Check mattress seams, piping, tags, and tufts for live bugs, eggs, shed skins, or black fecal spots
Inspect box springs, bed frames, headboards, and joints with a flashlight
Look along baseboards, cracks, crevices, and nearby furniture
Search behind pictures, wall hangings, outlet covers, and loose wallpaper
Examine sheets, pillowcases, and blankets for blood spots or dark stains
Look for small white eggs, pale nymphs, and reddish-brown adult bugs
Check for rusty or dark spotting on mattresses and furniture
Notice bites on exposed skin after sleeping, especially in clusters or lines
Watch for a musty, sweet odor in heavily infested areas
Use a credit card or similar tool to probe seams and tight spaces
Place interceptor traps under bed legs to catch bed bugs
Inspect luggage, clothing, and used furniture after travel or bringing items home
Repeat inspections at night when bed bugs are more active