Prevent Bed Bugs: Quick tips

Learn the basics about bed bugs.

• Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown bugs that bite people to eat blood. They can grow up to the size of an apple seed.
• Bed bugs travel from place to place in luggage, clothes, boxes, and used furniture. They can also move between apartments through small cracks.
• Bed bugs only come out at night. But leaving the light on won’t stop them from biting.
• Bites from bed bugs can cause large, itchy bumps on some people. Other people don’t have any reaction at all.
• Bed bugs can live for a long time without feeding.
• Notify your landlord or a pest control company as soon as you find bed bugs in your home.

Use a flashlight to check for bed bugs.

• Check for bed bugs hiding in the mattress, box spring, and bed frame. Be sure to look under and along the seams (edges) of the mattress.
• Look for small, reddish spots on the mattress. These spots could be a sign of bed bugs.
• Search other furniture near the bed, like night stands.

Check for bed bugs when you travel.

• Put your luggage on a luggage rack (away from the wall) or in a dry bathtub. Don’t put it on the bed.
• Follow the steps above to check for bugs where you are staying.
• If you see signs of bed bugs, call the hotel desk or tell your host right away.

Take extra care with your luggage when you get home from a trip.

• Keep your travel clothes separate from other laundry. Wash them in warm water right away.
• Vacuum your luggage to get rid of any bed bugs that may have hitched a ride. Take the vacuum outside to empty the contents into a tightly sealed plastic bag. Throw the bag away in an outside garbage bin.

Act right away if you see a bed bug in your home.

• Call a pest control company to check your home.
• Use clear tape to attach the bug to a white piece of paper. Show it to a pest control expert to make sure it’s a bed bug.
• Don’t try to get rid of the bugs yourself. You could make the problem worse by spreading the bugs to other rooms in your home.