You came home from holiday and a week later the bites started. The suitcase is the likeliest culprit, and the bed is where the problem settles.
Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown insects roughly the size of an apple pip. They do not jump or fly; they crawl. They move between places by being carried in bags, clothing, bedding and furniture. A hotel room, a train seat or a visitor's rucksack can be the way in, and bites may take up to a couple of weeks to show, which makes it hard to trace where they came from.
They are not a sign of poor cleanliness. They feed on blood, not dirt, and live in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, behind sockets and in bedside furniture.
Bilborough is a western suburb dominated by post-war estate housing, mostly semi-detached homes with gardens. In a family house, bed bugs often start in one bedroom, usually where the suitcase was put down or where a visitor stayed, then spread as bedding and clothes are carried through the house. Children's soft toys, laundry baskets and a shared landing can all help the insects move.
Because a semi shares a party wall, bugs can sometimes travel along pipes and gaps to a neighbouring house, although that is less common than movement within a single home.
Strip the bed carefully and bag the linen. Check the mattress seams, the bed frame joints and the headboard with a torch. Keep clothes and belongings in the room, sealed in bags, until the room has been treated. Do not swap beds with children or move to the sofa; that spreads the problem.
Avoid bug bombs and bought sprays. They often drive insects deeper into walls, making the problem larger and harder to treat.
A technician will confirm it is bed bugs, inspect the whole house and treat infested areas. A return visit is normal, as eggs can survive the first application. Treatment time depends on the number of rooms affected. We provide free advice with every treatment, covering preparation and travel habits.
If you rent, tell the landlord or agent as soon as you suspect bed bugs. They may need to arrange treatment for the whole property, and delay can allow the insects to spread. Keep dated photographs of bites and any bugs you find, since that helps establish when the problem began and who is responsible for dealing with it.
Call 0115 937 5117 and we will arrange a visit, including same day where we can.
Bites can appear within a day or take a week or two, and some people hardly react at all. That is why it is hard to link them to a particular trip or night away.
Hot washing and drying kills bugs on linen and clothes, but not those in the mattress, frame and walls. It helps, but a full treatment of the room is usually needed.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
