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Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications.
Updated on July 23, 2024 In This Article In This Article
Bed bugs have been a major pain (literally and figuratively) for humans for centuries. And unfortunately, they aren't going anywhere. "Bed bug populations have experienced a resurgence, especially within the last couple of years due in part to increased travel postponed during the height of the pandemic," says Frank Meek, entomologist at Orkin.
The other bad part? "Some bed bug populations have developed resistance to common treatments, making them harder to eradicate." And because people aren't necessarily keeping an eye out for these teeny-tiny bugs, they can often slip under the radar and continue to spread.
So if you don't want to bring home an unwanted souvenir from your travels—or you're worried that those bite marks you're seeing mean bed bugs have already taken up residence in your home—here's what you need to know.
Frank Meek is an entomologist at Orkin.
Bed bugs, also know by their scientific name Cimex lectularius, are small, oval-shaped insects that grow to about five millimeters in length. Though they're not known to transmit or spread disease, they can cause other public health issues.
They can be difficult to identify, due to their ability to stay hidden and their small size. But catching them early and treating a small infestation is much easier than if they're able to establish and spread.
Bed bugs bite and leave small welts on the skin, which is usually how people get tipped off that they have a problem. Reddish-stained sheets (from crushing the bug) are also a sign. The insects usually come out at night, as they're attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide that humans and animals give off. While you and your pets are sleeping, bed bugs have an opportunity to feed easily .
Bed bugs can be difficult to see if you don't know what you're looking for. They're only a quarter-inch long at full size (think the size of an apple seed)—and they tend to move very fast. You may be more likely to see tiny dark or rusty-colored spots on the sheets or mattress, that could be either crushed bed bugs or their droppings.
Being so tiny, they can find many places to hide—such as gaps between the baseboard and the wall, or the edge of a wall socket. While it's commonly thought that bed bugs are microscopic, they can actually be seen with the naked eye. But they move very quickly, so you won't be able to lock in on one for very long.
Checking for bed bugs should be an essential first step when you're traveling, Meek says. "Survey the hotel room for signs of an infestation. You want to look for tiny, dark ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards." You'll want to lift the mattress and check the box spring, and even take a peek behind baseboards and pictures.
But even if you haven't traveled recently, it's a good idea to keep inspecting your home—especially as bed bug infestations have appeared in places like movie theaters and subways, and the insects could hitch a ride when you're out and about.
"Check the places where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames," Meek says. You should inspect your home after you've traveled, when you're moving, and when people stay overnight or work in your home.
Areas where bed bugs hide (if you have an infestation):
Another reason to pare down what you have: Decluttering makes it easier to see bed bugs, by giving them fewer places to hide.
The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to keep them from getting into your home in the first place. Meek recommends you check out any furniture before you bring it inside—even if it's something brand new from the manufacturer.
But travel is when you're most at risk of bringing home bed bugs. To reduce the risk, follow Meek's tips:
The safest places to store your luggage are in the bathroom or on counters—and you may not want to unpack your clothes into the drawers or on the bed.
Give your luggage a very thorough lookover when you're repacking, and also once you return home.
Put any dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 30 to 45 minutes at the highest setting after you get home.
Exposure to extreme heat or cold can kill off bed bugs—so if you can delay using your car and the stuff in your luggage, it's an easy way to kill off any unwanted guests.
You'll need to hit over 119 degrees will kill off bed bugs, and 125 degrees to kill off the eggs as well. If you live somewhere where the temperatures are in the mid-80s, bag up your luggage and keep it in the car in a sunny spot for several hours before unpacking. The temperature in a car will hit 123 degrees within an hour, according to the CDC. And you'll need to keep your luggage at that temperature for three or more hours to kill off bugs.
You can do the same thing if you live somewhere where it's frigid cold. Keep your car at zero degrees Fahrenheit for four days, and the luggage inside should be clear of bed bugs.
When you get home, don't keep your luggage in your bedroom. The ideal spots are in your garage or storage shed, if you have them.
If bed bugs do end up in your home, don't take it as a sign that you're not clean. "A bed bug infestation has nothing to do with cleanliness—you can pick them up in the finest hotels, and they can hitchhike into the cleanest homes at any time," Meek says.
But if you suspect bed bugs—either because someone in your home is developing the signature itchy, red bites, or you've found some in your bed—call in the pros as soon as possible. Bed bugs aren't something you can successfully treat yourself, and can get very expensive to treat if they've been able to get a footing in your home.
The pros use a combination of strategies to contain the bed bug issue, including both pesticides and non-pesticide treatments, Meek says. That can include using heat or cold to kill off bed bugs, applying dry steam, traps, and caulking and sealing places where they've nested.
Keep in mind that bed bugs probably won't be a one-and-done treatment—it will take some time to stomp out those bed bugs for good.
While you wait for the professionals, you can do a number of things yourself to prevent bed bugs from spreading further.
If you suspect you've got bed bugs, the quickest way to check is to get a flashlight and look in the crevices and folds of your mattress and furniture, which is where they like to hide. You should be able to see them with the naked eye. Other signs include brownish-red stains and remnants of small, translucent egg shells.
Can bed bugs be seen with the naked eye?Yes, you can see bed bugs with the naked eye. They are oval-shaped, kind of flat, and adults are around a quarter of an inch long. Younger bed bugs and the eggs can be more difficult to see, though, so if you suspect an infestation, you should still call a professional.
What gets bed bugs out of hiding?There are a few ways to lure bed bugs out of hiding. The first is warmth; bed bugs like warm places, so using a steamer or hairdryer on furniture where you think they're hiding can draw them out. Second, they are attracted to carbon dioxide, which not only attracts them but is also used in fumigation techniques. Third, they are nocturnal, so you have a better chance of luring them out at night than during the day.
