Bed bugs are one of the most stressful pest problems to deal with. They disrupt your sleep, cause uncomfortable bites, and the longer they go untreated, the harder they are to get rid of. If you’ve found signs of bed bugs in your home or business, you need a professional treatment that actually works.
At Pest Solutions, we carry out professional bed bug treatment for homes and businesses across the UK. Our BPCA-accredited technicians use a combination of heat treatment and targeted insecticide application to eliminate bed bugs at every life stage, from eggs through to adults. We’ve been doing this for over 24 years, and we know how to get it right first time.
How to tell if you have bed bugs
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are nocturnal blood-feeding insects, roughly 5 to 7mm long when fully grown. They’re oval-shaped, flat, and range from dark yellow to reddish-brown depending on when they last fed. You’re unlikely to see them during the day because they hide in cracks, crevices, and folds of fabric close to where you sleep.
The signs are usually easier to spot than the bugs themselves.
Bite marks
Bed bug bites typically appear in rows or clusters on exposed skin. They look like small, raised red bumps and tend to be itchy. Not everyone reacts to the bites, which is why some people can have an infestation for weeks before they notice anything at all.
Blood spots and faecal marks
Small blood smears on your sheets are a common sign, often left when a fed bug is accidentally crushed during the night. You might also notice dark spots of faecal matter on the mattress, along the seams, or on the bed frame. These look like small ink dots and are made up of digested blood.
Shed skins and eggs
Bed bugs moult through five instar stages before reaching adulthood, leaving behind pale, translucent cast skins. Their eggs are tiny (about 1mm), white, and often found tucked into mattress seams, headboard joints, or cracks in the bed frame. A single female can lay between 200 and 500 eggs over a couple of months, so numbers build quickly.
A musty smell
In heavier infestations, you may notice a sweet, musty odour in the room. This comes from the scent glands of the bugs and is usually a sign that the problem has been present for some time.
Where bed bugs come from
Bed bugs don’t appear because a property is dirty. That’s a common misconception. They spread by hitching a ride on luggage, clothing, second-hand furniture, and personal belongings. A single trip abroad, an overnight stay in a hotel, or a second-hand mattress from an online marketplace can bring them into your home.
They’re also common in shared accommodation. Student halls, hostels, care homes, and multi-occupancy buildings are all high-risk environments because bed bugs can travel between rooms through gaps in walls, along pipes, and through electrical sockets. In the UK, bed bug numbers have risen sharply since the mid-1990s after decades of decline. The combination of increased international travel, resistance to older pesticides, and a general lack of awareness has allowed populations to rebuild across every major city.
Why bed bugs get worse without treatment
A bed bug problem does not stay small for long. One breeding pair can produce hundreds of offspring in a matter of weeks. The eggs hatch in around 18 days, and nymphs mature to breeding age within six weeks under the right conditions. That means a minor problem in January can become a full infestation by March.
The longer you wait, the further they spread. What starts in one bedroom can move into adjacent rooms, furniture, and even behind skirting boards and wallpaper. For businesses, the consequences are worse still. Hotels, B&Bs, and serviced apartments risk negative reviews, legal action from guests, and serious reputational damage that takes years to recover from. Landlords have a legal duty to provide habitable accommodation, and an untreated bed bug infestation can breach that obligation.
Beyond the practical damage, there’s a real psychological toll. Bed bug infestations cause anxiety, sleep disruption, and ongoing stress that affects daily life. The sooner you deal with the problem, the less it costs and the faster you can get back to normal.
How we treat bed bugs
There is no single product you can buy from a shop that will reliably eliminate a bed bug infestation. Supermarket sprays and online remedies may kill a few visible bugs, but they don’t reach the eggs hidden in harbourage points, and they don’t address the full extent of the problem. That’s why professional treatment is the only approach that works consistently.
We offer two main treatment methods, and our technicians will recommend the right approach based on the severity of the infestation and the type of property involved.
Heat treatment
Heat treatment works by raising the temperature of the affected room to between 50 and 52 degrees Celsius using specialist equipment. At this temperature, bed bugs and their eggs are killed in all their hiding places, including deep within mattresses, behind headboards, inside furniture joints, and along skirting boards. No chemicals are involved, which makes it a good option for households with young children, pets, or anyone with sensitivities. Treatment typically takes a few hours per room, and the space is safe to use again once it cools down.
Insecticide treatment
For some infestations, a targeted residual insecticide is the most effective approach. Our technicians apply professional-grade products to harbourage points, bed frames, mattress edges, and surrounding areas. We also use insect growth regulators (IGRs) where appropriate, which prevent nymphs from developing into breeding adults and break the reproductive cycle. This method usually requires a follow-up visit to catch any bugs that hatch after the initial treatment, as the eggs themselves are resistant to most insecticides.
