Bed bugs
Bed bugs hide in mattress seams and bite at night. They are hard to clear alone: act early, contain them, and in most cases call a professional.
- Size
- Like an apple seed when adult
- Colour
- Reddish brown, flat
- Lives
- Mattress seams, bed frames, sofas
- Active
- At night, feeding on people
How to tell
Flat and oval
Unfed bed bugs are flat; fed ones are rounder and redder.
Rust spots
Dark spots on seams are droppings; small blood spots on sheets too.
Bites in a line
Often in a short row on skin exposed in bed.
Bed bugs rarely go with DIY alone. Encasements, interceptors and traps help you confirm, contain and track them. For a full clear, a professional is usually needed.
Signs you have them
- Dark spots on mattress seams and the bed frame.
- Shed skins and tiny pale eggs in seams and cracks.
- Bites that appear after sleeping, often in a line.
- A sweet, musty smell in heavy cases.
The plan
- 1
Contain it
Do not move bedding or furniture to other rooms.
- 2
Heat the fabrics
Wash bedding and clothes hot and dry them on high heat.
- 3
Encase and intercept
Mattress encasement and interceptor cups under bed legs.
- 4
Call a professional
Most bed bug cases need one. Ask how they treat, how many visits it takes, and what you must do before each.
Solutions for bed bugs
Mattress encasement
Zipped cover that keeps bed bugs in or out.
Opens Google Maps. Call first to check they have it.
Bed leg interceptors
Cups under the bed legs catch climbing bugs.
Opens Google Maps. Call first to check they have it.
Shoo does not sell these yet. They are standard products sold by other shops; follow the label on the one you buy.
What people worry about
Do bed bugs mean my home is dirty?
No. Bed bugs travel in luggage, furniture and clothes, and they turn up in clean homes and good hotels. It is about bad luck, not hygiene.
Do I have to throw out my mattress?
Usually not. They also hide in the bed frame and furniture, so a new mattress can be reinfested. Encase the mattress and treat the room instead.
No bites, so it can't be bed bugs?
Not everyone reacts to bites. Look for dark spots, shed skins and eggs in mattress seams, and use interceptors under the bed legs to confirm.
Should I sleep in another room?
It is better not to, because they can follow you and spread. Keep bedding in the room, hot wash and dry fabrics, and fit interceptors.
Will a bug bomb clear them?
Foggers rarely reach where bed bugs hide and can scatter them. In most cases a professional is needed for a full clear.
We had them treated and they are back. Why?
Bed bugs often need more than one visit. Ask the company about follow ups, do the preparation each time, and use interceptors to track whether numbers fall.