Where are bedbugs found in your bedroom and home? Unfortunately, they are found everywhere. But the most likely location for bedbugs are in and around the area in your bedroom in which you sleep.
Bedbugs are small and are terrific hiders. If you are infested with bedbugs, you can likely find them in cracks, crevices and others tiny spaces that make for excellent hiding places.
There are signs to look for to see if you have bedbugs (see our article: How to Know if I Have Bedbugs). If you think you’ve been infested with bedbugs, the best course of action is to do a thorough search of your bedroom. So, where exactly are the insects?
Where Bed Bugs Are Most Likely To Hide
Seams of Your Mattress – bedbugs hide in small spaces, but they also want to stay within easy reach of their food source – you. One of the first places to look for bedbugs are in the seams of your mattress. You want to check everywhere that has a small enough gap for a bedbug to crawl into. Be sure to look around the seams and around the mattress tag. If your mattress has any punctures or holes in it, then you’ll want to check that area too to see if they crawled inside. Also, be sure to repair the hole to keep them from hiding in there or prevent them from escaping when you treat the mattress to kill them. Lots of people who are concerned about bed bugs in their mattress, get bug proof mattress pads for extra protection.
Box Springs and Bedframes – Check the bed’s box springs and bedframe very carefully. These places are some of the favorite hiding places for bedbugs. Look in the seams of the box spring and underneath at the base of the coils. Look carefully where the wood meets the fabric. The box spring holds a load of hiding places for bedbugs, plus it’s easy access to a sleeping person. Also, look at the bedframe. The areas where bedframes come together typically have spaces in between the fastened area where a bedbug can easily hide. Also, be sure to check the feet or wheel area of the bedframe.
Where Carpet Meets Wall – The mattress seams aren’t the only seams that bedbugs like to live, they also will crawl into the seam that’s made where the carpet meets the wall. Also, if the baseboards aren’t tight against the wall, there may be enough room for the bedbug to hide.
Laundry Hampers – If your laundry hamper has seams, especially ones that are made of wicker or other such materials, these provide a plethora of places where bedbugs can live and hide. So you’ll want to check for signs of bed bugs in these seams.
Behind Wallpaper – If your wallpaper has any tears in it or of it’s not flush to the wall, then there’s a good chance the bedbug has made its home behind it. This is a favorite place for bedbugs to live, so make sure that your wallpaper is completely seam free and has no holes in it. If it does, then you should consider replacing it. And if you suspect you have bedbugs, then be sure to peel back the wallpaper where there are any rips, or where the glue may have worn off and there are corners that have separated from the walls. Remember, bedbugs don’t need much room, so don’t look at the small tear on the wallpaper and think it’s too small for a bedbug or its family to live. It’s not. They make repair kits for wallpaper to help smooth it out.
Headboard and Footboard – Does your headboard or footboard have places that are glued or nailed together? Check in those cracks where the wood meets. Also, if they have fabric, check where the fabric meets the wood. Look for any places where the fabric may fold over, these are perfect places for bedbugs to hide. And don’t forget to check the stitching, this is a natural hiding place. Also, where the legs of the bed meet the floor. And any joints the furniture may have. Bedbugs don’t need much room, so you’re looking for any place that as a gap that a credit card’s edge could fit.
Furniture with Fabric – It’s not just beds that you have to be concerned with. Bedbugs can hide in any furniture that has seams, or cushions, or any place they can crawl underneath and get into. Thoroughly inspect any chairs, couches, chests, and cushions in your bedroom for signs of bedbugs. Pay special attention to the gap that is made where the bottom of the seat area meets the arm. You know, that place that your coins are popcorn seemingly finds its way into. This is the perfect retreat for bedbugs to hide.
Backpacks, Suitcases, Duffle Bags and Other Cases – If you have bedbugs, you probably brought them into the house yourself. And the most likely way you did this is via a bag (i.e. suitcase, duffle bag, etc.). See our article on Travel Tips. If you suspect you may have bedbugs, search any bags in your home very carefully. Pay special attention to the seams, stitching, and areas corner areas. It’s always a good idea to store travel bags in air tight bags or containers.
Closet Railings – One of the areas that may be overlooked are closet railings. If your closets have railings on the floor, then this is a great place for bedbugs to hide. Be sure to get your flashlight and inspect them very carefully, as they may have lips that a bedbug can easily fit under. Also, check the wheels of the closet door to make sure they are not hiding in one of the casters.
Electrical Outlets – Bedbugs like heat (not too much heat), so outlets are a natural place for them to live. Check the area where the outlet casing meets the wall for any signs of bedbugs. Be sure to open the outlet case and look inside to see if you see any signs of bedbugs, such as skin shells, eggs, or bedbug poo.
Window Frames – If your windows have window frames, inspect these areas closely. Especially look for any place where the caulking or paint is splitting apart from the frame and wall. These little gaps provide a perfect habitat for bedbugs to make their own. Get a good caulking sealant to fill in any gaps or cracks.
What to Do If You Find Bedbugs
If you are looking for DIY methods for killing bedbugs, then please see our articles on: How to Kill Bedbugs Organically Without Chemicals. And be sure to read the article on bedbug DIY myths that don’t work. We listed some products above, but for a more complete list for finding help in dealing with the bed bug pest problem, see our recommended resources page.
