Advice
Signs of Bed Bugs and What to Do Next
Bed bugs are small, flat insects that hide close to where people sleep, and knowing the early signs helps you act before they spread through a home.
Read the guide →Nobody brings bed bugs home on purpose. They come in on a bag after a trip, a guest's luggage or a piece of furniture bought second-hand. Once you know where they are, they can be treated.
Bigger houses, more beds to check
Maidencombe has larger homes with several bedrooms, and a house that sleeps a crowd gives bed bugs plenty of places to spread. When we find them in one room, we check the others as well, including spare beds, sofas and any furniture that has been moved around. It saves a second call-out later.
We look at the mattress seams, slats, headboard fixings, bedside tables and the skirting behind. Where there are thick curtains or soft furnishings close to the bed, we check those too. We keep notes on what we find and explain them so you understand what the treatment is for.
Lets and second homes
Holiday lets near the coast get a steady turnover of guests, and one infested suitcase is enough to start a problem. If you manage a let in Maidencombe, tell us how recently the bed was used and whether any complaints came in. That helps us decide where to concentrate.
Preparation is simple: bag bedding and wash it hot, seal clean linen, and clear the floor around the bed. Keep the room closed afterwards and do not carry items through the rest of the house. We will say when the room can go back into use.
Returning to check
A follow-up visit shows whether anything has hatched or survived, and we treat again if it has. We will not claim one visit solves everything in Maidencombe or anywhere else. We also work in Torquay, Shaldon and Teignmouth, and the TQ1 area, so a neighbouring property is no problem.
Frequently asked questions
Will neighbours know you are treating for bed bugs?
We work in ordinary clothes and a normal vehicle, and we do not discuss your job with anyone. How much you share is your own decision.
Could the bugs come from the beach or fields nearby?
No. Bed bugs live close to people and sleeping places, not on open ground. They almost always arrive with luggage, clothing or furniture, so we check the bed and room rather than the garden.
My holiday let had a complaint. What should I do first?
Take the bed out of use, bag the bedding without shaking it, and ring us. We will inspect the room and tell you whether it is bed bugs before any treatment begins.