How to Check for Bed Bugs—and What to Do if You Find Them
Little bug, big problem!
Bed bugs have been a major pain (literally and figuratively) for humans for centuries. And unfortunately, they aren't going anywhere. "Bed bug populations have experienced a resurgence, especially within the last couple of years due in part to increased travel postponed during the height of the pandemic," says Frank Meek, entomologist at Orkin. The other bad part? "Some bed bug populations have developed resistance to common treatments, making them harder to eradicate." And because people aren't necessarily keeping an eye out for these teeny-tiny bugs, they can often slip under the radar and continue to spread.
So if you don't want to bring home an unwanted souvenir from your travels—or you're worried that those bite marks you're seeing mean bed bugs have already taken up residence in your home—here's what you need to know.
How to Check for Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be difficult to see if you don't know what you're looking for. They're reddish-brown and only a quarter-inch long at full size (think the size of an apple seed)—and they tend to move very fast. You may be more likely to see tiny dark or rusty-colored spots on the sheets or mattress, that could be either crushed bed bugs or their droppings. Being so tiny, they can find many places to hide—such as gaps between the baseboard and the wall, or the edge of a wall socket.
Checking for bed bugs should be an essential first step when you're traveling, Meek says. "Survey the hotel room for signs of an infestation. You want to look for tiny, dark ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards." You'll want to lift the mattress and check the box spring, and even take a peek behind baseboards and pictures.
But even if you haven't traveled recently, it's a good idea to keep inspecting your home—especially as bed bug infestations have appeared in places like movie theaters and subways, and the insects could hitch a ride when you're out and about. "Check the places where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames," Meek says. You should inspect your home after you've traveled, when you're moving, and when people stay overnight or work in your home.
Declutter, declutter, declutter
Another reason to pare down what you have: Decluttering makes it easier to see bed bugs, by giving them fewer places to hide.
Related: 5 Simple Decluttering Strategies to Make Letting Go of Items Easier
How to Prevent a Bed Bug Infestation
The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to keep them from getting into your home in the first place. Meek recommends you check out any furniture before you bring it inside—even if it's something brand new from the manufacturer.
But travel is when you're most at risk of bringing home bed bugs. To reduce the risk, follow Meek's tips:
Elevate your luggage away from the bed and wall
The safest places to store your luggage are in the bathroom or on counters—and you may not want to unpack your clothes into the drawers or on the bed.
Examine your luggage carefully
Give your luggage a very thorough lookover when you're repacking, and also once you return home.
Heat up your clothes
Put any dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 30 to 45 minutes at the highest setting after you get home.
Keep your luggage in your car if you're hitting temperature extremes
Exposure to extreme heat or cold can kill off bed bugs—so if you can delay using your car and the stuff in your luggage, it's an easy way to kill off any unwanted guests.
You'll need to hit over 119 degrees will kill off bed bugs, and 125 degrees to kill off the eggs as well. If you live somewhere where the temperatures are in the mid-80s, bag up your luggage and keep it in the car in a sunny spot for several hours before unpacking. The temperature in a car will hit 125 degrees within an hour, according to the CDC. And you'll need to keep your luggage at that temperature for three or more hours to kill off bugs.
You can do the same thing if you live somewhere where it's frigid cold. Keep your car at zero degrees Fahrenheit for four days, and the luggage inside should be clear of bed bugs.
Store your luggage outside your living areas
When you get home, don't keep your luggage in your bedroom. The ideal spots are in your garage or storage shed, if you have them.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
If bed bugs do end up in your home, don't take it as a sign that you're not clean. "A bed bug infestation has nothing to do with cleanliness—you can pick them up in the finest hotels, and they can hitchhike into the cleanest homes at any time," Meek says.
But if you suspect bed bugs—either because someone in your home is developing the signature itchy, red bites, or you've found some in your bed—call in the pros as soon as possible. Bed bugs aren't something you can successfully treat yourself, and can get very expensive to treat if they've been able to get a footing in your home.
Related: Here’s How Much You Have To Budget for When Hiring a Bed Bug Exterminator
The pros use a combination of strategies to contain the bed bug issue, including both pesticides and non-pesticide treatments, Meek says. That can include using heat or cold to kill off bed bugs, applying dry steam, traps, and caulking and sealing places where they've nested. Keep in mind that bed bugs probably won't be a one-and-done treatment—it will take some time to stomp out those bed bugs for good.
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