There Are Bugs In My Bed! How To Tell If You Have A Bedbug Problem
When it comes to pests in your home, bedbugs are the last thing you want to worry about. Not only are they a nuisance, they're also difficult to get rid of once you've got an infestation. Unfortunately, bedbugs aren't the easiest pests to find. They're extremely small, and they're experts at hiding. Luckily, there are a few ways to identify your risk of bedbug infestation. There are also a few tell-tale signs you can look for.
You Know Someone with Bedbugs
If you know someone who's dealing with a bedbug infestation, and you've spent time in their home — or they've been in yours — chances are you're about to be dealing with an infestation of your own. Bedbugs love to hitch rides in bags and clothing. You might think that you're safe if no one has sat on any beds during your visits. However, bedbugs don't just infest beds; they also infest carpeting and upholstered furniture, which means they could be hiding where you least expect them.
You Spend Time in Hotels
Whether you travel for a living or you spent your summer vacation staying in hotels, you may have inadvertently subjected your home to a bedbug infestation. Bedbugs are common residents of hotels throughout the world. If you've sat any of your personal items on the beds, floors, or upholstered furniture, you could have brought bedbugs home with you.
You Have Small Bites on Your Body
If you've been noticing small bites on your body, and they're itchy, you may be sleeping with bedbugs. These tiny bugs dine on blood throughout the night. Each of their bites will leave a small red dot on your body. Those bites may become very itchy, especially as you scratch at them.
You Found Small Brown/Red Stains on Your Sheets
Even if you haven't seen the bugs or noticed itchy bites on your body, you could still have bedbugs. Some bites don't itch, and they could be on areas of your body that you can't see, like your back. If you've suddenly started seeing small brown and red stains on your sheets, those are probably being left behind by bedbugs. The small red stains could be specks of blood left behind when the bedbugs bit you. The small brown stains could be specks of fecal matter left behind by the bugs. To check for fecal matter, take a damp cloth, and wipe the area. If the stain spreads, you've got bedbug fecal matter on your sheets.
Don't let bedbugs take over your home. If any of situations described above are familiar to you, it's time to schedule an appointment for bed bug treatment.