Getting rid of Bedbugs

Eliminate Bedbugs - Home Call Out Service

Our Bedbugs Service offers professional, convenient solutions to get rid of bedbugs quickly and safely:

• 24 hour response guaranteed
• Times convenient to you
• Friendly and knowledgeable local Technicians
• Highest level of safety for your family and pets
• Call us NOW on 0800 218 2210 to arrange for a Rentokil technician to visit and get rid of bedbugs quickly and efficiently.

For more information and advice on getting rid of bedbugs from your home please see below.

What are Bedbugs? 

Bedbugs (or bed bugs) are small, crawling parasitic insects. All bedbug species feed on warm blooded animals. Cimex lectularius is the bedbug that feeds on blood from humans. The adult bedbugs are small (usually 4-5mm long), flat oval in shape and reddish-brown in colour. They stay close to a food source, so are found in areas where people tend to rest and sleep, hence the name bed bug.

They are becoming a significant problem in this country and around the world. The current resurgence in bedbugs could well be related to the increase in international travel, with these hitchhikers traveling back in luggage or clothing and what seems to be a possible increase in the bedbugs resistance to certain pesticides.

Bedbugs are easily spread and complicated to treat resulting in a rapid growth in the number of outbreaks around the world.

The key to beating this bedbug problem is to raise awareness of what to look for and to ensure bedbugs are dealt with quickly and effectively once discovered, by a professional pest controller.

The Impact of Bedbugs

While it is theoretically possible for bedbugs to transmit disease, currently there is no documented evidence of this occurring. Instead, the main concern is the irritation and distress that is generated from bites caused by bedbugs. Along with the possibility of secondary infection from constant scratching of the bed bug bites.

The actual bites from bedbugs do not hurt. It is the itchiness that results from the body’s reaction to these bites that can cause great discomfort.

Treating the bed bug bites soothes the irritation, but it can still be very distressing when there are many bites as is often the case with bedbugs.

Multiple bites and contact with bedbugs can also lead to an itchy rash or eczema. Always consult a pharmacist for advice and treatment if this occurs.

Identifying Bedbugs

Adult bedbugs are 4-5mm long. Before feeding they are a flattened oval shape and light brown, but become rounder and a darker reddish brown after feeding.

They come out mostly at night and are attracted to the warmth of our bodies and carbon dioxide from our breath.

Bedbugs are usually found in bedrooms but hide away in cracks and crevices during the day.

The most common shelters for bedbugs are in the seams of mattresses, in crevices in the bed frame, behind furniture surrounding the bed (especially the headboard) or where the wall meets the floor. They can also be found in bedding (pillows, sheets, duvets, blankets), carpets, underlay, under skirting boards, between timber floorboards, even inside electrical sockets and fittings.

A more established infestation of bedbugs is associated with dark or black staining of the mattress and surrounding area from bedbug excreta.

When bedbugs become well established they are also associated with an unpleasant, sweet & sickly scent that they secrete.

Identifying Bites from Bedbugs

It is difficult to identify bedbugs just from their bite because our bodies can react very differently to them. Some people have no reaction, whilst others can have minor swelling and itching. There are however, a proportion of people who react very badly to bed bug bites. In general most people will respond to a bed bug bite worse than one from a mosquito.

It is far more important to look at the overall pattern and timing of bites and other factors to identify whether they are bed bug bites.

The information and bed bug bite pictures shown will help you identify if you have bedbugs in your home. Please take a look at our guide to insects that bite for advice on other insects that may be the cause of bites.

Bed bug bites

Bedbug bites are unlikely to wake the victim, as the bedbug injects an anaesthetic whilst drawing the blood from its host. They can occur anywhere on the body but are often close to blood vessels near the skin. The neck, hands, arms and legs are common sites for bed bug bites. 

A single bedbug may bite more than once in the same area, if disturbed whilst feeding. There is also a tendency to find several bites in a line or row along an exposed area, such as an arm or leg. However, bites in different parts of the body can indicate being bitten by several different bedbugs.

Early on with bed bug bites, the victim may not yet be sensitised to the bites and they may not feel itchy.

However, small droplets of blood on the bed sheets will indicate the presence of bedbugs. This blood spotting occurs when the bedbug has completed its feed.

How do you get Bedbugs?

Bedbugs are usually brought into a home by being carried in on clothing, luggage or inside furniture.

The most common source of acquiring bedbugs is to stay at a hotel with an infestation. Bedbugs or their eggs get into clothing or suitcases and are then transported home.

If there are any signs of bedbugs when staying at a hotel, particularly being bitten by bedbugs when sleeping or seeing blood spots on sheets, take great care in bringing your personal belongings home.

Consult with hotel management to assess the risk - it may be necessary to launder, fumigate or treat clothes and belongings to ensure they are safe from bedbugs before returning home.

The same applies in transferring furniture, in particular second hand or vintage furniture - Rentokil can treat these items for bedbugs before you bring them into your home if there may be a risk.

How do Bedbugs spread?

If your home has bedbugs, please do not risk spreading them by taking clothes, suitcases or furniture to hotels or the homes of your friends and family.

Bedbugs can also migrate to adjoining properties through wall or floor cavities. If your home has bedbugs and you live in a flat, apartment or a terraced property, please be considerate to your neighbours and act promptly to reduce the possibility of spreading the bed bug problem.

Getting rid of Bedbugs

Bedbugs are an objectionable pest and one of the most difficult to eradicate.

High levels of hygiene, deep cleaning and the use of a DIY bed bug spray will help to reduce bedbug numbers, however professional bed bug treatment will be required to eliminate an infestation. Rentokil also offer Entotherm heat treatment a 'chemical free' treatment for bedbugs.

Insectrol, part of Rentokil's range of DIY pest control products, can help control bedbugs in certain areas of the house. However it should not be used directly on clothes, mattresses or bedding. Always read the label and product information before use.

If you are concerned that you may have bedbugs in your home and would like further advice or to arrange a visit from an experienced Rentokil technician, call us free on 0800 218 2210.