Where Do Bed Bugs Hide? Room-by-Room Checklist

Picture the smallest gap you can imagine, about the thickness of a credit card. A bed bug can fit in it. That is why they are so good at staying out of sight, and why checking only the mattress often misses them.

Work through the house in this order, starting where you sleep and moving outwards. Use a torch, a thin card to run along crevices and plenty of patience.

Start with the bed itself

The bed is the main feeding ground, so check it first. Strip it completely and inspect the mattress seams, piping, buttons and any tags. Then turn to the base, especially divan seams and the underside, where the dust cover often hides activity.

On a frame, check the slats, the joints where the pieces join and any screw holes. Headboards are a favourite spot, especially wooden ones fixed to the wall, so look behind them too.

Take your time with each seam. Bed bugs often gather in clusters, so one find usually means more within a few centimetres. Shine the torch along the fold and tilt it, because pale eggs and shed skins reflect light differently from fabric.

• Mattress seams, piping and labels
• Underside of the divan or box base
• Slat ends, joints and screw holes
• Headboard front, back and wall fixings

Move on to the rest of the bedroom

Bed bugs spread outwards from the bed, usually staying within a few metres at first. Check bedside tables, especially drawer runners and the underside. Look along skirting boards, where carpet meets wall, and behind pictures or mirrors hung near the bed.

Sockets, light switches and the edges of loose wallpaper are all worth a look. In wardrobes, check the corners and folds of stored bedding rather than hanging clothes alone.

Living room, sofa and other seating

If someone sleeps on the sofa, naps often or sits there late at night, bed bugs can settle in. Remove the cushions and look in seams, under the fabric lining and in the frame joints. Check the underside of the sofa and any gaps where it meets the wall.

Armchairs and recliners get the same treatment. In rooms where no one sleeps, signs are usually fewer, so finding heavy activity there can hint that the infestation has been building for a while.

Children's rooms and spare rooms

Cots, bunk beds and soft toy storage deserve a careful look. Soft toys, bean bags and bedding kept in boxes are easy hiding places. In guest rooms, check the bed as above and the luggage stand, because visitors' bags can bring bugs in.

If you think a room has bed bugs, avoid moving soft toys or bedding into sealed bags in other rooms. Bag items where they are first.

Cots and bunk frames have many screw holes and slats, so check each one. Never treat a child's bed with any product yourself; leave that to a professional who can advise on safety.

Luggage, coats and the hallway

Suitcases and rucksacks are frequent carriers. Check seams, zips and linings, and the folds of travel bags stored in cupboards. Coats hung near a bedroom door can also pick up a passenger.

If you find signs in several rooms, or you cannot reach a gap you are suspicious of, a professional inspection is the next sensible step. Essex Pest Solutions can survey the property, identify what you have found and explain what treatment, if any, is needed. Do not spray the area before they visit, as that can make finding evidence harder.

Frequently asked questions