Learn the basics about bed bugs.
- Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown bugs that bite people to eat blood. They can grow up to the size of an apple seed.
- Bed bugs travel from place to place in luggage, clothes, boxes, and used furniture. They can also move between apartments through small cracks.
- Bed bugs only come out at night. But leaving the light on won’t stop them from biting.
- Bed bug bites can cause large, itchy bumps on some people. Other people don’t have any reaction at all.
- Bed bugs can live for a long time without feeding.
- Notify your landlord or a pest control company as soon as you find bed bugs in your home.
Use a flashlight to check for bed bugs.
- Check for bed bugs hiding in the mattress, box spring, and bed frame. Be sure to look under and along the seams (edges) of the mattress.
- Look for small, reddish spots on the mattress. These spots could be a sign of bed bugs.
- Search other furniture near the bed, like end tables.
Check for bed bugs when you travel.
- Put your luggage on a luggage rack (away from the wall) or in a dry bathtub. Don’t put it on the bed.
- Follow the steps above to check for bugs where you are staying.
- If you see signs of bed bugs, call the hotel desk or tell your host right away.
Take extra care with your luggage when you get home from a trip.
- Keep your travel clothes separate from other laundry. Wash them in warm water right away.
- Vacuum your luggage to get rid of any bed bugs that may have hitched a ride. Take the vacuum outside to empty the contents into a tightly sealed plastic bag. Throw the bag away in an outside garbage bin.
Act right away if you see a bed bug in your home.
- Don’t try to get rid of the bugs yourself. You could make the problem worse by spreading the bugs to other rooms in your home.
- Use clear tape to attach the bug to a white piece of paper. Show it to a pest control expert to make sure it’s a bed bug.
- Call a pest control company to check your home.
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