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Bed Bugs: How to Tell If You Have Them and What to Do First

The real signs of bed bugs in San Antonio homes and hotels, how to check your mattress, and the first steps that keep a small problem from spreading.

By Time's Up Pest Control. Published 2026-10-22.

Key Takeaways

  • Look for small rust-colored or dark spots on sheets and mattress seams, shed skins and live bugs about the size of an apple seed.
  • Bites alone aren't proof. Many people don't react to bed bug bites at all.
  • Don't move to the couch or another bedroom. That often spreads bed bugs through the house.
  • Wash and dry bedding on high heat, and schedule a professional inspection before throwing anything out.

Few pests cause as much stress as bed bugs. They aren't a sign of a dirty home. They travel on luggage, used furniture and clothing, and they turn up in houses, apartments and hotels across San Antonio. Catching them early makes treatment much easier.

What Bed Bugs Look Like

Adults are flat, oval and reddish brown, about the size of an apple seed. After feeding they swell and turn darker red. Young bed bugs (nymphs) are smaller and almost clear until they feed. Eggs are tiny, white and stuck in seams and cracks.

Signs You Have Bed Bugs

  • Small dark or rust-colored spots on sheets, mattress seams and the box spring. These are droppings, and they bleed like a marker if you wipe them with a damp cloth.
  • Tiny blood smears on pillowcases or sheets.
  • Shed skins, which look like empty, pale bed bug shells.
  • Live bugs along mattress piping, under labels, in the box spring, behind the headboard and in nightstand joints.
  • A musty, sweet odor in heavy infestations.

What About Bites?

Bed bug bites often show up as itchy welts in a line or cluster. But bites aren't reliable on their own. Some people don't react at all, and other bugs and skin conditions can look similar. Look for physical evidence before deciding it's bed bugs.

How to Check Your Bed

  1. Strip the bed and check the sheets for spots.
  2. Use a flashlight to check the mattress seams, piping, tufts and labels.
  3. Lift the mattress and inspect the box spring and bed frame, especially the corners and joints.
  4. Check the headboard, nightstands, outlets near the bed and the edges of the carpet.

What to Do First

  • Stay in your bedroom. Sleeping on the couch or in another room often spreads bed bugs to new places.
  • Wash and dry on high heat. Put bedding and clothing from the room through a hot dryer cycle. Bag items before you carry them through the house.
  • Vacuum the mattress seams, bed frame and carpet edges, then empty the vacuum into a sealed bag outside.
  • Don't throw out furniture yet. Most mattresses and furniture can be treated. Dragging them through the house can drop bugs along the way.
  • Skip the foggers and store sprays. They tend to scatter bed bugs. Our article on why DIY bed bug treatments fail explains why.

How Time's Up Pest Control Can Help

Bed bugs spread quickly, so this is one pest you shouldn't wait on. Time's Up Pest Control provides bed bug inspections and treatment for San Antonio homes, rentals and hospitality businesses, using heat treatments and targeted applications. Call for a free estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can bed bugs live in a clean house?

Yes. Bed bugs feed on blood, not crumbs or dirt, and travel on luggage, clothing and furniture into any home.

Do bed bugs spread disease?

Bed bugs aren't known to spread disease, but bites can itch badly, and infestations cause real stress and lost sleep.

Should I throw my mattress away?

Usually not. Most mattresses can be treated and then protected with an encasement. Ask your technician before getting rid of anything.

Contact Time's Up Pest Control

Time's Up Pest Control is a family-owned San Antonio pest control company serving homes and businesses. Licensed technicians (TPCL #877175), free estimates, satisfaction guarantee and 24/7 emergency service.

Phone: (210) 868-2267

Email: info@timesupbugs.com

Address: 1800 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Suite 216-B, San Antonio, TX 78209

Services: Pest Control, Termite Control, Pest Prevention, Commercial Pest Control