Bedbug Cases Surge by 25% Across Europe as Experts Reveal 9 Ways to Protect Your Home

Bedbugs are becoming an increasing concern across Europe, with new research suggesting that cases in major cities have risen by between 20 and 25 per cent.

Research led by hospitality technology company Valpas points to a growing problem in hotels and other accommodation, with the company’s co-founder and chief executive, Martim Gois, describing Europe as being at “peak bedbug” levels, according to The Times.

The tiny, reddish-brown insects can hide in mattress seams, bed frames, upholstered furniture and luggage, making them difficult to detect until an infestation has taken hold. They can also travel between locations on clothing, suitcases and second-hand items.

The problem can affect even travellers staying in established hotel chains. This summer, 31-year-old Hannah Stephenson reportedly woke up with more than 100 bedbug bites after spending one night at a Travelodge in Cambridge. She also discovered blood spots and bedbugs in her bedding.

Experts say the key to reducing the risk is to identify warning signs early, inspect potential hiding places and take appropriate precautions when travelling or bringing items into the home.

1. Look for Stains, Shed Skins and Unusual Smells

Recognising the early signs of bedbugs can help prevent a small problem from developing into a larger infestation.

Sharon Robson, a representative of bed retailer MattressOnline, advises people to watch for a sweet, musty smell, which may indicate a substantial infestation.

Other warning signs include black or rust-coloured marks on mattresses and bedding, small brown insects, and empty brown shells left behind as the bugs develop.

Luke Arnel-Cameron, founder of Yass Clean, says bedbugs are difficult to detect because of their small size and ability to hide in narrow, dark spaces.

He recommends regularly inspecting mattress seams, headboards, bed-frame joints and screw holes. People should look for live insects, tiny pale eggs, shed skins and small dark spots on fabric or nearby surfaces.

Frequent checks can make it easier to identify a possible infestation before it spreads throughout a room.

2. Keep the Area Under Your Bed Clear

Clutter does not directly cause bedbugs, but it can create additional hiding places and make an infestation harder to detect.

Arnel-Cameron advises against allowing the space beneath a bed to become a storage area for bags, boxes, spare bedding and piles of clothing.

Keeping the floor clear makes it easier to vacuum around the bed frame and skirting boards and to inspect areas where insects may be hiding.

Cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie, widely known as the “Queen of Clean”, also recommends being careful when unpacking after a trip.

Rather than placing luggage on a bed or carpet, she suggests keeping it on a hard floor away from bedding and upholstered furniture while inspecting its contents.

A hard surface does not guarantee protection from bedbugs, but it can make luggage easier to examine and the surrounding area easier to clean. If a traveller knows their accommodation had an infestation, they should inspect and contain their belongings before bringing them into the home.

3. Vacuum Your Mattress and Consider a Protective Cover

Regular mattress cleaning can help people spot signs of bedbugs, although vacuuming alone will not necessarily eliminate an established infestation.

Crombie recommends vacuuming mattresses every other week, paying particular attention to seams, piping, buttons and other crevices where insects may hide.

She also suggests considering a fully zipped, bedbug-proof mattress encasement. Unlike an ordinary mattress protector, a purpose-designed encasement covers the mattress more completely and can reduce potential hiding places while making signs of infestation easier to identify.

Buyers should check that the cover has a secure zip and inspect it regularly for damage. Even a suitable encasement will not prevent bedbugs from hiding in the bed frame, headboard or elsewhere in the room.

If an infestation is suspected, vacuum contents should be sealed and disposed of promptly in an outdoor bin. Experts recommend contacting a professional pest-control service rather than relying on cleaning alone.

4. Inspect Tight Spaces and Check for Possible Bites

A torch and an old credit card can help with inspecting narrow gaps around a bed.

Robson recommends gently running the edge of a card along mattress piping, bed-frame corners and small cracks to check for insects or eggs that might otherwise remain hidden.

Because bedbugs are small, a careful examination of hard-to-reach areas is important. People should also pay attention to unexplained bites appearing after sleep.

Bedbug bites can resemble those caused by other insects and may occur in lines or clusters on exposed skin. However, bites alone cannot confirm an infestation, as skin reactions vary and other causes are possible.

Finding physical evidence, such as live insects or characteristic spotting, is more useful when trying to establish whether bedbugs are present.