Combined approach
In more severe cases, we combine both methods. Heat treatment eliminates the bulk of the infestation on the day, while a residual insecticide provides ongoing protection in the weeks that follow. This gives you the best chance of complete eradication without the need for repeated visits.
Bed bug treatment for businesses
We work with hotels, student accommodation providers, care homes, housing associations, and letting agents across the UK. Bed bugs in a commercial setting need a fast, discreet response, and that’s something we understand well.
Our commercial pest control team can carry out treatment outside of business hours to minimise disruption. We also offer ongoing pest control contracts with regular inspections, so problems are caught early before they affect guests or tenants. Every treatment comes with a detailed report for your records, which is useful for compliance with health and safety audits and industry standards.
How our bed bug treatment works
- Call or enquire online – Get in touch by phone or through our website. We’ll ask a few questions about the problem and arrange a convenient time for a survey.
- Free survey and assessment – One of our technicians visits your property to confirm the infestation, identify the extent of the problem, and check all potential harbourage points. We explain what we find and recommend the best treatment option.
- Treatment – We carry out the agreed treatment at a time that works for you. Our technicians explain what to expect, how to prepare the room, and what to do afterwards.
- Follow-up – Depending on the method used, we may schedule a follow-up visit to check that the treatment has been fully effective. We also give you practical advice on how to reduce the risk of bed bugs returning.
Areas we cover
We have branches across the UK, so we can respond quickly wherever you are. Our technicians carry out bed bug treatment in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, and surrounding areas. You can find your nearest local branch on our website, or just call us and we’ll connect you with the right team.
Bed bug treatment: your questions answered
How much does bed bug treatment cost?
The price depends on the size of the property, the number of rooms affected, and the treatment method used. We provide a clear quote after the initial survey, so you know exactly what you’re paying before any work begins. Call 0800 027 2555 for a free, no-obligation quote.
How long does bed bug treatment take?
Heat treatment usually takes a few hours per room. Insecticide treatment is quicker on the day but may require a follow-up visit two to three weeks later. Your technician will give you a clear timeline during the survey.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
For heat treatment, you’ll need to leave the room being treated but can stay in other parts of the property. For insecticide treatment, you should leave the treated rooms for two to four hours afterwards and keep pets away until the product has dried.
Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?
DIY products rarely work on a full infestation. Shop-bought sprays can kill individual bugs on contact, but they don’t reach the eggs or the bugs hidden in cracks and crevices. In many cases, DIY attempts spread the problem further as the bugs move to avoid treated areas. Professional treatment is the only reliable way to clear an infestation completely.
Can bed bugs come back after treatment?
A properly carried out treatment will eliminate the existing infestation. Bed bugs can be reintroduced through travel or second-hand items, but they won’t survive from the original infestation if the treatment is done correctly. We advise on prevention steps to reduce the risk of a new introduction.
Do bed bugs carry diseases?
Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans. Their bites cause itching and discomfort, and some people have allergic reactions, but the main health impact is psychological. The stress and sleep disruption caused by a bed bug infestation can be significant.
How do I prepare for bed bug treatment?
Your technician will give you specific instructions before the visit. Generally, you should wash bedding and clothing at 60 degrees Celsius or above, clear clutter from around the bed, and avoid moving items from the infested room to other parts of the house. Don’t vacuum carpets or wet-mop floors for at least two weeks after an insecticide treatment, as this can remove the residual product.
How long after treatment can I vacuum?
Wait at least two weeks before vacuuming treated carpets and floors. This allows the residual insecticide to remain active against any newly hatched nymphs. Your technician will confirm the exact timeframe based on the products used.
Why choose Pest Solutions for bed bug treatment
You’ve got options when it comes to pest control, and you should pick someone you trust to get it right. Here’s what sets us apart.
We’re a BPCA member company with over 24 years of experience in pest control across the UK. Our technicians are trained specialists, not general handymen picking up pest work on the side. We hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 accreditations, which means our processes, environmental standards, and health and safety practices are independently audited and verified.
We’re also a Think Wildlife accredited company, which means we follow responsible practices when it comes to the products we use and how we use them. And we’re a Living Wage employer, so the people turning up at your door are properly paid professionals who care about doing a good job.
We’ve won over 20 national pest control awards, and we have more than 1,400 five-star reviews from customers across the UK. But awards and numbers only tell part of the story. The reason people come back to us, and recommend us, is because we’re straightforward, we’re good at what we do, and we treat every property like it matters.
Book your free bed bug survey
If you think you have bed bugs, don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Call us on 0800 027 2555 (freephone, 24/7) or fill in the form on our free survey page. We’ll arrange a visit, assess the problem, and give you a clear quote with no obligation. Most enquiries get a response within a few hours.
