Bed bugs are small, flat insects that can be hard to see if you don’t know they’re there. If they’re in your home, they’ve probably crawled in or been carried in on clothing or furniture. Getting rid of bed bugs can be hard and take a long time.
Preventing bed bugs
- Wash and dry your bedding and clothes often, using the hottest setting
- Keep your home tidy so bed bugs have fewer places to hide
- Vacuum regularly
- Be careful with second-hand furniture and inspect it before bringing it into your home
How to spot bed bugs
- Bite marks on your skin after sleeping, especially on your neck, arms, hands, and legs
- Small dark spots on your mattress or bedding
- Live bed bugs on your bedding or furniture, like couches
- Shed skins from bed bugs – these can look like droppings
Removing bed bugs
- Wash and dry your bedding and clothes at the hottest setting
- Clean your home and the affected room
- Get help from a professional cleaning company
- Report the problem to Sanctuary
If you think you have bed bugs in your home, please contact us as soon as possible. The sooner we know, the quicker we can help tackle the problem.
You’ll find information on how to treat bedbug bites on the NHS website.