5. Change Your Bedding Weekly and Inspect the Mattress

Changing sheets approximately once a week is a useful general hygiene practice and provides an opportunity to check for signs of bedbugs.

Arnel-Cameron stresses, however, that frequent sheet changes do not necessarily prevent an infestation. Bedbugs are not a reliable indicator of poor household hygiene and can appear in clean homes as well as less frequently cleaned spaces.

When removing bedding, inspect the mattress seams, headboard and bed frame for insects, dark marks or shed skins.

If bedbugs are suspected, wash and dry bedding using the hottest settings permitted by the care labels. Routine laundering can help maintain cleanliness, but suspected infestations may require additional treatment.

6. Check Second-Hand Clothes Before Putting Them Away

Buying pre-owned clothes from charity shops, friends or family does not automatically expose someone to bedbugs, and the risk should not discourage people from shopping sustainably.

However, insects can occasionally hide in clothing folds, pockets and seams, making it sensible to inspect garments before storing or wearing them.

Arnel-Cameron recommends washing second-hand items before use where the fabric allows. A hot tumble-drying cycle may provide additional protection if the garment can safely tolerate the heat.

If an item is suspected of carrying bedbugs, keep it separate from other clothing until it can be treated appropriately. Washing at a low temperature alone may not kill all insects or eggs, so the appropriate heat treatment is important.

7. Use Appropriate Heat Treatment for Clothes and Fabrics

Heat can help eliminate bedbugs and their eggs when the required temperature reaches the places where the insects are hiding.

Arnel-Cameron advises travellers who suspect exposure to place clothing directly into the washing machine rather than spreading it across a bedroom. He recommends washing on a hot cycle and drying on high heat for 30 to 60 minutes, where the care instructions permit.

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the temperature reached, the duration of exposure and the items being treated. A quick wash or brief application of heat should not automatically be assumed to have eliminated every insect.

Crombie also recommends carefully steaming suitable fabric surfaces, including parts of soft-sided luggage, where the material and manufacturer’s instructions allow it.

However, steam must reach the affected areas to be effective, and using a handheld steamer briefly does not prove that a suitcase or fabric item is free of bedbugs. For a suspected infestation, professional advice may be necessary.

8. Consider Hard-Shell Luggage for Your Next Trip

The type of suitcase used when travelling may influence how easy it is to inspect belongings for bedbugs.

Robson says soft-sided luggage can offer more folds, seams and textured surfaces where insects may hide. Hard-shell cases have smoother exterior surfaces that are generally easier to inspect and clean.

A hard-shell suitcase is not bedbug-proof, however. Its lining, pockets, zips, wheels and handles can still provide hiding places.

Crombie recommends using a vacuum’s crevice attachment to clean around the lining, corners, seams and zips if exposure is suspected. Vacuum contents should be sealed and disposed of properly, and the appliance should be cleaned according to its instructions.

The exterior of a hard-shell case can be cleaned with a suitable product, but attention should also be given to the interior and other small spaces. Ordinary disinfectant wipes should not be mistaken for a treatment that eliminates bedbugs.

9. Check Laundry Baskets, Shoes and Stored Clothing

Bedbugs are not confined to mattresses. They can also hide in luggage, laundry containers, shoes, bags and clothing stored near an infested area.

Crombie recommends checking wardrobes and laundry baskets as part of a broader inspection, particularly if bedbugs may have been brought home from a trip.

Items that have not been worn recently can still carry insects if they were stored in affected luggage or exposed to an infestation.

Where exposure is suspected, keep belongings in sealed plastic bags or containers until they can be treated. Move laundry directly to the washing machine rather than sorting it on the bedroom floor.

Clear plastic containers with close-fitting lids may be easier to inspect and clean than fabric laundry baskets. Any suspected contaminated items should be handled carefully to avoid spreading insects to other parts of the home.

Early Detection Is Key to Preventing Bedbugs From Spreading

The reported rise in bedbug cases across European cities has renewed concerns about how easily the insects can travel between hotels, public spaces and private homes.

Although no single precaution guarantees protection, regularly inspecting sleeping areas, keeping potential hiding places clear and handling luggage carefully after travelling can help people identify problems earlier.

Bedbugs can affect households regardless of cleanliness, so discovering them is not necessarily a reflection of poor hygiene. If an infestation is suspected, thorough inspection and appropriate professional treatment are more reliable than depending on routine cleaning alone.