There is quite a bit you can do to confirm you have bed bugs and determine the extent of the infestation. Figuring out the level of your infestation will help you decide whether it is light enough for you to treat it yourself or call a pest management professional.

A light infestation is when there are no more than 20 live bugs found per room or no more than 40 fecal traces and the infestation is contained to less than one third of the home. For light infestation you can do the following:

1. Reduce all clutter in the infested room to try eliminate hiding places for the bugs.
2. Wash and dry all clothing and place in sealed plastic bags.
3. Thoroughly clean the house using a HEPA Vacuum Cleaner and/or Steamer. Make sure you also vacuum/steam mattresses, box springs, window treatments, headboards and any cracks and crevices.
4. Wash all bedding and encase all mattresses and box springs.
5. Launder all washable items and place any shoes, bags etc in dryer for 20 minutes on high heat. Afterward, place items in ZipLoc sealed bags or a BugZip.
6. Dismantle beds to locate any hiding places.
7. Pull bed away from wall and place ClimbUp Insect Interceptor on legs of bed. Make sure bedding does not touch the floor.
8. Caulk and seal all holes and cracks around pipes, electrical outlets, base boards and molding.