You do not catch bed bugs by being untidy. You catch them from a suitcase, a coat or a sofa. Knowing that makes the first steps much clearer.
Bed bugs cannot fly or jump. They hold on to fabric, bags and furniture and are carried from one place to another. A hotel room, a hostel, a train seat or a visitor's rucksack can be all it takes. They then spread through a home by crawling along skirting boards, through gaps in walls and sometimes along shared pipework.
Colwick has housing and industrial areas near the River Trent, and people there include shift workers, contractors, racegoers and visitors staying nearby. Temporary accommodation and short stays mean a lot of luggage on the move. In flats and terraces, bed bugs can pass between homes through shared walls, which is worth bearing in mind if a neighbour has had a similar problem.
Do not panic and do not throw things out. Strip the bed carefully, put bedding straight into a bag and wash it hot. Vacuum along the mattress seams, bed base and floor, and put the vacuum contents into a sealed bag outside. Keep clothes in sealed bags instead of moving them between rooms. Check the other bedrooms for signs.
A sheet of white paper pinned under the headboard is a simple way to catch fresh droppings, and a torch will reveal bugs in the folds of a mattress.
Second-hand furniture is another route worth remembering. Beds, sofas and bedside units bought online or taken from a house clearance should be inspected in good light, particularly along seams, joints and the underside, before they come into the bedroom.
If you work away, keep a sealed bag or plastic box for dirty clothes while travelling, then wash everything at a high temperature as soon as you are back.
Treatment generally involves inspecting every room where people sleep or sit, applying targeted treatments and following up to check results. How many visits are needed depends on the size of the problem and the layout of the home. Preparation, such as clearing floors and bagging clothes, makes treatment more effective, and you will be told exactly what to do.
On future trips, keep luggage off beds and floors, check mattress seams in hotels and wash clothes on return. These habits are simple and cut the risk significantly.
We can inspect, confirm and explain your options clearly. We offer free advice with all treatments and appointments to suit you. Call 0115 937 5117.
Yes. They can travel through gaps around pipes, cables and shared walls, or be carried by people. If you live in a block, telling your landlord helps make sure neighbouring homes are checked as well.
No. Bites can resemble those from fleas or other insects, and some people do not react at all. Finding bugs, shed skins or dark droppings in the bed area is what confirms them.
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.
