How to Check for Bed Bugs

One of the most common questions we get is, "How to check for bed bugs?" At ThermoPest, we’re here to provide the answer.

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.

Bed Bug FAQs

Q1. What are the signs that I have bed bugs?

What are the signs that I have bed bugs? Bed bugs are difficult to identify in the early stages of their life cycles. Most infestations are discovered due to bite marks and itching skin. Pest control professionals can usually identify droppings on bedding, uncover the places where the bugs hide and even smell the strong, sweet odours of a mature infestation

Q2. Can you see bed bugs?

Can you see bed bugs? Bedbugs are small, but you can see them. They range in colour from transparent to a dark reddish brown. Adults are roughly 4 to 5mm. They are very good at hiding, so look for telltale signs like rust-coloured blood dots and shed skins on your furnishings or bites on your body.

Q3. What causes bed bugs?

What causes bed bugs? Bed bugs can be found anywhere that humans live because they feed on human blood. This attracts them to any environment where they can hide out—with mattresses and upholstery the prime targets.

Q4. How do I kill bed bugs?

How do I kill bed bugs? It can be hard to eradicate bedbugs completely. They are usually nocturnal and are very good at hiding. If you have seen the signs of bedbug activity, it is usually a sign of a serious infestation. Contact a professional to guarantee all bedbugs are killed permanently.

Q5. Where do bed bugs come from?

Where do bed bugs come from? Bed bugs are found in virtually any place people tend to gather. They remain as close to their host as possible and feed during the night, which is why you will usually get bitten while sleeping.

Q6.How to get rid of bed bugs?

How can bed bugs be eliminated? Bedbugs cannot survive when exposed to temperatures above a certain threshold. Our bed bug heat treatment works to eliminate bedbugs by subjecting them to high temperatures.

Q7. How to prevent bed bugs

How to prevent bed bugs: Preventing bed bugs from entering your home or business can be a challenge. They are usually picked up whilst travelling and are difficult to see. By taking small measures, you can help prevent bed bug infestations.

Q8. What do bed bug bites look like?

The problem with bed bug bites is that they can be easily confused with other insect bites. Each person bitten will react differently. Their bites are usually red and itchy. Take a look at our article on what do bed bug bites look like for more information.

Q9. Where do bed bugs bite?

Where do bed bugs bite? Bedbugs will bite any exposed skin. The face, neck, arms, hands, legs, and feet are all common areas for bites.

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