Moving into a new apartment, townhome, or single-family home is exciting! Finally, a blank slate to design, furnish, and make your own. But before you roll out the welcome mat, hang up your curtains, or start unpacking your boxes, there’s something you absolutely need to do—check for bed bugs.
While it’s common to think of bed bugs as only a problem in hotels or rented places with old furniture, even an empty space can harbor these sneaky little pests. Bed bugs don’t need couches or mattresses to settle in—they’ll happily camp out in walls, baseboards, and electrical outlets, just waiting for your fresh belongings to arrive.
Here’s how to make sure your new dream home doesn’t come with some unexpected, bitey tenants.
Bed Bug Signs to Look For
Before we jump into the inspection checklist, let’s cover the key signs that bed bugs might be present:
• Actual bed bugs: These critters are about the size of an apple seed, reddish-brown, and flat unless they’ve just eaten (then they’ll be puffed up and more reddish). They’re small but visible to the naked eye.
• Tiny white eggs or eggshells: Bed bug eggs are about 1 millimeter in size, white, and usually found in clusters. They can be hard to spot, but they’re often in cracks or hidden away.
• Black or brown stains: Bed bug droppings look like tiny black or dark brown specks, almost like ground pepper. These stains may appear on surfaces like baseboards, walls, or inside electrical outlets.
• Shed skins: As bed bugs grow, they shed their outer skin. Finding these molted skins, which are translucent and shaped like a bug, is a strong sign that bed bugs have been in the area.
• Blood stains: If bed bugs have been feeding, they might leave tiny rust-colored blood stains on floors, walls, or around cracks where they’re hiding.
• A musty odor: In cases of severe infestations, bed bugs emit a musty, sweet odor that resembles overripe fruit or damp towels.
Now that you know what you’re looking for, here’s how to inspect your new place:
1. Inspect the Baseboards and Floors
Even without furniture, bed bugs love to hide in the nooks and crannies of your living space. The cracks along baseboards or gaps in the flooring can be prime real estate for these tiny invaders.
• How to check: Use a flashlight and inspect all the nooks and edges where the walls meet the floors. Look for small reddish-brown spots (which could be blood stains or bug excrement) or tiny bugs that resemble apple seeds.
2. Check Any Carpeted Areas
If your new place has wall-to-wall carpeting or even a few rugs left behind, bed bugs might be hiding in the fibers. They can crawl under the edges of carpets, especially if there are cracks in the floorboards.
• How to check: Peel back the corners of carpets and check underneath for any signs of pests, including dark spots, eggs, or molted skins.
3. Examine Electrical Outlets and Light Switches
Bed bugs can squeeze into the smallest spaces, and electrical outlets and light switches are perfect hiding spots. They won’t just be hanging out in the middle of your living room floor; they’re pros at staying hidden.
• What to look for: Remove the covers of electrical outlets (make sure to turn off the power first!) and inspect inside. You’re looking for tiny black specks, eggs, or even the bugs themselves hiding behind the covers.
4. Check Around Windowsills and Door Frames
Windows and door frames provide cozy little cracks and crevices where bed bugs can hunker down. They’ll take advantage of the smallest gaps to avoid detection.
• How to check: Run your fingers along the edges of windowsills and door frames to feel for gaps or cracks. Shine a flashlight into those spaces to look for bed bug excrement (tiny black spots), shed skins, or eggs.
5. Inspect Closets, Cabinets, and Storage Spaces
Built-in storage like closets or cabinets can be potential hiding spots. Bed bugs may hide behind shelves, in joints where wood connects, or in the cracks between walls.
• How to check: Thoroughly inspect all closets and cabinets, paying special attention to the corners and along the edges. Look for black spots (excrement), molted skin, or eggs, which can be as small as a grain of sand.
6. Take a Look in the Attic or Basement
If you’re moving into a townhome or single-family home, bed bugs can hide in the most unexpected places, including attics and basements. They can live in insulation, beams, or behind stored boxes.
• How to check: Don’t forget to bring a flashlight with you when inspecting the attic or basement. Look around beams, crawl spaces, and any cracks where these pests might be hiding.
7. Pay Attention to Smells
In a severe infestation, bed bugs give off a distinct odor. It’s often described as musty or sweet, like overripe fruit. If your new home smells funky for no good reason, bed bugs could be to blame.
• What to sniff for: If you catch a whiff of something strange and unexplainable, it’s time to investigate further for signs of bed bugs.
What to Do if You Find Bed Bugs
First, take a deep breath. Bed bugs may be tough to get rid of, but they’re not impossible to eliminate. If you find signs of bed bugs during your inspection, it’s essential to get professional help before moving in.
This is where ECO Bed Bug Exterminators can save the day. We specialize in non-toxic, eco-friendly treatments that effectively rid your space of bed bugs without harming you, your family, or the environment. With their expertise, you’ll be able to move in with confidence, knowing your new place is 100% bed bug-free.
You might think that a place without furniture means you’re safe from bed bugs, but these pests are incredibly resourceful. Whether you’re settling into an apartment, townhome, or single-family house, it’s always worth giving your new space a thorough inspection before you bring in your furniture (and yourself!).
Take the time to look carefully for any signs of bed bugs, and if you spot something suspicious, don’t hesitate to call ECO Bed Bug Exterminators for professional assistance. A quick inspection now can save you from dealing with sleepless, itchy nights later!
