To check for bed bugs, follow these steps focusing on their common hiding spots and signs of infestation: 1. Inspect the Bed Thoroughly

• Remove all bedding and examine sheets, mattress, and box spring carefully.
• Look for rusty or reddish stains caused by crushed bed bugs.
• Check for dark spots (about the size of a period), which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on fabric.
• Search for tiny white or pale yellow eggs and shed skins (eggshells) about 1mm in size.
• Use a flashlight to inspect mattress seams, under the mattress, and around tags and piping.
• Check the bed frame, headboard, and any cracks or crevices near the bed, including behind the headboard and under the box spring

2. Examine Other Furniture and Room Areas

• Inspect upholstered furniture like couches, chairs, and recliners, especially seams and crevices.
• Check curtains, folds, and pleats for bugs or stains.
• Look behind baseboards, wallpaper, peeling paint, electrical outlets, and inside drawer joints.
• Inspect luggage, clothing, books, and other personal belongings near the sleeping area

3. Identify Signs of Bed Bugs

• Live bed bugs are small, brown, and about the size of an apple seed.
• Look for blood spots on bedding or furniture.
• Notice any sweet, musty odor, which can indicate a heavy infestation.
• Find exoskeletons or shed skins from growing nymphs

4. Use Tools and Techniques

• Use a flashlight or phone torch to see in dark crevices.
• Lift mattress corners and seams carefully, possibly with a thin tool like a credit card.
• Check all four corners of the mattress and box spring thoroughly

If you find evidence of bed bugs, contact a professional pest control service experienced in integrated pest management, as over-the-counter pesticides are often ineffective and can be hazardous

. This comprehensive inspection approach helps detect bed bugs early and prevent spreading