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BED BUGS - WHERE DO I LOOK?

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Bed Bugs - Where do I look?

Bed bug eggs on underside of box springs

Bed bugs can hide anywhere but usually close to where people sleep. Find bed bugs early by inspecting your bed and bedding each time you remove the sheets for washing.

  • Check around the edge of the mattress and box springs, in seams and under buttons and tags.
  • Remove the thin cover material on the underside of your box springs, a common hiding place, and look inside.
  • If you have a headboard, footboard or bed frame, carefully inspect the corners, cracks and screw holes for bed bugs.
  • Bed bugs can hide in nearby bedroom furniture, nightstands and dressers. Remove the drawers and look inside in corners, in cracks, screw holes, and under each piece.

Look at other areas in your home:

  • Check upholstered furniture, sofas, and recliners. Look under cushions and the skirt of upholstered furniture. Turn upholstered furniture upside down and carefully look at the underside for signs of bed bugs.
  • Look behind pictures and wall hangings. Inspect curtains or other window coverings.
  • Bed bugs can hide under carpet edges where carpets meet walls; if necessary, pull up the edge of wall-to-wall carpeting.
  • Bed bugs may hide behind baseboards and wood trim moldings. It may be necessary to remove these molding to find hidden bed bugs.
  • Examine loose wallpaper, cracks in plaster and walls.
  • Inspect window and door casings, moldings.
  • Inspect throw rugs, electronics (TVs, radios, clocks, computers, CD players, DVD players) and especially clutter (books, papers, magazines, clothes).