How to Check for Bed Bugs

Check mattresses, bed frames, and furniture seams for live bugs, shed skins, eggs, and tiny dark droppings.

How to Check for Bed Bugs UK: A Step-by-Step Guide

Detecting bed bugs at home begins with a careful inspection of sleeping and resting areas. These tiny pests are brilliant at hiding, so you’ll need to be thorough and patient. Here’s how to check for bed bugs effectively:

Inspect the Bed Thoroughly

The bed is the main hotspot for bed bugs, as they like to stay near their food source—you. Focus on these key areas:

Mattress and Box Spring: Check seams, folds, and tufts for live bed bugs (small, reddish-brown, and oval-shaped), tiny white eggs (about 1mm long), or empty eggshells.
Bed Frame and Headboard: Look along joints, cracks, and screw holes for hiding bugs or signs of activity.
Bedding: Examine sheets, pillowcases, and blankets for small black or dark brown spots (bed bug droppings) or rust-coloured blood stains (from crushed bugs after feeding).

Tip: Use a magnifying glass if needed—bed bugs and their eggs are small and easy to overlook.

Examine Furniture and Surrounding Areas

Bed bugs aren’t confined to beds. They can spread to nearby furniture and walls, so widen your search:

Upholstered Furniture: Inspect settees, chairs, and cushions, paying close attention to seams, folds, and under cushions where bugs may lurk.
Walls and Decor: Check behind picture frames, wall hangings, and electrical sockets for shed skins (translucent, bug-shaped husks) or live bugs.
Furniture Crevices: Use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool to probe deep into cracks. Avoid moving infested items out of the room—this can accidentally spread the problem.

Use Tools to Uncover Hidden Bed Bugs

Some bed bugs hide in tricky spots. Equip yourself with the right tools:

Torch: Shine a torch into dark corners, behind headboards, and inside cracks to spot bed bugs or their eggs.
Stiff Brush: Gently scrub along seams and crevices to dislodge eggs or bugs from their hiding places. Pair this with a torch for better visibility.

Tip: Wear gloves to avoid direct contact with bugs or allergens they leave behind.

Set Traps to Confirm Activity

If you suspect bed bugs but haven’t found solid evidence, traps can help:

Bed Leg Traps: Place interceptor traps (small cups or sticky traps) under each bed leg. These catch adult bed bugs as they move at night searching for a meal.
Monitor Overnight: Check traps the next morning for captured bugs—a clear sign of an active infestation.

How to Check for Bed Bugs in Hotels

Travelling can expose you to bed bugs, especially in hotels. To avoid bringing them home, take these precautions upon arrival:

Inspect the Bed: Pull back the sheets and check mattress seams, headboards, and under the bed for live bugs, eggs, or dark droppings.
Check Luggage Areas: Examine hotel furniture near the bed, like chairs or luggage racks, for signs of infestation. Keep your suitcase off the bed and floor—use the bathroom or a metal rack if possible.
Use a Torch: Bring a small torch to shine into crevices and dark corners where bed bugs might hide.
Monitor Your Stay: If you wake up with itchy bites or spot blood stains on sheets, inform hotel staff immediately and request a room change—preferably in a different part of the building.

Contact ThermoPest for Professional Help

While these steps can help you check for bed bugs, identifying and eliminating an infestation can be challenging. For expert assistance, contact ThermoPest—your local bed bug specialists. Our trained professionals use advanced techniques and equipment to detect and eradicate bed bugs quickly and safely, giving you peace of mind. Reach out to us today for a thorough inspection and tailored treatment plan.

The Best Bed Bug Treatment: Heat Treatment from ThermoPest

The most effective way to rid your home of bed bugs is through heat treatments. Unlike chemical sprays, which may not kill bed bug eggs, heat treatments raise the temperature in a room to a level that bed bugs cannot survive.

Why Choose Heat Treatment?

Heat treatments are great because it kills bed bugs in all life stages – including bed bug eggs and nymphs. The heat reaches deep into crevices where bed bugs hide.

Heat treatments use no harmful chemicals. This makes them safe for homes and businesses. And heat treatments are usually a one-time treatment – unlike traditional methods that require multiple applications.

If you have a bed bug infestation, pest.co.uk’s heat treatment service ensures complete eradication.

Check For an Infestation

Knowing how to check for bed bugs is the first step in stopping an infestation. Whether at home, in a hotel room, or on public transport, early detection can help you prevent bed bugs from spreading.

If you find signs of bed bugs, do not wait—contact pest.co.uk for expert heat treatments and professional pest control services. A fast response can help you rid your home of bed bugs before the problem worsens.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the first signs of bed bugs in a bedroom?

Small black spots (faecal droppings) on sheets, shed skins, and bites on your skin are often the first warning signs. You may also notice a sweet, musty odour in heavily infested rooms.

Where should I check for bed bugs in furniture?

Focus on cracks, seams, and joints of beds, sofas, wardrobes, and drawers. Bed bugs in the UK often hide in skirting boards, bedside cabinets, and even behind wallpaper.

Do bed bug monitors and traps work?

Interceptor traps placed under bed legs can help detect activity, but they will not eliminate an infestation. They are best used as part of an inspection strategy.

How do pest controllers check for bed bugs?

Professionals use detailed inspections, trained detection dogs, and sometimes monitoring devices. They also look for hidden eggs and early signs invisible to the untrained eye.

Should I use a torch or magnifying glass to find bed bugs?

Yes. A torch helps spot eggs and faecal spotting, while a magnifying glass can make tiny nymphs and eggs easier to identify.

Are DIY checks enough in London flats?

In shared buildings, infestations may spread through adjoining walls and ceilings. DIY checks can help, but professional inspections are often necessary to trace the source.

Talk to us about Bed Bug Pest Control

Call us on 0808 189 2310 – or complete our quote form below.

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