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 →If you have found bite lines, dark specks on a mattress or small blood spots on the sheets, do not strip the whole house in a panic. Start with the room affected and call us for advice.
Why holiday homes need special care
A holiday let can be occupied one week and empty the next, which means a problem may be spotted by a guest before the owner knows. Bed bugs do not need people to be present to survive for a while, so an empty property still needs treating once they have been confirmed.
For Seaton owners, we suggest taking the property out of use while we work, treating every bedroom with a shared wall or sofa bed, and checking the laundry route as well. Guests are often understandably upset, so we can explain plainly what was found, without scare stories or blame.
The treatment visit itself
We inspect the mattress seams, the bed base, the headboard and all joints in the frame, then look at skirting, curtain tracks, bedside units and upholstered chairs. Treatment goes into every place where they are found or likely to hide, and we show you what we have seen so that you understand the extent of it.
Preparation helps a lot. Bag bedding, towels and clothing, wash them hot and tumble dry them if the fabric allows. In a Seaton family home, clear the floor around the bed and keep children's soft toys bagged until we say what to do with them.
Follow-up and avoiding a repeat
After the first treatment we come back to check for any survivors in Seaton and treat again where needed. To lower the risk of a repeat, owners can use mattress covers, inspect bedding between guests and keep luggage off beds. We also cover Colyton and Sidmouth, within the EX12 and surrounding areas.
Frequently asked questions
Can a guest bring bed bugs into my Seaton holiday let?
Yes, it happens easily, since bed bugs travel in luggage and clothing. It says nothing about how clean your property is. Prompt treatment and a check of neighbouring rooms stop it affecting later guests.
How long should a holiday let stay empty after treatment?
We will advise on the day, based on what we found and how the rooms are set up. Usually it is a short wait for treated surfaces to dry, then a follow-up before you take bookings again.
Do bed bugs live on the beach or outdoors?
No. They live indoors close to where people sleep and rest, and are not found on the beach or in gardens. They come into a home on belongings, not by wandering in off the seafront.