Your home is your safe place where you relax and unwind at the end of a long day. Unfortunately, it can also end up as the resting place for some nasty critters.
Nobody wants to think about finding a bed bug, let alone realising your bedroom is infested. But the good news is there's tell-tale signs to look out for - and steps you can take if your worst dreams come true.
Here's seven major warning signs homeowners and renters alike should pay attention to, and what to do if you spot the bugs, as set out by the experts at Bed Kingdom.
Unusual smell
One early warning sign is a ' strange, musty scent lingering in your bedroom' which has no obvious cause, according to the pros. "When bed bugs feel threatened, they emit what is called alarm pheromones which have a faint smell of raspberries, cilantro, or almonds – and in severe bed bug cases, this smell we be mixed with the odour of dead bugs and shed cell casings which creates a rusty scent," they explained.
Bites
"If you wake up with red, itchy bites, this could be a sign of bed bugs as they typically feed on blood during the night." Look out for bites on arms, hands and legs in particular. These will usually be in small clusters, but there may also be single bites. The experts said: "These bites are not usually dangerous, but some people can be allergic – so if you experience extreme itchiness, swelling, blisters, or a fever it's crucial to seek help from a medical professional."
Blood stains
"Once a bed bug is finished feeding itself, the blood can leak out if you squash them during your sleep by sudden movements like rolling over." As such, small splotches of blood on your bed sheets or clothing could be a sign of bedbugs if you have no other visible cause of the blood, such as a scab.
Dark, brown marks
Bed bug droppings can cause dark marks to appear on mattresses, sheets, headboards or walls. The marks are about the size of a pen tip, meaning they're a lot smaller than blood stains, according to the pros. "They will also give off a faint, rusty smell that contributes to the unusual odour altogether."
Live bed bugs
It can be difficult to spot a live bed bug as they normally seek to hide, but you are more likely to notice them with a severe infestation. "Adult bed bugs are approximately 4-5mm long, with bed bug nymphs starting at just 1mm. Their hiding spots can be various places from your bed and the area next to it to furniture and your walls."
Eggs
The experts warned: "Bed bug eggs can be hard to spot, as they are only around 1mm long – but they can be found by paying attention to anything that looks like small rice grains in your bed." The eggs may be stuck to different types of surfaces, like mattress seams and joints or behind the headboard.
Shell casings
Shell casings are another early sign of infestation. "Bed bugs shed several times during different lifecycle stages, meaning that their shell casings can come in different sizes – but you can spot them by their yellow, translucent appearance in the seams, folds, and crevices of mattresses, or even other areas such as cracks in walls and furniture," explained the pros.
How to remove bed bugs
The experts said: "It can be difficult to completely get rid of bedbugs, especially with a severe infestation, so it's advised to contact the council or a pest control service to ensure they're no longer taking over your bedroom. However, there are some steps you can take yourself to put your mind at ease.
"First of all, try to identify all of the areas where the bed bugs could be hiding by using a flashlight and a magnifying glass. This includes your entire bed, cushions, cracks in walls and furniture, loose wallpaper, the seam between wallpaper and the ceiling, and underneath decorations on your wall."
They continued: "Wash all of your affected bedding on clothing on a hot wash, as well as using the tumble dryer on a hot setting for a minimum of half an hour. For anything that can't be washed, place them in plastic bags and leave in the freezer for 3-4 days.
"Using an insecticide is not recommended as some of them can contain harmful chemicals that can be dangerous when used indoors, but you can opt for a bed bug spray to use before vacuuming which is typically safe for mattresses and furniture.
"Clear out any rubbish from your bedroom and put it in the bin, such as magazines, and make space ready to vacuum. Use a vacuum on the entire floor, making sure to get all of the corners – you can use the small wand to get into other areas of the bedroom, such as furniture and cracks in the wall."
A spokesperson for Bed Kingdom added: "Getting cosy in bed on an evening is something that many people look forward to at the end of the day, whether it’s to chill out and watch your favourite TV series or perhaps to curl up with a gripping book. Unfortunately, this can be ruined when bed bugs take over your bedroom, so it's important to know what signs to look out for so that you can get back to relaxing quickly and to avoid a more complicated process of removing them."
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