The bed bug has gotten a bad reputation over the years, and it is easy to see why. The bedbug is a cryptic pest that hides in the shadows and comes out to feed on you when you are sleeping and at your most vulnerable. When it comes down to it, people don’t know a lot about bed bugs, but they do know they are stealthy and difficult to spot. Since they hide so well, it almost takes forcing them out of hiding to confirm an infestation in many cases. If you have found yourself in this situation, you’ll need to know where to start your search.
Common Places Bed Bugs Hide
There are several commonly known locations where bed bugs tend to hang out. These are the locations that you are probably already familiar with, but it doesn’t hurt to go over them to confirm you know where to look.
Box Springs And Mattresses
The pest’s name is a dead giveaway that it likes to hide in mattresses and box springs. What most people don’t know is that this pest won’t just lie on top of the mattress. They’ll get into the stitches, the corners, under the tags, and deep into the undetectable locations. If they’re hiding on your mattress, using your vacuum may be necessary. Vacuum the mattress and box spring from side to side and top to bottom.
Cracks And Crevices In Bed Frames
Besides the crevices of mattresses, the bed frame is another favorite hiding spot for the bed bug. These pests like to burrow into any tiny cracks and crevices where they’ll feel safe. If you have a wooden bed frame that naturally cracks over time, you can guarantee that bed bugs will get into those cracks when given the chance. Other than that, you must check the area where the side rails meet the headboards and footboards.
Bedding/Linen
Aside from the hiding places mentioned above, bedbugs will also get into your bedsheets, covers, and pillowcases. The only good thing about them hiding on your linens is that they’re easier to locate. They’ll likely be lying on top of your sheets or other linens. While this sounds easy enough, you must remember these bugs are only about the size of an apple seed. Suffice to say, spotting them will be much harder than you might think.
Rugs And Carpet
Like bedsheets, rugs and carpets provide enough protection for the bed bug to feel safe and comfortable. These locations are considered stopping points along their routes, rather than permanent residences. They’ll leave your luggage or shoe and immediately hide in the nearby rug or carpet until they find more suitable hiding spots. If the carpet or rug is installed in the bedroom, the bug might choose to take up permanent residence here. Doing so guarantees they have quick and easy access to human blood.
Couches And Upholstered Furniture Items
You’ve likely heard a story or two about someone picking up a secondhand couch that was infested with bed bugs. Unfortunately, this is more common than you might imagine. Couches and bedroom furniture make the perfect hiding spots for these pests. They are safe, secure, and usually within close range to their favorite food. In addition to this, couches and chairs offer a wealth of hiding places. With an abundance of hiding places, couches are one of their favorite hiding places.
Surprising Location You Might Find Bed Bugs
Above, you learned about some of the most common hiding places for bedbugs. There are other locations where these bugs might hide that you may never suspect. Knowing these locations will make a big difference.
Luggage
No one wants to come home from a vacation only to discover they’ve brought an unwanted guest with them. It is common for tourists to pick up bedbugs at their motel before taking them home. Unfortunately, this happens more frequently than you could ever imagine. These bugs climb into suitcases and luggage bags and ride them back to the residence. Once they’ve arrived, identify the infestation quickly so you can address and rectify the problem.
Wall Décor
Some decorations can enhance the beauty of any room. Whether it is a family photo or wall ornament your granddaughter made for your anniversary, these pieces oftentimes have sentimental value. This only makes getting rid of them all that much harder. If bedbugs are hiding on these items, you might not have a choice. Bed bugs like dark, secure locations and that’s exactly what picture frames, wall ornaments, and even wallpaper provide. You should always reconsider when purchasing used decorations.
Books
Bed bugs can even get into books. They’ll usually hide around the spines and the front covers as opposed to the pages. Either way, it’s not a good situation. These parasites can ruin
some of your favorite classic novels.
Nightstands
A nightstand is like a couch or luggage. The piece provides hundreds of hiding spots. It makes matters worse since they are oftentimes dark and placed near your bed. When trying to eliminate bedbugs, it is wise to vacuum your nightstand thoroughly. Be sure to get every crack and corner because bedbugs tend to hide in areas that are rarely inspected.
Electronics
Today, most homes are filled with electrical devices. Surprisingly, these devices are a popular hiding spot for bed bugs. They like warm hiding spots so the heat from the circuit board provides exactly what they need. Since most electrical devices contain circuit boards, bedbugs will hide in many of the electrical devices in your home. With the potential for electrical shorts and other damage, these are the last places you want these troublesome bugs taking up residence.
You’ll also want to check the boxes stored under your bed. When you find bedbugs in your home, call our office and we’ll work diligently to eradicate the pests for you.
