hide What to do if you have bed bugs How to prevent bed bugs Frequently Asked Questions

Bed bugs are tiny, oval-shaped, coffee-brown colored and flat bodied insects that thrive on the blood of humans and animals. An adult bed bug can grow as much as the size of an apple seed. However, their bodies experience swelling and a reddish hue after they feed. Though these insects don’t fly, they can move extremely fast on walls, floors, and ceilings. Female bed bugs can produce 1-7 eggs per day and thousands, over their lifetime. These eggs are so tiny; they are almost the same size as a speck of dust. While bed bugs are not dangerous, their bites can lead to several allergic reactions that may require immediate medical attention. But don’t worry. This article will tell you how to check for bed bugs and how to eradicate them permanently from your bedding.

Early signs of bed bugs

Take a look at these early signs of bed bugs. After all, the first step toward preventing them is to detect their presence.

Bed Bug Bites

One of the first signs of a bedbug infestation is itchiness, red bumps, redness and rashes. Bed bugs are usually active around midnight. So, they bite when you are asleep. Now, these bugs have an elongated needle-like mouth through which they pierce your skin and draw blood for at least 3 to 10 minutes. So, one way to check for bedbugs is to see if you are waking up with unknown itchy skin, bumps or redness.

Blood Stains On Your Sheets

If you move around a lot while sleeping then you might happen to roll over them while you sleep, there’s a tendency that you might smash their tiny body; thus causing blood stains to appear on your sheets. So, to check for bedbugs, see if there are any unexpected blood stains on the sheet.

Dark spots on your sheets

When bedbugs digest their blood meal, they secrete tiny black stains identified as feces. Feces come in clusters on your bedding if it is infested with bedbugs. It can lead to dark spots, and this is one method to know the infestation of bed bugs.

Musty smell around the mattress

Wondering how to know if you have bed bugs? One of the signs of bedbugs is your mattress smelling musty-sweet. They release an odor called pheromones, which is quite unpleasant.

Bed bug eggs

One of the signs to check for bed bugs is to look for their eggs. They look like poppy seeds and can be seen with naked eyes. However, since they are so tiny in size, it can be difficult to detect them.

Bed bugs or their casings in bedding

Bed bugs shed their skin. So, if you find shed skins that are translucent and hollow outlines, this is one of the signs of bed bugs. In fact, abandoned shells mean that the bed bug infestation is growing.

Where do bed bugs hide

If you’re wondering how to check for bed bugs, you should know that being incredibly tiny, bed bugs can enter your home unnoticed. They can attach themselves to clothing, luggage, couches, throw pillows, bedding, and other household materials. Their flattened bodies allow them to enter narrow areas, even those a width of a credit card. However, bed bugs don’t have a breeding ground, though they usually come in groups in hiding areas. Typically, their hideout includes box springs, mattresses, headboards, and bed frames. These are convenient places for them to feed on their victims at night. Later on, they might spread through different parts of the bedroom, huddling into any covered spaces.

What to do if you have bed bugs

When considering how to tell if you have bed bugs, keep in mind that although bed bugs can’t jump or fly, they are fast travelers. Usually, they crawl onto people’s clothes and attach until they find potential bedding to infest. To help with your inspection for bed bugs in your fabrics, mattresses, or luggage at home, follow these simple steps:

Get a garbage bag or tarp and use it to catch fall-out husks, eggs, or feces when you wave loose fabrics such as curtains, clothing, and linens.
Before you throw away the vacuum bag or canister, look for signs of eggs, nymphs, bed bugs, and husks.
Carefully examine the creases and seams of your household furniture.
You can use an old credit card, just like what you did with your mattress, to scrape unwanted feces, husks, and eggs.

Now, look at what to do if you have bed bugs and how to remove bed bugs from your mattress or other fabrics.

How To Get Rid of Bedbugs From Fabrics

Wash your beddings and fabric with the bed bug infestation in hot water for 30 minutes.
Once done, put it in the dryer and opt for the highest setting for 30 minutes.
Sundry them, and you are good to go.

Remember, you can easily kill bed bugs with high temperatures at 115°F or temperatures below 32°F.

How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs From Mattress

Wash the sheets as per the above instructions.
Then, vacuum your mattress thoroughly. Avoid using brush attachments as the bed bugs can hide there easily.
If you can, take your bed frame apart and vacuum every nook and corner.
You can use mattress-safe insecticides if your room has better ventilation.
Next, to get rid of bed bugs from mattresses, couches, and more, you will need a steamer to reach 115°F or higher.

To make sure bed bugs don’t come back again, you can use a bed bug repellent cover. However, if DIYs are not working, you must get in touch with a professional.

How To Get Rid of Bed bugs From Suitcases

You already know How to check luggage for bed bugs. Just inspect them thoroughly for any signs they have been there.
Once they have been spotted, remove all the articles from the case and put them to wash.
Vacuum the suitcase thoroughly and spray bed bug insecticide spray.
Steam clean the bug and let it sit under the sun for a day.

How to prevent bed bugs

There are a few ways to prevent bed bugs. Take a look below. But before that, you must first understand where bed bugs hide. Bed Bugs usually dwell in dark areas; hence, always clean your closets, mattresses, the storage space underneath, and more.

Try to refrain from storing anything under the bed, and if you do, clean it regularly.
Always store your items in glass or plastic containers as it is difficult for bed bugs to crawl on smooth surfaces.
Vacuum regularly.
Clean your mattress and bedding regularly.
Avoid cluttered floors or beds.
Always wash all your clothes after traveling.
Always check for early signs and immediately get rid of the bed bugs.

Bed bugs are notorious for infesting many homes. Being minute, they can fit in any small and dark area in your home, infesting your beds, mattresses, and other fabric items every time they have the chance. Unfortunately, they go unnoticed most of the time, making them a troublesome pest. However, since bed bugs reside in colonies, an infestation will produce a smell that is somehow akin to berries or coriander. If you happen to detect this weird odor, try the aforementioned methods or call a reputable pest exterminator right away. They are knowledgeable in taking down these pests, and they can prevent a harmful outbreak.This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see bed bugs with the naked eye? Yes, you can see bed bugs with naked eyes as they are 4 to 7 mm. How long does it take for bed bugs to appear? Bed Bugs come from other infected areas or used furniture and spread very quickly. So if they have entered your home, you will notice the signs almost immediately. How to check for bed bugs at a hotel? Don’t remove your clothes from the luggage when you first enter a hotel room. Instead, keep it on the floor or the bathtub. Next, using a flashlight, check the corners of the bed, peel the sheets and check underneath, examine the seams, and more. If there is a bedbug manifestation, you will be able to notice it otherwise, you are good to go. How to check luggage for bed bugs? First, remove all the clothes and articles from your luggage and put them to wash. Now, using a flashlight, check every compartment. Right from the zippers to pockets, be thorough. If there is an infestation, you must have spotted them by now. How fast do bed bugs spread? Bed Bugs lay anywhere between 1-7 eggs per day. And if you don’t do anything, the infestation can spread through a whole building in a couple of weeks. So, it is imperative to get rid of them right away.