Your bedroom is a place to unwind, relax and sleep soundly. But it can also be a place where you can find some very unwanted visitors.
And Glasgow’s Govanhill was recently names as ‘bedbug capital’ of Scotland after the highest number of reported infestations.Bed bugs are everyone’s worst nightmare. An infestation of the pests can be a nightmare to deal with but experts have shared some tell tale signs to look out for.
And the first sign that should set alarm bells ringing that the critters are present in your home is a strange smell, according to experts.
There are seven key warning signs to look out for whether you own your home or are renting it. And the specialists at Bed Kingdom also have ways to deal with it if you do have an infestation on your hands.
Seven signs you have bedbugs in your home
1. Strange smell
An early red flag is an odd, musty scent in your bedroom with no apparent source. “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 we be mixed with the odour of dead bugs and shed cell casings which creates a rusty scent,” the pros explained.
2. Bites
Waking up with red, itchy bites could indicate the presence of bed bugs, who typically feed on blood during the night, reports the Mirror. Keep an eye out for bites on arms, hands and legs in particular. These will usually be in small clusters, but there may also be single bites.
“These bites are not usually dangerous, but some people can be allergic – so if you experience extreme itchiness, swelling, blisters, or a fever it’s crucial to seek help from a medical professional.”
3. Blood stains
“Once a bed bug is finished feeding itself, the blood can leak out if you squash them during your sleep by sudden movements like rolling over.”
Small patches of blood on your bed sheets or clothing could be an indicator of a bedbug infestation if you have no other visible explanation for the blood, such as a scab.
4. Dark, brown marks
Bed bug droppings can cause dark marks to appear on mattresses, sheets, headboards, or walls, which are about the size of a pen tip. “They will also give off a faint, rusty smell that contributes to the unusual odour altogether.”
5. Live bed bugs
Spotting live bed bugs can be challenging as they typically seek to hide, but they’re more noticeable in severe infestations.
“Adult bed bugs are approximately 4-5mm long, with bed bug nymphs starting at just 1mm. Their hiding spots can be various places from your bed and the area next to it to furniture and your walls.”
6. Eggs
Bed bug eggs can be difficult to spot, measuring only around 1mm long, but they resemble small rice grains in your bed, often stuck to different surfaces such as mattress seams and joints or behind the headboard.
7. Shell casings
Shell casings are a tell-tale sign of an awful infestation, as the creepy-crawlies shed their skins at different stages of life.
“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,” the experts remarked.
How to remove bed bugs
Home methods may not work if you have a large bedbug infestation. That will require professional help from the council or a pest control company.
However, there are some steps you can take yourself.
“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,” they urged.
They then suggested: “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.”
A spokesperson for Bed Kingdom added: “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.”
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