12 Ways To Spot Bed Bugs in Your Home

If you think you have bed bugs, you’re not alone. According to the National Pest Management Association, one in five American homes has had a bed bug infestation or at least knows someone who has. And because bed bug infestations are so prevalent, it’s important to take precautions to prevent it from happening to you. To learn the early warning signs, here are 12 ways to spot whether you have bed bugs:

Check mattresses and bedding.

Check your mattress and the areas surrounding it — i.e. seams, folds, and crevices — for insects that appear reddish-brown in color. Also, if you notice tiny white eggs or black fecal matter, you might have bed bugs.

Examine your furniture.

Take a close look at your furniture to spot bed bugs, paying special attention to the seams, cushions, and folds of your furniture and decor. If you notice that your furniture has signs of bed bugs, it might be time to take action.

Inspect wall decorations.

Bed bugs can be pretty crafty and often hide behind picture frames or any decor you place on the wall. For this reason, you should inspect behind these areas to ensure that bed bugs haven’t made them their home.

Search cracks and crevices.

Bed bugs also like to take cover in whatever cracks and crevices they can find in the bedroom. To catch bed bugs before they present problems, inspect the area around your bed frame, headboard, and nightstands.

Examine electrical outlets.

Bed bugs are so small that they can even hide inside electrical outlets. If you suspect you may have bed bugs, take a good look inside the electrical outlets and switch plates in your home.

Check the baseboards.

If you think you may have bed bugs, consider inspecting the baseboards and edges of your carpet for suspicious activity.

Search your luggage and belongings.

Traveling to other locations can mean bringing bed bugs home with you. To spot this, look inside and around your luggage, clothing, and other belongings that you traveled with to ensure your home is safe from infestation.

Look for bites.

Bed bugs leave a mark when they bite. They often present as red, itchy bites that sometimes form a line or cluster. If you notice the presence of tiny red bites on parts of your body, you could have bed bugs.

Inspect for blood stains.

Another sign that you have bed bugs is if you can spot tiny rust-colored stains on your bedding. These could be blood stains from intruding bed bugs. To know whether you have them, carefully inspect your sheets, pillowcases, or mattresses.

Use a flashlight.

Bed bugs sleep during the day and are most active at night. Try using a flashlight to inspect your sleeping area when it gets dark. This way, you have a better chance of catching bed bugs in the act.

Monitor pets.

If you have pets, bed bugs can also do a lot of damage to their bedding. Make sure to pay close attention to your pets’ sleeping areas, keeping an eye out for unwanted critters.

Use bed bug traps.

You can set up bed bug traps or interceptors to catch them. This can be helpful if you’ve already spotted a bed bug or if you just want to be extra cautious.