Bed bugs are masters of hiding, and most people only realise they have a problem once bites or blood spots start appearing on the sheets. Spotting an infestation early — in the first few weeks rather than after months of breeding — can be the difference between a single targeted treatment and a full multi-room heat treatment.
The five signs we look for first
- Itchy bites in straight lines or small clusters, usually on arms, shoulders or legs.
- Small dark spots on bedding, mattress seams or behind the headboard — this is bed bug faeces.
- Tiny blood smears on sheets, especially near where you rest your head or shoulders.
- Pale, papery shed skins in mattress seams, bed-frame joints and behind skirting boards.
- A faint sweet, musty smell in heavily infested rooms.
Where to actually look
Bed bugs hide within a couple of metres of where you sleep, so start with the mattress (strip it back and check every seam), the bed frame (especially screw holes and slat joints), the headboard, and the backs of bedside drawers. In heavier infestations they spread to skirting boards, picture frames and electrical sockets — but the bed is always patient zero.
What to do if you find evidence
- Don't panic-throw mattresses or furniture onto the landing — this spreads bugs to other rooms.
- Stop sleeping in a different room. Bed bugs will follow the carbon dioxide and start a new colony.
- Bag any bedding and wash on 60°C or hotter, then tumble dry on high.
- Call a professional. DIY shop sprays rarely reach the harbourage points and often drive bed bugs deeper into the structure.
If you're in Hertfordshire and want a discreet survey, our team can usually get to you within a day or two. For confirmed infestations we offer both targeted insecticide and full heat treatment, depending on the property.