How To Check For Bed Bugs (Signs And Inspection Tips)

There’s little that makes you reconsider your life choices like checking your mattress in the middle of the night.

Bed bugs have plagued humans for thousands of years, with evidence found in ancient Egyptian tombs, on mummies, and in medieval European homes.

If you think you might have unwelcome roommates, this guide will show you how to check for bed bugs using a little elbow grease — and perhaps a flashlight and a credit card.

We’ll go over…

• 9 ways to check for bed bugs
• How to use interceptor traps to catch them alive
• Tips to identify their distinctive bite marks
• How to inspect your mattress and bed frame
• And more…

Let’s get started!

Getting Ready to Inspect (Key Signs, Best Times, and Handy Tools)

Before you start checking for bed bugs, it helps to know the best time to look, the key signs to watch for, and the simple tools that make the process easier.

Best Time To Check

Since bed bugs are nocturnal (active at night) it’s best to check for them after dark. Ideally, dim or turn off bedroom lights prior to inspecting to avoid spooking them. However, if you can’t wait until evening, you can still check for them during the day but it’s less effective.

Tools To Use

• Flashlight: I recommend using a high powered flashlight to make bed bugs easier to spot. In a pinch, you can just use the flashlight on your phone.
  
• Credit Card Or Flathead Screwdriver: If you have a flathead screwdriver, knife, or a credit card, these can be great for checking thin cracks and crevices.

Key Physical Signs

• Live bugs (tiny, reddish-brown, apple seed–sized)
• White eggs (pinhead-sized)
• Skin sheds (molted exoskeletons)
• Black or rusty fecal spots (digested blood)
• Blood smears on sheets or pillowcases

Way #1: Bed Bug Bites (Early Warning)

Bed bug bites are often one of the first signs that these pests may be hiding in your home.

Odd marks on the skin can be the first thing that people notice upon waking. Since the bites are highly visible and uncomfortable, it can prompt you to further inspect the bed and room for signs of the bugs.

Bed bug bites typically look like:

• Small, circular welts
• Bites that form a cluster, line, or zigzag pattern
• Red or reddish-pink in color
• Slightly raised from skin
• May have darker red center
• Uniform in size, often 1mm to 4mm in size or smaller

Bed bug bites will usually have a circular appearance, but they can also be easily mistaken for mosquitoes, fleas, skin rashes, or other medical conditions. It’s important to use bed bug bites as just one piece of evidence that you may have an infestation.

Also, some people don’t react to bed bug bites at all (or even have a delayed reaction) — so people shouldn’t put too much weight on the absence of bite marks.

5 Steps To Check For Bed Bug Bites

1. Check Exposed Skin: Upon waking check your arms, legs, neck, and other areas of exposed skin during sleep.
   
2. Physical Characteristics: Look for circular, red, and raised bumps. Check for clusters, lines, or zigzag patterns of bites, which are characteristic of bed bugs.
   
3. Compare with Other Bites: Distinguish bed bug bites from mosquito or flea bites. Fleas leave behind tiny red dots while mosquito bites are larger and irregularly shaped (not circular).
   
4. Ask Partner: If you share the bed, ask your partner if they similar bite marks.
   
5. Follow Up Other Checks: Follow up with visual inspections of the mattress, box spring, or bed frame for confirmation.

Way #2: Mattress (Best Direct Sign)

The mattress is the one item in the bedroom that stays in constant contact with our bodies — and it’s also a favorite hiding spot for bed bugs.

It’s likely the MOST essential item to check for direct evidence of the critters. The mattress can be the central location of bed bug infestations, and early checks can prevent it from getting out of control.

It’s crucial to inspect:

• Seams and piping – along edges and stitching.
• Tufts and buttons – fabric folds and depressions.
• Labels and tags – overlapping fabric areas.
• Handles – sewn-on grips and stitching points (not all mattresses have them)
• Underside edges – bottom surface and corners.

I recommend removing the fitted sheet and using a flashlight to closely peer all of its crevices and corners.

Mattress inspecting can be a hassle since you will need to lift up the mattress to check the bottom if you want it to be thorough. It can also be time-consuming to check every edge, corner, label, and tuft on a mattress — but it’s worth it.

Once you know bed bugs aren’t in your mattress, you can install a zippable mattress cover/protector to prevent a future infestation.

6 Steps To Checking Mattress

1. Use Tools: A flashlight and possibly a magnifying glass are ideal tools to inspect your mattress.
   
2. Remove Bedding: Pull off the fitted sheet, comforter, flat sheet, and pillows. You can do a separate check for the bedding if you wish.
   
3. Check Seams: With a flashlight, carefully inspect the mattress seams, tufts, labels, buttons, handles, labels, and any corners where the bugs may hide.
   
4. Bed Bug Signs: Look for live/dead bed bugs, eggs, fecal droppings, shed skins, or blood stains.
   
5. Lift It Up: Don’t forget to lift up the mattress to check the underside.
   
6. Install Mattress Cover: A mattress cover will protect your mattress from bed bugs and prevents the critters from burrowing into the tiny crevices.

