How To Do Self-Inspection For Bed Bugs In Your Home

Bed bugs are one of the most common insects found in Australian households. These small, brownish, wingless insects, feed on human blood.

The warmth and carbon dioxide that you release attracts these bugs. They prefer resting during the day and generally feed at night. If you are waking up regularly with bites or feel uncomfortable during the night, then it is a sign that there are bed bugs in your home.

The best way to ensure whether you have bed bugs or not is to do a thorough inspection on your own. If you find there are bed bugs, then you need to contact a company that offers the best pest control in Australia. They will use effective and chemical-free pesticides and advanced methods to eliminate all kinds of pests, including bed bugs.

Instead of using any hazardous chemicals that pollute the indoor air, they use natural products. If you want to carry out the inspection in a perfect manner, you would require some guidance.

Read on to know more about how to do self-inspection for bed bugs in your home.

Know About Bed Bug Signs

Before you start inspecting your entire home for bed bugs, it is important to know what to look for. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is to understand the signs of bed bugs.

Adult Bed Bugs

Search for insects that are small, reddish-brown and have round flat bodies. They are around the size of apple seeds, which vary between 4 mm to 7 mm in length.

Bloodstains

Look for the rust-coloured or unexplained red stains on sheets, clothing, pillows, etc. Such stains are often left behind by bed bugs after feeding.

Faecal Marks

Bed bugs also leave behind droppings that are small, dark brown or black colour spots.

Shell Casings

These are abandoned shells in the shape of young bed bugs. Shell casings are semi-transparent, hollow and light brown in colour. The size of shells varies from 1 mm to 6 mm in size.

Eggs

The eggs of bed bugs are pearly white, oval-shaped and around 1 mm in length. They are usually found loosely stuck to the surfaces in their hiding places.

Tools You Will Need

Once you know about the signs, you need to get the tools that will help you to inspect the bed bugs in a stress-free and hassle-free manner.

• ‣ Flashlight
• ‣ Credit card or playing cards
• ‣ Hairdryer
• ‣ Camera or Clear Tape
• ‣ Hand Vacuum cleaner

Areas You Need to Inspect

After gathering all the important tools, it is time to start the inspection. Here are the main areas that usually have bed bugs. So, search all the places one by one and thoroughly.

Bed

The first place you need to inspect is your bed. Examine the bed sheets and pillows for the faecal marks of bed bugs and unexplained bloodstains.

Remove the bed sheets and properly check around the edges, tags, seams, as well as the underneath the mattress. So, remove your mattress and see if there are any signs of bed bugs in the crevices or indentations in the headboard and the bed frame.

Furniture

You should also look at the bed bugs signs inside the dressers, study table, coffee table, nightstands, etc. Search around the corners as well as the screw holes inside the drawers.

Couch

Another essential area that you should inspect is your couch and seating. To check the couches and seating, first remove the cushion covers to check inside and around the seams.

Wall Hangings

You should also remove any wall clock, frames as well as posters from the walls. Check the back of these things carefully because the bed bugs often hide in these spots.

Under the carpets

The carpets and rugs can also have bed bugs, so thoroughly check these areas. Look the top and also examine underneath the rugs. Removing bed bugs from such spots can be very challenging, so it is advisable to contact a certified and reputed pest control company in Australia.

Baseboards

You should also look for the bed bug signs on the baseboard. To do that, you need to pull all the furniture away from the walls.

After that, thoroughly check the back of the furniture and the baseboards. If you are opting for professionals, then make sure that you select the best pest control service.

Self-Inspection Tips

Here are some self-inspection tips that you should follow.

• ‣ Use a camera to take pictures or a clear tape to catch bugs for professional confirmation.
• ‣ When you use a hairdryer, you should direct the hot air along the mattress seams and other narrow crevices. It will force the hidden bed bugs to come out.
• ‣ Use a vacuum to suck up the bed bugs that you will find. Do not forget to empty the vacuum into a sealed trash bag after using it.

The Bottom Line

Self-inspection for bed bugs in your home can be a little confusing, particularly if you are doing it for the first time. However, the task can become easier if you follow the correct guidelines.

So, the next time you want to inspect your home for the bed bugs problem, follow the approach mentioned above. To get the best result, you should opt for a company that offers reliable pest control in Australia.