Bed Bugs: Everything You Need to Know

Bed bugs are one of the most distressing pest problems a household can face. They're notoriously difficult to get rid of without professional help, and infestations are on the rise across the UK. The British Pest Control Association reports that call-outs for bed bugs have increased steadily over the past decade, driven largely by international travel and second-hand furniture sales.

What do bed bugs look like?

Adult bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects about 5–7mm long — roughly the size and shape of an apple seed. They're reddish-brown in colour, becoming darker and more swollen after feeding. Nymphs (juveniles) are smaller and paler, making them harder to spot. Bed bug eggs are white, about 1mm long, and often found in clusters in crevices.

Where do they hide?

Despite their name, bed bugs don't only live in beds. They hide in any crack or crevice close to where people sleep or sit for extended periods. Common hiding spots include:

• Mattress seams, piping, and tufts
• Bed frame joints and headboard fixings
• Behind skirting boards and loose wallpaper
• Inside electrical sockets and light switch plates
• In the seams of sofas and armchairs
• Behind picture frames and mirrors
• Inside wardrobes and bedside drawers

Signs of a bed bug infestation

You may not see the bugs themselves, but look for these telltale signs:

• Bites. Small, red, itchy welts — often in lines or clusters on exposed skin. Not everyone reacts to bites, so one person in a household may show symptoms while another doesn't.
• Blood spots. Tiny dark or rusty spots on bedding from crushed bugs or their excrement.
• Shed skins. Bed bugs moult as they grow. Translucent, empty skins are a clear sign of an active infestation.
• A musty smell. A heavy infestation produces a distinctive sweet, sickly odour from the bugs' scent glands.
• Live bugs. Check mattress seams and bed frame joints with a torch — particularly at night when bugs are most active.

How do infestations start?

Bed bugs are hitchhikers. They don't fly or jump — they travel by clinging to luggage, clothing, and furniture. Common ways they enter homes include:

• Travel. Hotels, hostels, and holiday lets are common sources. Bugs crawl into suitcases and come home with you.
• Second-hand furniture. Sofas, mattresses, and bed frames bought second-hand or picked up from the kerb frequently harbour bed bugs.
• Visitors. Guests can unknowingly carry bugs in their luggage or clothing.
• Adjoining properties. In flats and terraced houses, bed bugs can migrate through wall cavities, shared ducting, and electrical conduits.

Treatment options

Professional pest control is almost always necessary for bed bugs. DIY sprays and foggers rarely reach the deep harbourages where bugs hide, and can actually make the problem worse by scattering them to new locations. Professional treatments typically involve:

• Insecticide treatment. A targeted spray applied to harbourage areas. Usually requires two visits, 10–14 days apart, to catch bugs that hatch after the first treatment.
• Heat treatment. Specialist equipment raises the room temperature to 56°C+ for several hours, killing all life stages in a single visit. More expensive but highly effective.

Treatment costs vary but typically range from £150–£350 for insecticide treatment of a single room, or £400–£800+ for whole-room heat treatment.

Preparing for treatment

Your pest controller will give you specific instructions, but preparation typically includes:

• Washing all bedding and clothing at 60°C or above
• Vacuuming thoroughly, including mattress seams and bed frame joints (empty the vacuum immediately afterwards)
• Clearing clutter from around the bed and bedroom
• Not moving bedding or furniture to other rooms, as this can spread the infestation

Prevention

You can reduce your risk by inspecting hotel beds when travelling (check mattress seams and headboards), avoiding second-hand mattresses and upholstered furniture, and washing clothes on a hot cycle after returning from trips. Mattress encasements — zip-up covers that seal the entire mattress — make it harder for bugs to establish in your bed and easier to spot them if they do.

Enter your postcode on Pest Control Review to find a pest controller experienced in bed bug treatment near you.