How to do a Bed Bug Inspection

Recognizing signs of an infestation can be tricky – no worries, we’ll show you what to look for so that you can find and eliminate these bloodsuckers!

In the picture of a bedroom below, numbers indicate where you should inspect for bed bugs, these pests are most commonly found there.

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Bed Bug Checklist Shows You Where They Hide

When you check the locations and items below, peel back any sheets and check the mattress, cushions, and pillows, carefully running your fingers along the upper and lower seams. Check under tags and any plastic around the edges commonly found on the box spring.

Bed bugs love to hide in anything with gaps, so consider this when using the checklist below during your inspection.

your underwear
behind baseboards
around the door and window casings
around window sills and frames
behind electrical and telephone switchplates
between the flooring and wall components
where materials meet to form a gap
around pipes (water, drain, electrical conduits)
bed frames and headboard

under nightstands and drawers
storage units
items such as furniture that may have hollow legs
between upholstered furniture
between the folds of drapery or curtains
in your alarm clock
inside loose wallpaper
seams, creases, tufts, and folds of the mattress and box spring

Inspecting the Mattress

The visitor that sent us the infested mattress photo below had spent months trying to find them. The discovery was a turning point for her, and she was able to take the next step necessary to eliminate them.

If you see an infestation like this during your bedbug inspection, you have a severe bed bug outbreak! If that’s the case, you need to take a deep breath, relax, and let us show you how to get rid of them correctly.

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Bed bug infested box-spring showing lifecycle.

A mattress is by far the most popular breeding ground for bed bugs. Let’s face it, you are food, and the folds of a mattress are close to your body. When the lights go out, and you start exhaling that carbon dioxide, it might as well be a big red sign that says “Now Serving.”

We have pictures of bed bug infestations if you would like to see more.

The Top 4 Signs you have bed bugs are:

Shells or Castings: Are there shells (shed skins) / castings? As the bed bug develops, it sheds the skin, which looks like the bug. Tiny white eggs (like rice) along the edge of the mattress are also a good indication of an infestation, as shown in the image below.
Tiny Black Dots: One of the best signs you may have bed bugs! Unlike us, bed bugs don’t wait to poop until they go home; they do it then and there, which helps us locate the nest. Those droppings are excreted human blood that sticks to the fabric and looks like black dots made with a marker. These tiny black dots (shown below) make them easy to spot; wipe them with a wet towel, and they may be fecal matter if it smears.
Foul Smell: Another way to identify bed bugs is their bad smell; the odor may smell musty, smell like spoiled raw beef, or smell sweet, such as fresh red raspberries.
Bites that appear in a pattern or line.

What to do if you find Bed Bugs

Bed bug burst open in hand exposing inspector to human blood.

If you find a bed bug infestation at a hotel, rental, or bed and breakfast, immediately take a picture! You can send us a copy for identification and, most importantly, use for your documentation – trust me, it WILL come in handy.

If your check turns up results in your home, then here is how to get rid of bed bugs – and you don’t need harmful chemicals.

CAUTION! Shown here is an image of a blood-filled bed bug that burst open in the palm of the inspector’s hand during a routine bed bug inspection. You can also see eggs next to the bug.

Don’t take any chances! Always wear gloves when inspecting.

Convinced you have them but didn’t find signs? You can make a bed bug trap to snag one as proof, or, you can bring in a bed bug sniffing dog!

Do you have them?

No worries, let’s get rid of them!