How Do You Tell if Your Mattress Has Bed Bugs?

Is there anything worse than waking up with itching bites and knowing that you have insects in your home? 

While there are other pests that bite, bed bugs are the most common cause of persistent night feeding and itchy bite scars in the morning. But, are there any indications that your mattress is plagued with bed bugs, and what can you do about it?

We have the advice you need, from numerous techniques to detect a bed bug infestation to the best ways to deal with it immediately. 

So, stay tuned, and let's find out what bugs are hiding in your home.

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?

Bed bugs are one of the smallest pests you may have in your house, and although you will undoubtedly see a roach moving across your kitchen floor, mature bed bugs are considerably more challenging to spot.

In fact, bed bugs are so little and flat that they may hide almost anywhere:

• Within the mattress
• Within the bed frame
• Every nook and cranny on the floor
• In your furniture's seams
• Electric sockets
• Wallpapers
• Sheets
• Clothes

Signs of bed bugs can be noticeable on any surface if the infestation is severe, but they will stay in your bed or close to it most of the time because they need your blood to survive. So, bedbugs on mattresses are pretty common but let’s see how you can discover them even before the infestation is serious. 

Signs Your Mattress Has Bed Bugs

Here are some of the most common signs of bed bug infestation on your mattress and a good reason to choose a method to get rid of bed bugs for good.

Permanent Odor

While most people suspect they have a problem when they wake up with bedbug bites, there are a few signs that can help you determine the severity of the infestation.

One of the first things you will notice is the pungent and permanent odor in your bedroom.

This smell comes from the bed bug glands and it’s usually described as a musky and unpleasant cinnamon smell.

So, if you smell something unusual make sure to thoroughly inspect your mattress and the rest of the room for the signs we are listing below.

Blood Stains

Blood stains on your sheets, pajamas, and blanket can be a residue left behind by squished bed bugs or even your own blood from the bites. 

Bed bugs are nocturnal pests, meaning they come out to feed during the night while you sleep. They also have perfected the biting technique and release an anesthetic and anticoagulant as they feed to prevent waking you up. But, a few of them are always getting squished and leave a blood stain as one of the proofs that you have an infestation.

Adult Bed Bugs

Even though bed bugs are small, you can notice adult specimens if you know where to look and pay special attention to places where they usually hide. 

Unfortunately for you, bed bugs love to stay close and they will find a place in your mattress, on your bed frame, and all the seams you have to hide in groups. Bed bugs don’t have nests like silverfish, but rather hide in groups all around your home.

If you suspect you have an infestation it’s a good idea to place a few glue traps between your mattress and the bed frame. That’s why you can capture all the bed bugs that are hiding in your bed and confirm the infestation.

Bed Bug Eggs

Bed bug eggs and egg shells are particularly small and only the size of a pinhead, pearly white in color. These characteristics make them very hard to find, but keep in mind that bed bugs tend to lay many eggs close to each other, so they might be easier to spot.

Bed bugs are notoriously fast when it comes to reproducing, so a single female specimen can spread the infestation in a couple of weeks. This is one of the reasons why you should consider immediate bed bug treatments, or even call professional exterminators to deal with the infestation.

Bed Bug Droppings

Another unpleasant sight that will let you know you are dealing with a bed bug infestation is the dark droppings all over your mattress and in hiding places. 

Bed bug droppings look like small, dark crumbs, or pepper-like pellets left behind. In conjunction with all of the other signs, we mentioned on this list the droppings are one more confirmation your mattress needs to be treated as soon as possible.