What Are the Early Signs of Bed Bugs and How Can You Get Rid of Them?

When you go and visit somewhere, you may decide to spend the night. In that case, you expect to have a clean bed to sleep in. Therefore, it can be a rude awakening if you wake up in the morning with a bunch of red spots all over your body. You might also be incredibly itchy, and you may have even developed a rash.

What is the cause of all of this? There are multiple reasons why you might have small bumps on your body, but one of the most common causes is bed bugs. What exactly are bed bugs, and what do you need to do to get rid of them? Take a look at a few important points below. 

What Are Bed Bugs? 

So, what exactly are bed bugs? They are small, oval, brown insects that tend to live in dark, moist, warm areas. To survive, they need to feed on the blood of animals (including humans). Because they are so small, it is very easy for them to be overlooked. Sometimes, the only sign of bed bugs is a lot of itching and scratching on your body. The sooner you can identify bed bugs, the faster you can get rid of them. If you do not do something about the bed bugs, the problem can get worse, and it is possible for some of the bed bug bites to get infected. 

What Are the Signs of Bed Bugs?

What are the most common signs of bed bugs? There are several common signs and symptoms you should look for. Some of the signs that you may have bed bugs in your vicinity include:

  • Obviously, one of the most common signs is bed bug bites all over your body. If you have a bunch of small red spots on your body, there is a chance that you could have bed bugs. While there is a chance that you could have picked up some bug bites outside, if you wake up with bug bites that were not there when you went to bed, there is a good chance that bed bugs are present.
  • You should also look for bloodstains on your sheets. You are not necessarily going to deal with bright red puddles of blood, but remember that bed bugs feed on the blood of animals. Therefore, when bed bugs take a blood meal, there is a good chance that some blood will end up on your bedsheets.
  • You should also look for fecal marks on your bedsheets. Remember that bed bugs have a digestive system as well. After they have finished a meal, they deposit their excrement in certain locations. If you see small, brown streaks on your bedsheets, there is a good chance that you have bed bugs present.
  • You might also see bed bug eggs around the bedroom. These are difficult to spot, but keep an eye open.
  • Finally, you may also smell musty odors in the room. Even though there are a number of causes of musty odors, if you detect this scent in combination with the signs above, there is a good chance that you have bed bugs present.

You should keep your eyes open for the signs above. If you think you have bed bugs present, you need to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the problem could get worse.

How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Fortunately, there are a few steps you can follow to get rid of bed bugs. Some of the most important tips you need to remember include:

  • Remove the linens from the bed and use a stiff brush to scrub the mattress seams. The goal is not to get rid of all of the eggs and bed bugs with a brush. The goal is to loosen them up a bit. That way, when you take a vacuum to the mattress, you will have an easier time sucking up anything that might be present. 
  • Next, you should vacuum your bed and the surrounding area with a powerful vacuum. Even though you probably vacuum the floor regularly, it is just as important for you to vacuum the mattress. Take off the sheets, put the vacuum on the mattress, and make sure you go over every area multiple times. 
  • Finally, you need to take all of your bedding, curtains, linens, and clothing and launder them at the highest temperature you possibly can. Turn the hot water all the way up. Even if you have not worn certain clothes or used certain sheets in a while, you need to clean them in extremely hot water. Then, you need to dry them on the highest setting as well.

The goal is to drown or kill any bed bugs and eggs that might be present. If you have done all of this and you are still dealing with a bed bug problem, it is time to reach out to a professional who can assist you.

Consider Pursuing Compensation

If you stayed somewhere else and believe you dealt with a bed bug infestation, it is important to pursue compensation for your injuries. Some of the areas in which you might be able to seek compensation include:

  • If you had to replace any of your clothing
  • If you had to seek medical care because of a bedbug infestation
  • It is not unusual for people to develop emotional distress following a bedbug infestation. This is something you might be able to pursue compensation for as well.

If you have dealt with bed bugs recently, time is of the essence. We recommend that you take photographs of all of your bites, as well photos of the bed and bedding, if you can noticeably observe any bed bugs or their eggs. It is also important for you to reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you. 

Work With Vasilaros Wagner for Help With Bed Bugs in Daytona Beach, Florida

If you have dealt with a bed bug infestation during a recent visit to a hotel, motel, or resort, it is important for you to seek medical care as quickly as possible. Then, contact us for a case review.

We are Vasilaros Wagner, and we have a tremendous amount of experience helping people in Daytona Beach deal with bed bug issues. We can help you as well. Contact us today to speak to a member of our team.