Bed Bug Facts: Signs, Causes & How to Get Rid of Them Fast & Forever in 2026

Last Updated on 03/01/2026 by Tony Abrahams

TL;DR: Bed bugs are tiny insects that hide in your mattress, furniture, and cracks around the room, and they usually come out at night to feed. They don’t spread disease, but their bites can be itchy, uncomfortable, and honestly pretty stressful. The good news is that bed bugs can be identified and removed with the right approach.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to spot them early, what to do if you’re being bitten, and the safest, most effective ways to get rid of them and stop them coming back.

What Are Bed Bugs and What Do They Look Like?

Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped insects that measure about 5–7mm in length. They are reddish-brown in colour and cannot fly or jump, but they are excellent crawlers and hitchhikers. They often enter homes through luggage, second-hand furniture, or clothing.

Quick Facts:

• They feed on blood, usually at night.
• They can survive up to one year without a meal.
• They hide in mattress seams, bed frames, carpets, and walls.

The Bed Bug Life Cycle: Understanding the Enemy

To effectively eliminate bed bugs, it’s important to understand their life cycle:

1. Eggs: Tiny, white, and oval-shaped, bed bug eggs are about the size of a pinhead. They hatch in 6–10 days, and a single female can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime.
2. Nymphs: These are smaller, lighter-coloured versions of adults. Nymphs must feed on blood to grow, moulting five times before reaching adulthood.
3. Adults: Adults are about the size of an apple seed and can live for over 18 months. They reproduce quickly, making infestations difficult to control.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

If you suspect bed bugs are in your home, look for these common signs:

• Bites: Red, itchy bites in clusters, straight lines, or zigzag patterns, often on exposed skin like arms, legs, and neck.
• Blood Stains: Tiny blood spots on sheets or mattresses.
• Faecal Spots: Black or brown spots (bed bug droppings) on mattresses, sheets, or furniture.
• Exoskeletons: Shed skins left behind as they grow.
• Live Bugs: They are most active at night but can sometimes be spotted during the day.
• Musty Odour: A strong, sweet smell may indicate a severe infestation.

Bed Bug Bites: Symptoms and Treatment

Bed bug bites are typically red, itchy, and appear in lines or clusters. They are most common on exposed skin, such as arms, shoulders, and legs. While some people do not react to bites, others may experience allergic reactions, including swelling, redness, or severe itching.

How to Treat Bed Bug Bites:

1. Self-Care: Wash bites with antiseptic soap and apply an ice pack to reduce swelling.
2. Over-the-Counter Treatments: Use anti-itch creams like calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream.
3. Medical Treatment: If bites are severe or infected, consult a doctor. They may prescribe steroid creams, antihistamines, or antibiotics.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

If you’ve discovered bed bugs in your home, the first thing to know is you can get rid of them. But it works best when you follow a clear system. Eliminating these pests can be challenging, but a combination of chemical and non-chemical treatments can help.

Why Pest Controllers Aren’t the Best Solution:

• Expensive: Professional pest control services can cost thousands of dollars.
• Chemicals: Many pest controllers rely on chemical treatments, which may not suit every household, especially where children, pets, or sensitive individuals are present.
• No Guarantees: Many pest control treatments require multiple visits and still don’t guarantee complete eradication.

A Better Solution: Our DIY Eco-Friendly Treatment

Our DIY Isolation System is a safe, effective, and affordable alternative to traditional pest control. Here’s why it’s the best choice:

1. Cheaper: At a fraction of the cost of a pest controller, our system saves you money.
2. Easier: No need for multiple treatments or complicated preparations. Our system is simple to use and provides instant protection.
3. Safer: Our eco-friendly solution uses no toxic chemicals, making it safe for your family and pets.
4. Guaranteed: Unlike pest controllers, our system comes with a guarantee to eliminate these pests and prevent future infestations.

How Our Isolation Method Works

Our Isolation Method is designed to give you instant relief from bed bugs while also providing long-term protection. The goal is simple: stop bed bugs from reaching you at night, kill the ones already in the room, and prevent new ones from getting established.

One of the biggest advantages of this method is that you only need to wash and prepare your bed, not your entire room or house, which makes the process far easier and less stressful.

