How to Check a Mattress for Bed Bugs

What Bed Bugs Look Like

Adult bed bugs are about the size and shape of an apple seed — reddish-brown, oval, flat when unfed, and roughly 4 to 5 millimeters long. After a recent feeding they swell and turn darker red. Eggs are pearly white, sticky, and pinhead-sized; they're often laid in clusters in the same hiding spots as adults. Nymphs (juvenile bed bugs) are smaller and paler — sometimes nearly translucent.

The CDC and EPA both maintain identification galleries with detailed photographs if you're uncertain about what you've found.

Indirect Signs to Look For First

Most people see evidence before they see the bugs themselves. The signs that suggest an infestation:

• Small dark fecal spots on the mattress seams (look like pinpoints of dried ink)
• Light blood smears on sheets — usually from rolling onto a fed bug
• Shed exoskeletons (translucent shell-like skins) in mattress seams or along the floor near the bed
• Tiny pale eggs or eggshells in clusters
• A faint sweetish, musty smell in the room (heavy infestations only)
• Bites appearing in lines or clusters on exposed skin (arms, neck, legs) overnight

Tools You'll Need

• A bright flashlight (phone flashlight is fine; a dedicated LED is better)
• A magnifying glass for confirming small finds
• An old credit card or thin spatula to probe seams and crevices
• A light-colored sheet, pillowcase, or white paper to catch and identify anything that falls out
• A vacuum with a hose attachment (for capturing samples)
• Gloves

Where to Look on the Mattress

Bed bugs hide in seams, piping, tufts, and label folds — anywhere that's tight, dark, and close to a sleeper. Work systematically:

1. 1Strip the bed completely; bag the sheets for hot washing later
2. 2Start at one corner of the mattress and inspect the entire perimeter seam — top and bottom — under bright light
3. 3Lift any quilting buttons or tufts and check underneath
4. 4Run the credit card along the seam piping to dislodge anything hiding in the fold
5. 5Check the underside of the mattress, especially around handles and the law tag
6. 6Inspect the box spring perimeter and the underside of the box spring — bed bugs often prefer the box spring to the mattress itself
7. 7Check the bed frame, especially crevices in wooden frames and joints in metal ones
8. 8Check the headboard, including the back side and any decorative cutouts

Don't skip the box spring. The EPA's bed bug guidance specifically notes that box springs are one of the most common hiding spots — the fabric covering and wooden frame create more crevices than the mattress itself.

Where Else to Inspect

If you've found anything on the mattress or suspect an infestation, expand the inspection to nearby areas:

• Bedside tables and dressers (drawer joints, screw holes)
• Behind picture frames and electrical outlet plates near the bed
• Curtains and curtain rod hardware
• Baseboards and carpet edges within 10 feet of the bed
• Any upholstered furniture (chairs, ottomans) near the sleeping area

If You Find Evidence

DIY treatments — sprays, foggers, and heaters sold for consumer use — have a documented high failure rate. The EPA has a dedicated bed bug resource at epa.gov/bedbugs with treatment guidance and licensed-professional finder tools.

Prevention

Bed bugs spread primarily through travel — hotels, used furniture, secondhand clothing. The prevention checklist:

• When traveling, inspect the hotel mattress and headboard before unpacking
• Keep luggage on the luggage rack or in the bathroom (smooth surfaces are harder for bed bugs to climb)
• Bag dirty clothes in a sealed plastic bag inside the suitcase
• On returning home, run all travel clothing through a hot dryer cycle for at least 30 minutes
• Avoid bringing used mattresses, upholstered furniture, or used clothing into the house without thorough inspection and treatment
• Maintain a bed-bug-proof mattress encasement on every bed — it's the cheapest preventive measure