Bed bug treatment in Utrecht: spotting the signs
Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown insects about the size of an apple pip. During the day they stay hidden; at night they are drawn to the warmth and breath of a sleeping person and come out to feed on blood.
- itchy bites, often in a line or cluster on arms, neck or legs
- small black spots (droppings) on mattress seams and the slatted base
- tiny blood stains on the sheet
- empty, pale brown skins in seams and cracks
- a sweetish, musty smell in the bedroom when the infestation is large
Bites alone do not tell the whole story, because not everyone reacts to them. Often one person in the household is covered in bites while the other notices nothing.
How bed bugs get into your home
Bed bugs cannot fly or jump; they hitch a ride. Most infestations start with luggage after a hotel stay or holiday, a second-hand bed, sofa or bedside table, or a guest who brings them along unknowingly. In a shared house or apartment block they crawl through gaps, skirting boards and sockets to the neighbours.
Because they can survive a long time without a blood meal, an empty room may still be infested. Moving to the sofa for a few nights usually makes things worse: the bugs follow you and spread through the house. So keep sleeping in your own bed until the treatment has been carried out.
Our bed bug treatment: inspection and heat
With bed bugs, everything depends on a thorough inspection. We take the bed apart, check seams, the slatted base, skirting boards, curtain rails and sockets, and look in the adjoining rooms too. That tells us how far the infestation has spread.
We then treat the affected space with heat. Heat penetrates cracks and mattresses where a spray cannot reach, and it also kills the eggs. Where necessary, a certified pest controller adds a targeted treatment. A check-up follows after some time, because any eggs that were missed can still hatch later. To see how we tackle other pests, visit our page on pest control in Utrecht.
Bed bugs or something else?
Not every bite comes from a bed bug. Mosquitoes bite at random, mostly on uncovered skin. Fleas usually bite low down, around the ankles and shins, and often arrive with a cat or dog. If you are unsure, read more about flea treatment.
The most reliable evidence is the bug itself or the marks it leaves. Shine a torch along the mattress seams, the corners of the slatted base and the back of the headboard. If you find something, stick it on a piece of tape and keep it for the inspection. Do not throw the mattress out straight away, or you will drag the bugs through the stairwell.
Preventing bed bugs at home and on your travels
A lot can be prevented while travelling. Put your suitcase on the luggage rack rather than on the bed or floor, and check the hotel mattress. Back home, take the case to the bathroom or hallway instead of the bedroom, and put your clothes straight into a 60-degree wash or a hot tumble dryer.
When buying a second-hand bed, sofa or wardrobe, check all the seams before you bring it inside. Tenants and students are best off reporting a suspicion straight away to their landlord and housemates: the sooner every room is checked, the smaller the job.
