Few pest worries cause more stress than bed bugs. The good news: they're very treatable when caught early. The key is knowing what to look for, because people often blame bites on something else for weeks.
5 signs to check for
- Bites in a line or cluster — often on skin exposed while sleeping (arms, shoulders, legs). Bed bug bites frequently appear in a row.
- Small blood spots on sheets — tiny rust-colored smears where a bug was crushed after feeding.
- Dark specks along mattress seams — bed bug droppings look like someone dotted the fabric with a fine marker.
- Shed skins — pale, translucent casings near the mattress edge, headboard, or box spring.
- A live bug — flat, reddish-brown, apple-seed sized. Check seams, the box spring, and behind the headboard.
What to do next (and what NOT to do)
Don't throw out your mattress or set off a store-bought "bug bomb" — foggers scatter bed bugs into walls and other rooms and make treatment harder and more expensive.
Do contain it: reduce clutter, wash and hot-dry bedding, and avoid sleeping in a different room (that just spreads them). Then get a professional inspection to confirm and treat.
Why professional treatment matters
Bed bugs hide in places DIY sprays never reach, and they're resistant to many over-the-counter products. Professional heat or targeted treatment is what actually clears an infestation.
Learn more on our Kent bed bug treatment page, or request a free quote for a discreet local inspection.
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