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 →Finding bites or spots on a sheet is unpleasant, but it is a common problem and a fixable one. We will look, tell you what we see, and treat the places where the bugs are actually living.
Empty for weeks, then full of people
Holiday homes can hide a problem. If the bugs arrive with one set of guests, they may stay tucked in a bed frame or headboard until the next people sleep there. The first sign is often a complaint rather than a sighting, so we search thoroughly: seams, slats, joints, behind pictures and along the skirting.
If you manage several properties, tell us which beds have been used lately. We can check linked rooms as well, since moving laundry or cushions between houses is one of the easiest ways to spread them. Salcombe owners often use shared laundry, and that is worth mentioning.
The treatment, step by step
We treat the bed, mattress edges, bedside furniture, upholstered chairs and the gaps around the room where bugs shelter. The work is targeted rather than a blanket spray, and we explain what to keep clear and how long to stay out of the room.
Before the visit, bag and hot-wash bedding, keep clean items sealed, and clear the floor under and around the bed. Steep Salcombe streets can make access awkward, so it helps to tell us about parking and stairs when you book. Do not throw out the mattress unless we advise it.
Checking back and staying ahead of it
A return visit lets us see whether anything has hatched or survived, and treat again if needed. We cannot promise a one-visit result, and we will not pretend otherwise. For owners in Salcombe, a quick look at beds between stays is sensible. We also cover Dartmouth and Ivybridge, and the wider TQ8 area.
Frequently asked questions
Can bed bugs survive in a holiday home left empty over winter?
They can go a long time without feeding, so an empty property does not always clear them. If a bed had bugs before it was shut up, they may still be there. We would check the bed and surrounding furniture to be sure.
Will you treat just one bedroom in my Salcombe house?
Sometimes one room is enough, but we always check the neighbouring rooms and furniture first. If bugs are only in one place, we treat that place. If they have spread, it is better to find out now.
What should a guest house do if a guest finds a bug?
Stay calm, keep the bedding bagged, and do not move the guest's belongings around the building. Ring us and we will inspect the room, confirm what it is and treat if needed.