Experts have outlined the signs that show you have bed bugs - and ways to banish them from your bedroom.
More often than not bites from bed bugs are fairly harmless but an infestation is not something you want in your home. They can cause allergic reactions and potentially secondary skin infections.
It's also important to deal with them as quickly as possible, as females can lay as many as 500 eggs in a two-month period. These eggs then hatch in about a week.
Read More: Six signs you've got rats in your home and how to remove the rodents
According to experts at Bed Kingdom, there are seven signs to look out for. They have also shared a number of tips to help get rid of the pests.
A spokesperson from Bed Kingdom said: “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.”
Strange smell
Bed bugs give off an unusual smell, and the experts explained: "One of the early signs of bed bugs is a strange, musty scent lingering in your bedroom, despite there being no clear cause of it being there, such as a dirty pile of clothes.
"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 will be mixed with the odour of dead bugs and shell casings which creates a rust scent."
Bites
If you wake up with "red, itchy bites", this could be a sign of bed bugs. They typically feed on blood throughout the night, and they'll bite arms, hands, and legs, and will often appear in clusters - but can sometimes show up as single bites. According to the experts, they are not usually dangerous but some people can be allergic, so if you experience extreme swelling, seek help from a medical professional.
Eggs
Bed bug eggs can be hard to spot as they're tiny - just 1mm long - but they can be found by looking for anything that resembles small rice grains in the bed. They can be loosely stuck to different types of surfaces, typically the mattress seams and joints or behind the headboard.
Shell casings
The experts said: "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."
Blood stains
Once a bed bug is finished feeding, the blood can leak out if you squash them during your sleep by sudden movements like rolling over, so if you notice any marks, you may have bed bugs. If there is no visible other cause, it's likely that the marks are from the pests.
Dark brown marks
Dark marks from bed bug droppings about the size of a pen tip can appear on mattresses, sheets, headboards, and even your walls, and they're a lot smaller than blood stains, so harder to spot. They will also give off a faint, rusty smell that contributes to the gross odour.
Live bed bugs
Adult bed bugs are around 5mm long, and they tend to hide in various places from the bed to the areas next to it. With a severe infestation, they can be spotted, and therefore you can get rid of them.
How to remove bed bugs from your bedroom
It can be difficult to completely get rid of bed bugs, 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.
- 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.
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