They may give you the heebie-jeebies, but bed bugs are not just found under the covers. In fact, the whole “bed” thing is a misnomer, because they’re actually common household bugs.
As Angi reports, it helps to know where bed bugs hide if you suspect they’ve made your home theirs. Sometimes the only indication they’re present may be some itchy bites, so it’s helpful to know where to spot bed bugs. We break down some of the common hiding places of bed bugs so you can inspect your home and alert a professional exterminator for help.
1. Mattress and Bed
True to their name, one of the most common places for a bed bug to reside is in your mattress and box spring. (We know, it’s not a lovely thought.) Your bed offers many accessible hiding places for them, including all the fabric folds under which they can hide.
The cracks within bed frames are also very appealing to bed bugs. Plus, it’s usually dark underneath, which is quite alluring to the pests. Also, you’re there, and since they’re drawn to the blood of their host, they want to remain close.
2. Couches and Chair Seams
Bed bugs can move between the furniture in your home, often residing between couch pillows and within chair seams. They love upholstered furniture, so it’s best to closely inspect any second hand furniture for signs of these pests. Be sure to check for bed bugs in any soft surfaces in your home if you suspect an infestation.
3. Curtain Folds
Because they like to hang out in fabric, bed bugs can also make a home in your curtains and drapes. They can climb up the wall and find a nice cozy place in curtain folds, where you may not even see them. However, once they wind up here, you’re likely to have seen some signs of a bed bug infestation in other places like your bed. Still, a local bug exterminator will check these types of surfaces for bed bugs to determine the right extermination plan.
4. Wallpaper and Wall Art
Bed bugs can squeeze into tiny areas, so it makes sense that they’d slip under the wallpaper. They may also find their way under wall hangings or decor, as they are drawn toward dark, warm spots. Bed bugs also like to squeeze into the crack where the wall and ceiling meet, so this is another good spot to check.
5. Laundry
Bed bugs often hang out in mattresses and couches, but can also live in piles of clothing and linens. These pesky bugs may hide in your dirty laundry since they’re attracted to the smell of humans. Bed bugs also tend to like darker fabrics since they can camouflage and thus be more protected from predators (aka, us). Keep your clothes off the floor as much as you can.
6. Drawers
Bed bugs are notorious for seeking out any nook and crevice close to their human host, which can include drawers in your furniture. The darkness inside the drawer makes it a cozy hiding spot for bed bugs. Be especially wary of the drawers on your bedside table and dresser if it’s near your bed.
7. Outlets and Appliances
Again, any nook and crevice near a human host is fair game for bed bugs, including your outlets and devices. Check behind electrical outlet plates, within the crevices of your alarm clock, and any similar areas near where you sleep at night.
8. Walls and Baseboards
In addition to the cracks and crevices near your bed, bed bugs can also hide on the walls around your bed. They can also seek refuge behind the baseboards, so be sure to check there, too.
9. Traveling in Vehicles
People can transfer bed bugs from their homes or other places and into their vehicles. The insect may travel with the person inside or stay outside in the vehicle. A warm climate like California makes the car a comfortable spot for the bed bugs to stay, even if it’s parked outside.
Inside the vehicle, bed bugs will hide in seats and carpets, and they’ll feed when people use the vehicle. Look for signs common to bedroom infestations. Dark spots from dried blood or droppings could show up on the seats or carpets. You might also find shed insect exoskeletons between seats or in other grooves in the interior.
10. Huddled in Handbags
A handbag makes it easy for bed bugs to spread out to many places. Handbags often sit on floors, beds, and chairs in the home. Pests can easily climb out of a bag and find a new hiding spot. The insects may even use the bag to travel to other areas in the home or other parts of the community.
Handbags typically have a lot of seams and pockets, so they provide many hiding spots. Wash cloth bags in hot water and dry them on high heat to help remove the pests and inspect the bags closely after laundering. Ask a pest control service about how to manage leather bags and other materials that cannot go into a washing machine.
Where to Bed Bugs Hide Day vs. Night?
Bed bugs will usually take cover during the day due to their nocturnal nature. They are also photophobic, meaning they’re afraid of the light. They won’t go far, though, as again, they like to hide near their host, which is you. Look for bed bugs during the day hiding in your:
- Bed
- Couch
- Crevices of furniture
- Curtains
- Behind baseboard
- Drawers
- Behind wallpaper or wall art
However, if you happen to come across one of these bugs in the light of day, it’s cause for concern. A good rule of thumb is that as the bed bugs in your home increase, they’ll be more active in the daytime.
Now, night time is a whole different story – for bed bugs this is chow time. Since bed bugs are mainly nocturnal, they are most active throughout the night when they travel across carpets or within pieces of furniture. That’s why if you suspect a bed bug infestation because of bites, you probably woke up with them.
Even if you don’t see bed bugs during their feeding hour, if you wake up with bites, it’s time to intervene. The average cost of bed bug extermination is $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the size, location, and severity of the infestation. However, it’s typically worth the cost to eradicate these persistent bugs from your home.
How to Check For Bed Bugs
The eggs are almost impossible to see with the naked eye. You’d need a microscope or a professional exterminator with all their special gadgets. The tell tale sign of having a bed bug infestation is bites on your body. But if you’d like to sleuth it up, follow these guidelines for your bed bug search party.
- Check inside your bedding: Remove all sheets, air them out, and then check on top of the mattress. Evaluate the folds within the mattress. Make sure you check underneath any dust cover in the box spring and within the bed frame itself.
- Inspect the furniture: Make sure you specifically target the corners of any furniture, especially upholstered pieces. Use a flashlight to check carefully.
- Check cracks and crevices: Look closely at all corners of a room, under and within the carpet, and near electrical outlets.
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