1. Steam Treatment: Use a handheld steamer to kill bed bugs and their eggs instantly on contact. Steam is ideal for seams, mattress edges, bed frames, cracks, and any area where bed bugs like to hide. This gives you an immediate knock-down so you can start sleeping easier right away.
2. Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Apply this natural powder lightly to the bed frame, slats, and other hiding spots. As bed bugs crawl across DE, it sticks to their outer shell and dehydrates them, killing them over time. This creates a long-lasting protective barrier without using harsh chemicals.
3. Mattress Covers: Use a quality mattress encasement to completely seal the mattress. Any bed bugs already inside the mattress become trapped and eventually die, while new bugs can no longer hide inside. It also makes inspections much easier.
4. Barrier Traps: Place barrier traps under the bed legs to isolate your bed from the rest of the room. This means the only way bed bugs can reach you is by crossing the trap, where they are captured and killed. This gives you instant protection from any bed bugs still in the room.

Because your bed is isolated, you don’t need to empty wardrobes, bag up belongings, or wash everything you own. You simply wash and prepare the bed itself, set up the system, and you are protected while the remaining bed bugs are eliminated over time.

By combining instant steam kill with long-term DE protection, mattress encasements, and physical barriers, you break the bed bug life cycle and stop the infestation spreading further — without turning your whole house upside down.

Watch Our DIY Bed Bug Treatment Video Instructions for Bed Frames and Ensemble Beds

How to Prevent Bed Bugs

Preventing bed bugs is easier than dealing with an infestation. Follow these tips to keep your home bed bug-free:

1. Inspect Second-Hand Furniture: Carefully check used furniture for signs before bringing it home.
2. Travel Smart: Inspect hotel rooms and keep luggage off the floor. Wash clothes in hot water after travelling.
3. Regular Cleaning: Vacuum frequently, especially around beds and furniture.
4. Dust Your Bed Frame with Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Lightly apply DE to bed frames, slats, seams, and cracks where bed bugs like to hide. As they crawl through it, the powder dehydrates and kills them, giving you long-term protection without harsh chemicals.
5. Use Barrier Traps: Place traps under bed legs to catch them before they reach you.

Tip: Always use approved Diatomaceous Earth (DE) products and avoid breathing in the dust while applying.

Read More About How To Prevent Bed Bugs

Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Bed Bug Problem

Bed bugs are persistent, but with the right knowledge and tools, you can eliminate them and prevent future infestations. While pest controllers are expensive, use toxic chemicals, and often require multiple treatments with no guarantees, our DIY Isolation System offers a safer, easier, and more affordable solution.

Our eco-friendly treatment provides instant protection and comes with a guarantee to keep your home bed bug-free. Why spend hundreds on pest controllers when you can solve the problem yourself for a fraction of the cost?

Ready to Say Goodbye to Bed Bugs?

Shop our DIY Isolation System today and finally get your sleep back… without harsh chemicals, repeat call-outs, or thousands in pest control fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are bed bugs harmful to humans?
   Bed bugs don’t spread disease, but their bites can still cause itching, redness, swelling, allergic reactions, and a lot of stress and lost sleep. Some people barely react, while others may experience strong skin reactions. If swelling or rash becomes severe, always seek medical advice.
2. How do I know if I have bed bugs?
   The most reliable signs are small blood spots on sheets, dark faecal stains, shed skins, bed bug eggs, or seeing live bugs in mattress seams, the bed frame, or nearby furniture. Bites alone are not always proof, because other insects and skin conditions can look similar. A close inspection of the bed area is essential.
3. What do bed bug bites look like?
   Bed bug bites are usually small, red, itchy welts that may appear in lines or clusters. They often show up on exposed skin such as arms, shoulders, legs, and neck. Reactions vary widely, so some people may not notice any marks at all.
4. How can I prevent bed bugs?
   Inspect second-hand furniture before bringing it inside, use protective mattress covers, regularly vacuum around the bed, and set up bed leg traps. Keep the bed away from walls and don’t let bedding touch the floor to reduce hiding and climbing points.
5. Where do bed bugs hide during the day?
   Bed bugs like tight cracks and dark spaces close to where you sleep. Common hiding places include mattress seams, bed frames, slats, headboards, skirting boards, behind photos, under carpet edges, and inside furniture joints.

Watch Our DIY Videos: Control Bed Bugs With The Isolation Method

Are you looking for an organic DIY treatment? These step-by-step videos show you exactly how to use the Isolation Method on different types of beds.

For an Ensemble Bed

For a Bed with Slats

If you have enjoyed this blog, you might also like to check out our blog, What Are Bed Bugs?

Sources:
Department of Health WA |
Oxford Academic |
National Library of Medicine