Bed Bug Inspection & Treatment Checklist

Prepare tools: a bright flashlight, a magnifying glass (or phone macro mode), an old credit card (for scraping crevices), and damp paper tissues

Focus mattress inspection on: flip open the four corner seams, behind brand labels, along piping edges, and around air vent grommets — scrape along seams with a credit card and do a wet-wipe test on any dark specks scraped out

The key identification method: firmly rub a damp tissue against any suspicious black spots — bed bug feces will smear reddish-brown (digested blood) on contact with moisture; ordinary dirt does not change color

Inspect headboard and bed frame joints, screw holes, decorative grooves, and bolt recesses — bed bugs hide in these crevices during the day, usually within 2 meters of a sleeping human

Check everything within a 2-meter radius of the bed: the upper edge of baseboards, wallpaper seams and peeling spots, curtain track ends and folds, carpet edges, behind electrical outlet faceplates — pry them open and inspect with a flashlight

For sofas and armchairs: unzip all seat and back cushion covers and inspect the filling inside; check armrest seams and backrest fold crevices

Inside wardrobe corners and drawer bottom seams — bed bugs are not limited to the bedside; they also hide in closets waiting for a stationary host

What to search for goes far beyond live bugs — also look for: black ink-dot-like fecal spots, pale brown empty shells (molted skins), 1mm white eggs (often glued inside crevices), and rust-colored blood stains (from crushed bed bugs)

If bed bugs are confirmed: do NOT attempt DIY pesticide spraying — the chemical irritant will scatter bed bugs into more rooms, dramatically increasing the difficulty and cost of professional treatment

Correct action after confirmation: immediately contact a licensed pest control professional — professional options include whole-structure heat treatment (raising temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius for several hours) or professional-grade chemical treatment, combined with laundry, sealing, and vacuuming cooperation on your part

Bed Bug Inspection & Treatment Checklist

Prepare tools: a bright flashlight, a magnifying glass (or phone macro mode), an old credit card (for scraping crevices), and damp paper tissues

Inspect headboard and bed frame joints, screw holes, decorative grooves, and bolt recesses — bed bugs hide in these crevices during the day, usually within 2 meters of a sleeping human

For sofas and armchairs: unzip all seat and back cushion covers and inspect the filling inside; check armrest seams and backrest fold crevices

Inside wardrobe corners and drawer bottom seams — bed bugs are not limited to the bedside; they also hide in closets waiting for a stationary host