Bed bugs are becoming more and more common, infesting flats and houses and even hotels on a regular basis. It’s a good idea to check from time to time to see if you have any signs of bed bugs, as they can be spread very easily.

There’s a musty odour in your home. This can be a sign that bed bugs have set up residence in your home in large numbers. The stronger the smell, the more likely you have a major infestation.

You find dots of blood on your linens. If you accidentally squish a bed bug during the night, it will leave a spot of blood, particularly if it has just been feeding. You may also notice dots of blood on your pyjamas or even your skin (yep, it’s not nice to hear!)

You have a line of tiny bites. Some people react poorly to bed bug bites and will notice red bites, usually in a line, on their skin in the morning after sleeping in an infected bed. These bites may or may not be puffy.

There are bug husks on your soft furniture. From beds to sofas, it’s possible to find small white skins that are shed by bed bugs as they outgrow their skin.

There are dark spots on your bed. If your mattress or linen has dark splotches that smear when you brush a finger over them, you are likely looking at bed bug waste. This is essentially digested blood, and can be quite unpleasant when smelled. Keep in mind that these spots may also appear on wallpaper, as some bed bugs prefer to hide in the walls.

Preventing Bed Bugs

You should always take care to not bring bed bugs into your home unwittingly. This happens quite frequently. People will stay at a hotel and then bring home a suitcase full of bed bugs. You should inspect hotel room beds for the signs above and make sure you’re not walking into a nest. 

It’s also important to take care when bringing used furniture into your home. Most hard materials are fine, but a soft material, such as fabric, can be far more appealing to bed bugs. Sofas, armchairs, and mattresses may be infested, so make sure you carefully inspect anything you intend to bring into your home.

Once you’ve established that you do indeed have bed bugs, you can only work to get rid of them. You’ll need a professional pest control company, since home remedies just don’t work very well against these invasive critters. 

Looking to get rid of bed bugs? Call APest Control right now to make an appointment.