Way #3: Box Spring (Most Surface Area)

Box springs can sometimes harbor bed bugs, making them another hotspot in your bedroom.

Similar to the mattress itself, the box spring is close to us while we sleep, so an infestation in a mattress can spillover into the box spring.

Wooden box springs have a large surface area with countless hiding spots that bed bugs love. The stapled edges of fabric provide bed bugs with protected nooks, making them an ideal place to cluster and nest.

Some of the key places to check include:

• Seams and stitching
• Fabric underside
• Corners and edges
• Staple lines and tacks
• Wooden joints or cracks

The downside of checking your box spring is that you will need to first remove the mattress, and lifting it up to inspect the underside can be a hassle — you may need a helper. Bed bugs may be hidden deep inside the box spring rather than the obvious exterior sections.

4 Steps To Checking Box Spring

1. Remove Mattress: It’s best to remove the mattress so you can get full access to the box spring.
   
2. Inspect Box Spring: Use a flashlight and carefully inspect the corners, underside, and wooden joints.
   
3. Stapled Edges: Give extra attention to the fabric where it’s stapled along the edges, this is an attractive area where bed bugs like to hide.
   
4. Use A Credit Card: I recommend using a credit card, flathead screwdriver, or some other tool to probe the cracks and tight edges of the box spring.

Way #4: Bed Frame (Wood Slat Hazards)

The bed frame is a unique place where bed bugs can spread from your mattress since it contains a lot of joints where bed bugs can live.

If you own a traditional bed frame with wooden slats, this type of frame contains all kinds of nooks and crannies where the slats rest on the outer frame.

Sometimes your mattress or box spring can look free of bed bugs, but the bed frame can be infested with them.

On a bed frame, check for:

• Joints and screw holes
• Slats (top, bottom, and edges)
• Headboard and footboard seams
• Underside of frame
• Cracks in wood or welds in metal

Just be sure to lift up each wooden slat and look for signs of bed bugs — particularly where each slat rests. Even if you have a non-slatted frame, bed bugs can still nest amongst the hardware, screw holes, and joints.

The negatives of doing a bed frame check is removing the mattress and box spring, as well as lifting up each individual slat. You will also likely need to move the bed away from the wall to thoroughly check the headboard.

5 Steps To Inspecting Bed Frame

1. Remove Mattress & Box Spring: It’s hard to fully inspect the bed frame if the mattress and box spring aren’t removed.
   
2. Disassemble Bed Frame (Optional): For the most thorough inspection, you may want to disassemble the bed frame since bed bugs can hide amongst the connections.
   
3. Examine Each Joint: Check every connection such as at the corners, slats, and hardware. I recommend lifting up each wood slat if your frame has them.
   
4. Inspect Headboard & Footboard: Carefully inspect the headboard, footboard, and legs for signs of bed bugs.
   
5. Look Underneath: Peer underneath the bed frame and carefully check every crevice with a flashlight.

Way #5: Bed Leg Traps (Best Live Capture)

Interceptor traps, often made of plastic, are positioned under bed legs to help detect and prevent bed bug infestations.

These passive traps have a textured outer surface so that bed bugs can climb up it, but the inner surface is smooth so the bugs can’t get out.

Interceptor traps can give you an early detection of live and dead bed bugs, and can be bought online for around $15 for a set of four. They will show you if you have bed bugs, and can help prevent an infestation.

Check the traps daily for:

• Live bed bugs crawling inside
• Dead or flattened bugs
• Shed skins or exoskeletons
• Eggs or egg fragments
• Fecal spots (tiny black dots)

The main downside of interceptor traps is that it only monitors bed bugs invading your bed. If you have an infestation away from the bed, it won’t help.

It may give a false sense of security if you don’t see bed bugs so always combine it with other checks of the room.

3 Steps To Using Interceptor Traps

1. Placement: Install one interceptor trap underneath each bed leg. Make sure each bed leg sits squarely at center of the trap and that it’s secure.
   
2. Clear Bed: Pull the bed slightly away from the wall and keep your floor clean so that the bed bugs are funneled to the traps.
   
3. Inspect Traps: Regularly inspect the interceptor traps with a flashlight for dead/live bed bugs, eggs, and skin sheds.

Way #6: Baseboards and Walls (Best Migration Check)

As bed bug populations grow, they often spread beyond the bed. Baseboards and walls provide sheltered pathways as they roam throughout your room and home.

And unless your baseboards are perfectly sealed, the narrow cracks and crevices are perfect places to nest.

Bed bugs can hide in crevices as narrow as a few millimeters so a thorough check is necessary.

Using a flashlight, carefully inspect:

• Cracks and gaps – along wall-floor junctions
• Corners – where baseboards meet walls
• Paint chips or peeling areas – potential crevices
• Behind molding or trim – hidden gaps

And don’t forget to look along wallpaper edges, electrical outlets, and any other potential hiding spots along the wall.

4 Steps For Baseboards and Walls

1. Use Tools: You may want to use at least a flashlight and a credit card to probe cracks and crevices.
   
2. Start Near Bed: Inspect the baseboards and wall closest to the bed first since it has the highest likelihood of containing bed bugs.
   
