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 →Typical signs include bite lines on arms and shoulders, rusty spots on the bedding and tiny dark specks around the mattress. None of this reflects on how you keep your house.
Why bed bugs have nothing to do with the moor
People sometimes assume bed bugs come from the outdoors, but they do not live on moorland, in fields or in gardens. They live in buildings, close to where people sleep, and arrive in bags, boots, camping kit and used furniture. The surroundings do not cause them; the journey does.
For Okehampton households that take in walkers, cyclists or seasonal workers, it is worth checking beds and luggage now and then. If the room has been used by a lot of different people, we look carefully at the mattress, the frame and the surrounding walls for signs.
How we treat the room
We work through the bed first, covering seams, tags, slats and headboard, and then move to skirting, floor edges, curtain rails and furniture nearby. Treatment goes where bugs are found or likely to be, and we take extra care with gaps and joints. Sleeping bags and outdoor gear are included if they have been kept in the room.
To prepare, bag and hot wash bedding and clothes, then dry on a high setting if the label allows. Clear floor space and empty the bedside drawers. In an Okehampton home with an older stone wall or thick plaster, leave the bed where it stands so we can see the wall behind it.
Follow-up and keeping on top of it
We come back to Okehampton to check how the treatment has worked and to deal with any bugs that hatched or survived. After that, air and wash outdoor kit before storing it, check used furniture before buying and keep luggage off beds when away. We also work in Crediton and Sourton, around EX20.
Frequently asked questions
Can hikers or campers bring bed bugs into the house?
They can, though only if the bugs were picked up in a bed or on shared bedding somewhere on the trip. Bags and sleeping gear then carry them home. Washing hot and storing kit sealed lowers the risk.
Does cold weather kill bed bugs in Okehampton?
No. They live inside heated buildings, so the outdoor temperature makes little difference. A cold spell will not clear an infestation, and treatment is still needed to deal with them properly.
I run a small guest house near Okehampton. Can you treat one room only?
Yes, we can treat a single room, but we also check adjoining rooms and shared furniture, because bed bugs move through gaps and on laundry. We advise whether the room should stay closed until the follow-up.