{"id":15375,"date":"2022-10-04T15:38:47","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T19:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bedbugbbq.com\/?p=15375"},"modified":"2022-10-04T15:38:47","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T19:38:47","slug":"how-to-tell-if-you-have-bed-bugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/how-to-tell-if-you-have-bed-bugs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Tell if You Have Bed Bugs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever woken up with bites on your skin that you can\u2019t explain? If so, you may be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbugbbq.com\/bed-bug-information\/how-do-you-know-if-you-have-bed-bugs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wondering if you have bed bugs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Read on for a guide on how to tell if you have bed bugs, as well as what to do about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bed bugs are small, flightless insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. These pests are usually active at night and hide in cracks and crevices during the day. Bed bugs are found in a variety of places, including homes, apartments, hotels, and even hospitals. While bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, their bites can be itchy and uncomfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Signs You May Have Bed Bugs<a class=\"dt-pswp-item\" href=\"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_455246449-scaled-1.jpeg\" data-dt-img-description=\"\" data-large_image_width=\"1800\" data-large_image_height=\"949\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-15378\" src=\"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_455246449-scaled-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman changing bed sheets holding her nose because they smell\" width=\"779\" height=\"411\" \/><\/a><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first step in addressing a potential bed bug infestation is to identify the signs that you may have bed bugs. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbugbbq.com\/how-to-identify-bed-bugs\/where-do-bed-bugs-generally-bite\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bites on the skin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that appear in a line or cluster &#8211; these bites are often itchy and can resemble mosquito bites or hives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dark or reddish stains on your sheets or mattress &#8211; these stains are caused by bed bug feces and can be an indication that there is an infestation in your home.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White egg casings or molted skin sheds &#8211; these may be found in cracks and crevices where bed bugs are hiding during the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sweet, musty smell &#8211; this smell is caused by the bed bug scent glands and may be an indication that there is a large infestation present.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you detect any of these, it&#8217;s critical to act right away. The sooner you address an infestation, the easier it will be to kill bed bugs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to Check for Bed Bugs?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve determined that there is a possibility you have bed bugs, it\u2019s time to start checking for them. Be sure to check the following: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the folds of your mattress <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Underneath your sheets <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the cracks of your headboard <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Behind wall hangings <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any other cracks or crevices in your bedroom furniture\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you see any bed bugs or evidence of them (e.g., bites on your skin, fecal stains), it\u2019s important to take action right away to prevent them from spreading.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What to Do Next<a class=\"dt-pswp-item\" href=\"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_104684520-scaled-1.jpeg\" data-dt-img-description=\"\" data-large_image_width=\"1800\" data-large_image_height=\"1200\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-15377\" src=\"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_104684520-scaled-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Close up of vacuuming carpet with vacuum cleaner to kill bed bugs\" width=\"741\" height=\"494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_104684520-scaled-1.jpeg 1800w, https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_104684520-scaled-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_104684520-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_104684520-scaled-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_104684520-scaled-1-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 741px) 100vw, 741px\" \/><\/a><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few things you should do if you think you have bed bugs:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wash all of your linens and clothing in hot water and dry them on high heat. This will kill any adult bugs or their eggs that may be present.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vacuum all areas of your home thoroughly, paying special attention to cracks and crevices where bed bugs may hide during the day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throw out any items that cannot be washed or vacuumed (e.g., stuffed animals, pillows).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact a professional pest control company to treat your home to kill bed bugs. A professional will have access to powerful pesticides that will kill bed bugs living in your home.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How to Kill Bed Bugs<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve identified an infestation and contacted a professional pest control company, they will work with you to develop a treatment plan specific to your situation. This plan may include utilizing pesticides, heat treatments, or freezing temperatures to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbugbbq.com\/how-to-prevent-bed-bugs\/does-lysol-kill-bed-bugs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">kill bed bugs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> present in your home. In some cases, multiple treatments may be necessary to completely eliminate an infestation. Once the treatment plan has been completed, it\u2019s important to take steps to prevent future infestations from occurring. Some things you can do include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vacuuming regularly<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washing linens frequently<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping clutter to a minimum<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inspecting second hand furniture before bringing it into your home<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regularly checking for signs of bed bugs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although rare, finding evidence of a potential bed bug issue in your home can be alarming! By taking quick action and implementing some preventative measures moving forward though, getting rid of them \u2013and preventing them from returning \u2013isn\u2019t as difficult as one might think!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Don&#8217;t Let Bed Bugs Win!<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking for a reliable and effective bed bug extermination service? Look no further than the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbugbbq.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bed Bug Barbeque<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">! Our team of experienced professionals will work diligently to quickly kill bed bugs present in your home. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbugbbq.com\/contact-bedbugbbq\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact us today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a free consultation!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever woken up with bites on your skin that you can\u2019t explain? If so, you may be wondering if you have bed bugs. Read on for a guide on how to tell if you have bed bugs, as well as what to do about them. Bed bugs are small, flightless insects that feed&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":15376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":5,"label":"Bed Bug Identification"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/AdobeStock_492439566-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg",1024,683,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"colleen","author_link":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/author\/colleen\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":5,"name":"Bed Bug Identification","slug":"how-to-identify-bed-bugs","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":62,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5,"category_count":62,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Bed Bug Identification","category_nicename":"how-to-identify-bed-bugs","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15375"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15375"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15375\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}