How to Check for Bed Bugs in Your Mattress and Bed

Do you suspect you have bed bugs in your room? Perhaps you’ve woken up with a few bite marks on your skin, and you’re wondering if these could be bed bugs. Identifying a bed bug infestation isn’t easy, especially in the early stages. For one, other insects like mosquitos can cause similar bite marks. Secondly, bed bugs are good at hiding, and you’re likely to discover them after they have multiplied significantly.

That means you need to collect more evidence to know whether you have bed bugs in your bed. Identifying bed bugs in the early stages is vital because it makes it easier to eliminate them. It also prevents them from spreading to other rooms and infesting the whole house.

So here’s how to check for bed bugs in mattresses and beds.

Step 1. Inspect Blankets, Bed Sheets, and Pillows

Check for bed bugs by removing all bedding one at a time. If the room is heavily infested, you may find live bed bugs. They’re reddish-brown insects with an oval shape when well-fed and a flat shape when not fed.

If you don’t find live bed bugs, you might see dark, rusty spots the size of a marker dot. If you see many tiny spots about this size, they could be bed bug excrement.

Another common sign on bedsheets is blood stains. These stains come when you pop a well-fed bed bug as you shift when sleeping. Once a bed bug pops, it leaves fresh blood on the bed sheets. Unlike bed bug excrement, blood stains are red and larger.

Step 2. Check Mattress Seams and Folds

Separate the bedding from the mattress and lean it against the wall. Flip it over to inspect all sides and corners. Wear white gloves and pass your finger through the folds and seams of the mattress to see if you can push out bed bug waste.

Bed bugs go through six life stages. In each stage, the nymphs shed as they grow larger. So if you find brown shells, they could be signs of bed bugs.

Step 3. Inspect the Bed Frame and Headboard

With the mattress removed, check the bed frames for bed bug eggs and excrement. Pay close attention to the corners and crevices. If you see many tiny white spots, they could be bed bug eggs. Don’t forget to look at the lower side of the box spring. Bed bugs can hide in screw holes, so check them too.

How to Check for Bed Bugs in Other Parts of the House

Besides checking the mattress and box spring, inspecting other parts of the house is essential. Bed bugs hide anywhere, especially if the room is heavily infested. Some common hiding places include:

• The seams of chairs and couches
• Cracks and crevices on the walls
• Electrical appliances and electrical outlets
• Under the carpet
• Drawers and cabinets

Simply put, bed bugs can fit in a space as small as their size. So you need a keen eye to find bed bugs in your house. Here’s how to check for bed bugs in different areas of your house:

• Check behind wall art and loose wallpaper
• Check the seams on couches and chairs with a hard object, such as a credit card.
• Remove seat cushions and check underneath chairs and couches
• Look under the carpet for any signs of bed bugs
• Use a bright torch to inspect cracks and crevices
• Remove drawers and check the inside and the underside

Checking for bed bugs is a rigorous job that may take time. If you find it daunting, call a pest control company to help you with the inspection.

Now that you know how to check for bed bugs, the next thing is to eradicate them. Here’s how to get rid of bed bugs for good.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Quickly

Removing bed bugs can be tricky because leaving one behind can lead to a new infestation. Also, bed bugs are becoming more tolerant to chemicals. So using DIY techniques to kill bed bugs may not yield the best results. If you want to get rid of bed bugs for good, involve professionals.

McDonald Pest Control has experts who can quickly exterminate bed bugs. We provide pest control services in Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, Florida.

Call us today if you need a bed bug inspection and extermination.