Unfortunately, bedbugs are covert critters that can hide exceptionally well. They don’t need a lot of space since they’re compact and very thin. When they come out of hiding, the bedbugs will climb on your body and bite your skin. Although you may not experience any symptoms, the bites could lead to the development of welts on your skin. These welts can be very painful. They can hide in the smallest cracks and corners making them difficult to spot and eliminate.
Where Do Bedbugs Hide?
Mattress & Box Spring
Since they’re called bedbugs, they’re going to hide in your bed. They prefer staying close to their food source so they will live in your bed and wait for you to go to sleep. When you sleep, your body will release heat, CO2, and kairomones. Bedbugs are attracted to these things so they’ll come out and try to feed on you. They will hide in your box spring and mattress.
Bed Frames
If you’re searching your home for bedbugs, you’ll need to check your bed frame thoroughly. Check the bed frame’s corners, cracks, and crevices. Since they’re reddish-brown, bedbugs can blend into brown bed frames. Again, they want to stay close to their food source so bed frames are common hiding spots for them.
Sheets & Pillowcases
When looking through your home for bedbugs, you need to look at your bedding. Check your sheets, comforters, and pillowcases. It is easier to find bedbugs on bedding because they won’t blend in with them.
Carpeting & Rugs
If you have carpeting or rugs, you’ll need to check them for bedbugs. Thanks to their unique size, bedbugs can hide deep in the carpet and rug. When it gets dark and you go to sleep, they’ll climb up the mattress and feed on you.
Certain Furniture
Certain furniture is a good hiding place for bedbugs. If you have an infestation, you likely have bedbugs in your upholstered furniture. Bedbugs can sneak between couch cushions and beneath the pillows. They’ll also hide at the bottom of the furniture.
These are the most common hiding places for bedbugs. Below, you’ll learn about some of the least common hiding places.
Odd Bedbug Hiding Places
Although bedbugs prefer being in your bed, they can hide elsewhere too.
Wall Decor
You likely have paintings and pictures hanging on your walls. Bedbugs can climb your walls and hide behind these decorative items. Pull them from the wall and see if they’re hiding in the frames.
Luggage
Luggage is another unique place for bedbugs to hide. When you go on a trip, you’re going to take your items in a suitcase. If the motel has bedbugs, those bedbugs are likely going to climb into the luggage and stay there until you leave. Then, you’ll take the pests home with you. Once your luggage has arrived in your home, the bedbugs will exit and find another place to hide in your home. On the other hand, some will stay in the luggage.
Novels
Bedbugs can hide in certain books. If you have books with a gap between the spine and binding, they’ll be a good hiding place for bedbugs. They can also take shelter in the protective book covering. If the books are stored near your bed, there is a higher possibility that bedbugs are going to hide in them.
Electronic Devices
Electronics are great places for bedbugs to hide because they have gaps and they’re warm. Although it depends on the specific item, bedbugs may hide in televisions, Playstations, computers, and handheld consoles. Again, they prefer being close to your bed. If you have an alarm clock, it might be home to bedbugs.
Your Nightstand
Your nightstand might be used as a hiding place for bedbugs. It is close to your bed so bedbug will like staying there.
Finally, you’ll have to check all of the items stored under your bed. Bedbugs can climb into any item as long as it has a small opening. If you’re going to store items under your bed, you need to make sure they’re stored in an airtight container. Once you’ve done this, you can guarantee that the bedbugs won’t be able to enter the storage box.