Bed bugs are stressful in a way that very few other pests are. They affect sleep, they make people second-guess their own bed, and they can spread quickly between rooms or units if they are not handled properly. There's also a lot of bad advice online — half of what people try makes the problem worse, not better.
Apollo Pest Control provides bed bug inspection and treatment for homes, rental suites, small landlord properties and short-stay accommodations. We focus on confirming the issue before treatment, preparing the space properly, and following up to make sure activity is actually gone.
Bed Bugs Are Not About Cleanliness
One of the most damaging myths about bed bugs is that they signal a dirty home. They don't. Bed bugs are introduced — they have to come in from somewhere — and they spread by hitchhiking, not by infestation of a building. The cleanest hotel and the most carefully kept home are both vulnerable if a guest, a piece of furniture, or a laundry load brings them in.
How they usually arrive:
Travel — luggage, clothing, or used hotel furniture
Used furniture, especially mattresses, headboards, couches and chairs
Visitors, contractors or workers who bring them in unknowingly
Shared walls, outlets or laundry in multi-unit buildings
Public spaces with upholstered seating (occasionally)
Signs Beyond the Bites
Check seams, headboards, and box-spring corners for the real evidence.
Bites alone are not a reliable way to confirm bed bugs — people react very differently, and bites can be mistaken for everything from a mosquito to an allergic reaction. Physical evidence is more useful:
Tiny dark spots along mattress seams, box springs and bed frames
Small blood spots on sheets or pillowcases
Pale, shell-like shed skins in cracks or seams
Live bed bugs roughly the size of an apple seed, flat and reddish-brown
Tiny pale eggs in protected joints, seams or screw holes
A faint sweet musty smell in heavily affected rooms
A careful inspection of beds, bedroom furniture, and adjacent rooms
Confirmation of activity before any treatment is recommended
A treatment plan suited to the size of the area and severity of the issue
Clear prep instructions before service so the treatment is effective
Targeted treatment of mattresses, frames, baseboards, furniture and harbourage areas
Follow-up visits as needed to confirm activity is gone
For multi-unit buildings, we'll also discuss whether adjacent units should be inspected.
Preparing for a Bed Bug Treatment
Preparation is one of the most important parts of a successful bed bug treatment. Once we confirm activity, we'll send a written prep list, but it usually includes:
Wash and dry all bedding, linens and affected clothing on high heat
Bag and seal clean clothing while treatment is being performed
Reduce clutter in the affected room so harbourage spots can be reached
Pull beds and dressers away from the walls
Vacuum thoroughly, sealing the vacuum bag or contents afterwards
Plan to be out of the treated room for the recommended dry/air time
What Not to Do
Some of the most common DIY responses actually make the problem worse:
Do not move bedding or furniture to another room — it spreads the problem
Do not throw out the mattress until an inspection has been done
Avoid over-the-counter foggers ("bug bombs") — they often scatter bed bugs into walls
Do not start sleeping on the couch — that just spreads bed bugs into a second piece of furniture
Do not assume a single product (steamer, spray, dryer cycle) is enough on its own
If You Manage a Rental Property
Bed bugs in a rental suite need quick, discreet action — both to protect the tenant and to keep the issue from spreading. Apollo Pest Control works with small landlords on inspection, treatment, and written documentation of service that you can keep on file or share with your insurer if needed.
Travelling, Staying in a Hotel, or Buying Used Furniture?
A few practical habits can dramatically reduce the chance of bringing bed bugs home:
On arrival at a hotel, inspect the mattress seams and headboard before unpacking
Keep luggage off the bed and floor (use the rack or bathroom counter)
When you get home, unpack into the laundry — wash and dry on high heat
Inspect used furniture carefully, especially upholstered pieces, before bringing it inside
Book Pest Control
Tell us what pest issue you are dealing with and Apollo Pest Control will follow up.