3. Inspect Baseboards: Carefully look at the thin gaps between the baseboards and the floor/wall to look for bed bugs.
   
4. Check Hairline Cracks: Thoroughly examine any hairline cracks in the walls for bed bug movement or signs of dead bugs.

Way #7: Windows And Drapes

Bed bugs sometimes inhabit windows and drapes due to the many fabric folds and cracks in trim.

Bed bugs don’t enter homes through windows since they are NOT outdoor pests — they usually invade a home by hitchhiking on luggage and other items.

Just some of the spots you should check include:

• Curtain folds and hems
• Curtain tops and pleats
• Blind slats and cords
• Window sills and ledges
• Window frame corners and crevices

If you have fabric drapes, it’s best to remove the drape from the rod to verify bugs aren’t inside the top of the drape.

This bed bug check is far from foolproof so always combine it with other inspections — the windows are typically not a primary hiding spot.

8 Steps To Checking Windows and Drapes

1. Inspect The Frames: Check the trim for live/dead bed bugs, tiny eggs, or dark fecal spots.
   
2. Examine Sills: Look closely at the window sills, especially corners and edges for bugs.
   
3. Check Cracks and Gaps: Run a credit card along any seams or cracks where bed bugs might hide or enter.
   
4. Look at Nearby Curtains: Inspect the curtains or blinds, ideally removing drapes from the connecting rod.
   
5. Seal Gaps: If you find entry points, use caulk or sealant to seal them and prevent future access.

Way #8: Electrical Covers (Advanced Detection)

One often-overlooked hiding spot for bed bugs is behind outlet and light switch covers.

Bed bugs love tiny crevices and dark corners and your electrical boxes fit the bill.

Even though outlets and switches are not a primary hiding spot, it’s a nice supplemental check to find a hidden bugs.

After removing the cover, inspect:

• Inside the outlet or switch cavity
• Edges and corners of the cover plate
• Screw holes and mounting points
• Wiring entry points where gaps may exist

Bed bugs will usually prefer beds, but hiding in electrical devices can indicate an advanced infestation — and even a way to travel from room to room.

Shock Risk

The obvious downside is the risk of electrical shock if you remove the cover.

Always shut off power at the electrical panel, and checking for power with a non-contact voltage tester.

5 Steps To Checking Electrical Outlets and Switches

1. Flip Breaker: Turn off the breaker at the panel to shut off power to the light or outlet circuit. Verify power is off by flipping the light switch, plugging in something to the outlet, or using a non-contact voltage tester.
   
2. Tools Needed: You will need a small screwdriver or flathead to remove the screw on the covers. A flashlight is also useful to peer into the dark hole.
   
3. Remove Cover: Use the screwdriver to undo the screws on the covers, and put them into a cup or jar.
   
4. Inspect Electrical Box: With a flashlight, carefully inspect the wiring, holes, and gaps for live/dead bed bugs, eggs, or fecal droppings.
   
5. Reinstall Cover: Reinstall the electrical cover as tight as possible to prevent bed bugs entering or exiting the box.

Way #9: Use Your Nose (Quickest Detection)

Detecting bed bugs by smell is a quick and straightforward method. In fact, trained detection dogs rely entirely on their sense of scent to find them.

Odors from bed bugs are mostly due to pheromones which help them communicate to each other as an alarm signal or where to hide.

Bud bugs give off distinct odors such as:

• Sweet, musty scent
• Coriander-like smell
• Sickly sweet or chemical odor

Bed bug odors will be most noticeable if you have a heavy infestation. The smell builds as bed bugs cluster together in larger groups.

The main negative of the smell strategy is that the odor may be too faint in minor infestations to detect reliably.

Strong room odors like cleaning products can mask the scent, and not everyone can distinguish it due to its subjective nature. Always pair the smell check with visual checks since the smell alone isn’t definitive proof of bed bugs.

5 Steps To Checking Bed Bug Smells

1. Choose a Quiet Time: Enter the room when it’s been undisturbed for a few hours, like early morning, to make the scent easier to detect. Make sure no cleaners or air fresheners were used in the room recently.
   
2. Smell Key Areas: Slowly sniff near common bed bug hiding spots, like mattress seams, headboards, bed frames, or furniture.
   
3. Take Your Time: Pause and sniff carefully, as the scent can be faint, especially in early infestations.
   
4. Compare Rooms: Smell other rooms to see if the odor is unique to one area, indicating a possible infestation.
   
5. Confirm with Visual Check: If you detect a suspicious smell, inspect the area for physical signs like bugs, droppings, or shed skins to verify.

Final Thoughts

Bed bugs can hide in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, baseboards, and even outlets, making a thorough inspection essential.

While bites or odors may raise suspicion, only a visual check provides real confirmation.

Even though checking for bed bugs is tedious work, overlooking small signs can allow an infestation to grow unchecked. Regular inspections increase the chance of catching them early before their presence gets out of control.

Leave a comment below on your experience with finding bed bugs or ask me a question!