How to Deal with Bed Bugs: Awareness, Action, and Prevention

Jill Buchanan
Feb 17
3 min read

Bed bugs are a nightmare for homeowners, renters, and even businesses. These tiny pests can invade your home unnoticed and quickly become a major problem. As a professional cleaning business, we’ve seen firsthand how important it is to stay vigilant, act fast, and take preventive measures. In this post, we’ll cover how to identify bed bugs, what to do if you find them, and how to prevent an infestation in your home.

Signs of Bed Bugs

The first step in dealing with bed bugs is knowing what to look for. Here are some key signs that may indicate their presence:

Bite Marks – Bed bug bites often appear as small, red, itchy welts on the skin, typically in clusters or lines.
Blood Stains on Sheets – Small reddish or rusty stains on your bedding could be from bed bugs feeding.
Dark Spots on Mattress or Furniture – Bed bug excrement appears as tiny black or brown spots on mattresses, bed frames, or furniture.
Shed Skins and Eggshells – As bed bugs grow, they shed their skins, leaving behind translucent casings.
Musty Odor – A heavy infestation may cause a musty, sweet smell in affected areas.

What to Do If You Identify Bed Bugs

Discovering bed bugs can be unsettling, but acting quickly is crucial. Here’s what you should do:

Confirm the Infestation – Before taking action, ensure the pests are actually bed bugs by comparing them to online images or consulting a professional.
Declutter the Area – Remove unnecessary clutter to limit hiding spots for bed bugs.
Wash and Dry on High Heat – Wash all bedding, clothing, and linens in hot water (at least 120°F) and dry them on the highest heat setting.
Vacuum Thoroughly – Use a vacuum to clean your mattress, bed frame, carpets, and furniture, then dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag outside your home.
Seal Cracks and Crevices – Use caulk to seal any small cracks in walls, furniture, and baseboards where bed bugs might hide.
Use Bed Bug Mattress Covers – Encase mattresses and box springs in specially designed bed bug-proof covers to trap any remaining pests.
Call a Professional Exterminator – In severe cases, professional treatment with heat or insecticides is the most effective way to fully eradicate bed bugs.

Preventing Bed Bugs in Your Home

Prevention is always better than dealing with an infestation. Follow these proactive steps to keep bed bugs at bay:

Be Cautious When Traveling – Inspect hotel mattresses, headboards, and furniture before settling in, and keep luggage elevated and away from the bed.
Wash Clothes Immediately After Traveling – Drying clothes on high heat after a trip can kill any hitchhiking bed bugs.
Inspect Secondhand Furniture – If purchasing used furniture, carefully inspect for any signs of bed bugs before bringing it into your home.
Keep Your Home Clutter-Free – Reducing clutter minimizes hiding places for bed bugs.
Regularly Vacuum and Clean Your Home – Consistently vacuuming carpets, mattresses, and upholstery helps eliminate any potential bed bugs before they spread.

How Our Cleaning Business Handles Bed Bugs

As a trusted cleaning service, we prioritize health, hygiene, and client safety. While professional extermination is necessary for fully eliminating bed bugs, we take the following steps when bed bugs are suspected:

Immediate Notification – If we notice signs of bed bugs in a client’s home, we immediately inform them to take action.
Pause Cleaning in the Affected Area – To prevent spreading the infestation, we temporarily halt cleaning services in areas with bed bugs until treatment is completed.
Sanitize and Clean Non-Affected Areas – We focus on deep cleaning other areas of the home while ensuring our equipment and supplies do not transfer bed bugs elsewhere.
Follow Up with Clients – We provide resources and recommendations for professional pest control services and offer post-treatment cleaning to help restore a fresh, sanitized space.

Final Thoughts

Bed bugs are persistent, but with early detection, quick action, and preventive measures, you can keep them from taking over your home. Our cleaning business is here to support homeowners with cleanliness, awareness, and expert advice. If you ever have concerns about bed bugs or need a deep clean after an infestation, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

By staying proactive, you can maintain a bed bug-free home and enjoy peace of mind.