8 Places Bed Bugs Hide In Your Home and Hotel

Bed bugs are hide and seek champions. These little pests wiggle their way into places only dust can get into. A bed bug infestation can take months to get rid of because bed bugs like to hide in basically any crevice of your home. If you suspect you have a bed bug infestation, check out these places bed bugs hide in your home and hotel.

Bed bugs hide anywhere with warmth, body moisture, and CO2. As long as they have a host within 3 feet, a bed bug will hide just about anywhere. Once bed bugs have fed, they’ll find a hiding spot within 20 feet of the host.

Feeding can last up to 10 minutes, but most people don’t feel bed bug bites. The best way to find bed bugs is to look in one of their many hiding spots. Bed bugs like to hide homes and hotels in:

• Mattress seams, folds, and crevices.
• Box springs and bed frames.
• Wall voids and cracks.
• Seams in furniture and pillows.

Once bed bugs have finished feeding, they will find a safe place to hide. Bed bugs cannot jump or fly, and they do not latch onto hosts. It’s unlikely a bed bug will hide on a human body. If a bed bug does hide on your body, they generally will find a place with a lot of open skin and little to no hair.

8 Places Bed Bugs Like To Hide

Bed bugs hide anywhere that’s warm and close enough to a host. Aside from your mattress, bed bugs hide in some really unexpected places. Infestations can go on for years if not handled correctly. That’s why it’s important to ensure they’re fully eradicated as soon as you notice signs of an infestation.

Also Read: How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

Wall Voids and Cracks

Instinctually, if bed bugs are threatened, they’ll retreat into walls to ensure they’re safe. Bed bugs can wait for a long time before they need to feed. Bed bugs hide in wall voids until it’s safe to leave. Always fill holes and cracks that could be used as potential entry points for pests. 

Electrical Outlets

Similarly to wall voids and cracks, electrical outlets can also be a common place for bed bugs to hide. If you notice any black streaks or “rust” stains in your outlets, it’s likely from bed bugs. 

Cars and Public Transit

If you do have a bad bed bug infestation, be sure to get your exterminator to spray your car as well. Bed bugs can hide in the crevices of seats or in other parts of vehicles. Bed bugs can hide in radios, seats, carpets, and seams in an infested car. 

Public transit and other ride-sharing vehicles are becoming one of the most common places to get a bed bug infestation. If you’ve found a bed bug hiding in your home, be sure to contact any ride-sharing companies you could’ve possibly used. 

Also Read: Uber and Lyft Could Be Hot Spots For Bed Bugs

Car Seats and Booster Seats

If you do have a car seat or booster seat in your vehicle, check it for bed bugs. Inspect all the cracks and crevices in the seat. Take off any coverings and wash them in hot soapy water.

Playpens

As terrifying as it sounds, bed bugs can hide in the seams and folds of a playpen. Be sure to also check any cribs, bassinets, and toys if you have a bed bug infestation. 

Picture frames 

Bed bugs are so tiny they can sneak into even the most unlikely places and still go undetected. Bed bugs can hide in picture frames if they’re trying to escape a potential threat.

Bags and Luggage 

If you have a bed bug infestation in your home, you likely got it from a hotel. Be sure to check your hotel room for bed bugs as soon as you enter. This also means if you come home from an infested hotel room, you should clean out all your bags and luggage. This also includes:

• Pocketbooks
• Computer bags
• Toiletry bags
• Makeup bags

Also Read: Avoid Hotel Bed Bugs In 7 Steps     

Computers

Computers aren’t the softest place for a bed bug to hide, but they can be quite warm. If a bed bug is desperate enough and needs a place to hide, it will hide in your computer. 

Video Game Consoles

Similar to your computer, bed bugs also hide within any gaming console. Consoles and other electronics can be an enclosed and warm space that’s still close enough to humans. If you’re worried about your electronics having bed bugs hiding inside, look for black streaks on your devices and take them to any electronic repair store to have them cleaned. 

Where To Find Bed Bugs During The Day

Bed bugs are mostly active at night. You might not spot as many bed bugs during the day, but you can still look for them in their hiding spots.

Female bed bugs will mate after feeding and then find a secluded place to lay their eggs. If temperatures are above 70 degrees, the eggs will hatch within 7 to 10 days. Females can lay hundreds of eggs during their lifetime. When looking for bed bugs, remember to look for:

• Tiny white eggs.
• Blood smears and stains.
• Leftover bodies and shells. 
• Other signs of bed bug activity. 

Because bed bugs are most active at night, you’ll notice new bites first thing in the morning. The bites will seem to be in a line or “pattern,” and will be itchier in the morning.

Also Read: The Difference Between a Mosquito VS a Bed Bug Bite

Where Do Bed Bug Like To Hide In Mattresses 

The most common place to find bed bugs is in mattresses. Mattresses are the favorite hiding places for bed bugs- it’s close to a number of different hosts, it’s warm, and there are lots of hiding places. The fold, cervices, and creases of your mattress offer great breeding grounds for a bed bug. 

When looking for bed bugs on your mattress, start by taking off all the sheets, blankets, and covers. With a credit card and a flashlight, go through all the folds and seams. Pay close attention to the corners of your mattress and box spring. 

Next, check in between all the folds by looking for smears and stains. The last place you should look for bed bugs in your mattress is behind your headboard. Once you’ve looked through the entire mattress, wash your sheets in hot soapy water. The temperature of the water should be enough to kill any bed bugs in your sheets, blankets, and pillows. 

What To Do If You Find Bed Bugs

Bed bugs can hide basically anywhere in your home. It’s one of the most common pest problems exterminators have to deal with. Bed bugs hide in the smallest crevices and can create a problem for homeowners for years to come. 

If you find any signs of bed bugs in your home, call an exterminator immediately. They’ll show you more places bed bugs can hide, and offer solutions to your bed bug infestation.

Also Read: Exterminator Costs To Treat Bed Bugs