With bedbugs continuing to plague cities around the world, we know you want to do everything you can to prevent them from infesting your home or workplace.
The earlier you catch the most common signs of bedbugs, the better off you’ll be.
In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about recognizing the top signs of bed bugs. If you suspect you have an infestation on your hands already, we’ll also cover how to check for bed bugs and what you should do next.
Bed Bug Signs to Look For
The most common evidence of bed bugs is the infamous bed bug bite.
They’re itchy, red, and, most importantly, they often come in small clusters or uneven lines. Check out these pictures of bed bug bites to know exactly what they can look like.
Additionally, you may find that you wake up in the middle of the night from itching yourself. Jordan Larson from Custom Bed Bug explains that small blood stains on your sheets are often a sign that you have bed bugs.
You may also see tiny black or brown spots on your mattress and sheets. These are bed bug droppings and a sign that you have an infestation. Also be on the lookout for red, almost rust-colored stains. Though many people mistake these stains for their own blood, they’re actually crushed bedbugs.
Bed bugs may also smell a bit like a wet towel, or mold/mildew. This is because bed bugs actually release specific pheromones – and if they’re strong enough for you to smell them, you have a large infestation on your hands.
How to Check for Bed Bugs
Now, let’s discuss how to check for bed bugs.
Some of the places to look for bed bugs are in couch seams, curtain folds, and drawer joints. You should even check out your appliances, window frames, outlets, and under any loose wallpaper.
Of course, your mattress itself is the top place to look for bedbugs. Take off your sheets and any mattress protectors, and grab a flashlight. Shine the flashlight on the seams of the mattress and lift up to check underneath it.
They should be visible even to the naked eye.
What to Do When You Have Bed Bugs
If you’ve seen bed bugs or have experienced any of the signs of bed bugs we mentioned in this post, you need to act quickly.
While knowing how to check for bed bugs can help you to be certain you have an infestation, it’s what you do next that makes all the difference.
Contact an exterminator and talk about the different treatment options available to you. Depending on the size of your home and the level of infestation, you may need heat treatment, a pesticide application, crevice injections, and more.
You should also invest in an encasement for your mattress, to prevent bed bugs from getting into it.
Keep checking back in with our blog for more tips on how to keep your home bed bug-free, as well as other household pests to watch out for.
