Bed bugs were something our parents joked about, but surely with our clean and fresh homes they must have gone. They should not be able to survive in clean homes and clean mattresses. Unfortunately, they do not live in the mattress itself, they are very small and hide in cracks and crevices and they are not initially easy to discover.

The first signs you may have them are noticing small red spots on the bedding waking up with itchy welts. The bites themselves can leave no marks at all and unless you are irritated by the bite or have a slight allergic reaction to them you may not notice them at all. Although the bugs do not carry anything infectious to humans they can become a problem in apartment buildings and they may move through the building from apartment to apartment.

If you think you may have them in your home, then you need to look for small dark patches and stains where they congregate there may also be a slight sweetish smell. If you think you see one, then it is useful to put it in a container to show your apartment manager. If you cannot find one but still suspect that they are in your home, then you need to tell your apartment manager in any case.

Bedbugs are once again a regular pest especially in apartment buildings and if you have bed bugs neighbouring apartments need to be checked and possibly treated at the same time as yours. These small insects can easily move from apartment to apartment and if they are not all treated and every insect killed the infestation can start again.

It is important that apartment managers and landlords recognise the importance of eradication of these insects because although they are not really harmful to humans, they can just keep spreading if not controlled. They are seen as disgusting by the general populous and their mere presence in some one’s home can cause them anxiety.

If you live in an apartment or multi-family housing and have bedbugs it is essential that the housing manager or landlord is advised of the situation straight away. Your area and all surrounding areas need to be checked and treated. It is not probably possible for you to get rid of them on your own. The insects move easily between rooms and apartments, and is likely that other areas are also infected whether the tenants are aware of it or not.

It depends what county you are in as to whether the extermination can be carried out by a normal janitor or needs to be done by a registered company when tenants are involved, so it may just be wise for the landlord or apartment manager to arrange for a certified company to carry out the work as the apartments all need to be treated at the same time to be sure that all the insects are found and none are left to breed and re-infest the building.