Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. Since they're less than a quarter of an inch long, they're almost impossible to spot. But they can be found anywhere, from houses to nursing homes and hotels. 

The tell-tale sign of bed bugs is small bites clustered in a group or line on your skin. Although bed bug bites are itchy, they're usually harmless.

"In the vast majority of cases, bed bugs are a nuisance rather than genuinely dangerous to health," says Sreedhar Krishna, a dermatologist at TalkHealth London. In fact, the CDC says that bed bugs don't spread disease. 

While you can try to get rid of bed bugs on your own, professional extermination is likely to be more effective. In some cases, a bed bug infestation can become worse during the time you take to try to get rid of bed bugs yourself.

Treating bed bugs can be complex and time-consuming, especially since infestations are usually severe by the time people notice them. A methodical approach can help you get rid of bed bugs and sleep easier. 

Here's how to get rid of bed bugs, whether you want to call an exterminator or do it yourself. 

At the first sign of a bed bug infestation, it's best to take action immediately. Bed bugs can reproduce rapidly and lay up to five eggs daily, which hatch after 4 to 12 days.

The earlier you spot a bed bug infestation, the better chances you'll have at getting rid of them—not to mention the time and money you'll save. 

If you see any of these tell-tale signs, you may have a bed bug problem at hand:

Bed bugs are experts at hide-and-seek and can be found almost anywhere. With their small, flat bodies, they can crawl into the smallest of cracks and hide for a long time without being detected — even without a meal.

They tend to seek hiding places that are dark, tight, and undisturbed. They also prefer warm and humid areas, which is also why they're attracted to the warmth of living bodies.

Before calling a professional, you can do a self-inspection of common bed bug hiding places:

Big infestations are easily spotted. Smaller ones, on the other hand, may require the expertise of an exterminator to spot.

Once you realize that you have bed bugs, the first step is to try to control the infestation so that it doesn't spread. For many people, the first inclination is to sleep somewhere without bed bugs, like in a guest bedroom or on the couch. 

Unfortunately, doing that can bring bed bugs into other areas of your house, so experts recommend thoroughly cleaning your bedroom and continuing to sleep in there.

When you notice a bed bug infestation, immediately take these steps to help curb the spread of bed bugs: 

After you've taken these steps, you can make your bed and know that you have a safe space to sleep while you handle the infestation.

If you don't want to hire an exterminator, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends trying certain do-it-yourself remedies to kill bed bugs:  

Note: If you decide to use pesticides without professional help, it's important to follow the directions closely to avoid any health side effects. 

To identify bed bugs, the most common signs include:  

If you're taking a DIY approach to getting rid of bed bugs, follow these steps:

Although it's tempting, don't throw your bed or bedding away. Replacing it would be expensive, and you're probably better off spending that money on a professional exterminator. 

Though professional pest control is probably the most effective route to bed bug extermination, you can help keep an infestation at bay with non-toxic and chemical-free treatments. 

Here are some natural bed bug treatments that are worth a try:

Giving your beds, sofas, and other furniture a deep, thorough vacuuming can help curb the bed bug population. For maximum effectiveness, make sure to vacuum regularly every day or at least every few days.

Be sure to vacuum all the surfaces of your bedroom. This means your floor, carpets, ceiling, and even the insides of your drawers, cabinets, and electronics. 

Another crucial step is to discard the vacuum bag somewhere far away from your home. If left alone, bed bugs can easily crawl out of the vacuum and spread to new places.

If possible, burn the bag's contents to kill off all bed bugs. If the vacuum bag can't be removed, transfer all the contents to a sealed container bag and dispose of it properly.

As mentioned earlier, high heat is a great way to get rid of bed bugs. A portable steam wand will be the best tool for this because it'll allow you to reach even the tightest spaces.

Aim for a temperature range of about 160-180°F to ensure that no bed bugs survive. 

Quick tip: Always consider the fabric or material of the surface you'll be steaming, as some materials, such as suede or waxed fabrics, are sensitive to high heat.

Steaming is most effective against bed bugs when done regularly. If you're actively trying to kill bed bugs, you may want to use the steamer 2-3 times in one day, going over different hiding spots each time. If you are looking to prevent bed bugs, you may want to steam clean on a weekly basis. 

Washing your clothes and bedding in hot water and drying them in high heat is also a simple and easy way to kill bed bugs. 

Sort your clothes and garments according to washing instructions and place them in sealed bags to prevent bed bugs from crawling out.

Once they're washed and dried, inspect each piece of clothing as you fold them to make sure there are no bed bugs left. 

Before going home, place your clean and bed bug-free clothes in a sealed bag so that you can keep your clothes away from infested areas and prevent re-infestation. 

Diatomaceous earth is a type of desiccant that acts as an inexpensive, natural pesticide that you can easily purchase from your local grocery or hardware store. 

It's pretty straightforward to use — just spread evenly on all infested areas. For your safety, make sure to use a face mask and protective gloves during application.

This method takes time and patience, as you'll need to reapply it every few days. It may take a week or longer to see its effects on your bed bug population.

Biopesticides are plant-based pesticides and contain no harmful chemicals. A Rutgers study shows that many of these biopesticides are effective in contact-killing bed bugs. 

Simply spray the biopesticide thoroughly on all infested areas. Note that biopesticides are most effective when sprayed directly on bed bugs.

You can purchase biopesticides at most grocery stores. Just make sure that you buy only EPA-certified ones. Look for the EPA-certified logo when shopping for products or search for products on a designated website. 

An exterminator will follow the same basic approach to eliminate bed bugs but with professional resources. They'll disassemble and clean your furniture and make recommendations for rearranging your space to prevent further infestations. 

Exterminators use the same tools — heat or pesticides — but they have access to higher-quality equipment that can work more quickly and effectively. 

"There are a number of home remedies which one can try, but these are unlikely to eradicate the problem," Krishna says. "This is because bed bugs can hide in very tricky to reach areas ,and so professional help is often required."

What's the cost? Bed bug treatment can be expensive. You'll likely pay between $500 and $1,500 for extermination, although more severe infestations can cost thousands to treat. If you rent, your landlord may be responsible for some of the cost of treatment, so certainly talk to them. 

Most bed bugs will be killed after initial treatment by a professional exterminator. Typically, treatment takes 30 minutes to two hours, but the exterminator will tell you when it's safe to reenter your space based on the pesticide that they used. 

After the extermination is complete, you should continue to monitor for signs of bedbugs for at least two weeks. If you see any, the exterminator may need to come back and repeat their treatment. It's not uncommon for exterminators to come back multiple times to get rid of the bed bugs. 

The EPA has additional guidance on selecting a pest control company. Be sure that the person you hire uses the principles of integrated pest management (IPM). That includes helping you know what to look for in terms of signs of continuing infections. 

Prevention is the best cure, and the same applies to bed bugs. Here are ways you can prevent a bed bug infestation in your home:

Bed bugs can come from anywhere. They usually enter your home by hitching a ride on any surface that came from an infested area. The most common culprits are used furniture or clothing. 

While bed bugs depend on blood meals to survive, they cannot live on your body. Instead, bed bugs choose to live near the host, such as under your mattress or inside your headboard.

While there are multiple ways to tackle a bed bug infestation, these are the three most effective ways to deal with them: extreme heat (above 130°F), extreme cold (0°F and below), and pesticides.

Yes, and they're usually readily available in grocery and hardware stores. 

Most pesticides contain harmful and toxic chemicals. However, there are also plant-based pesticides available that are effective against bed bugs.

The usual tell-tale signs of a bed bug infestation are blood stains on your bedding, itchy and red bite marks on your body, and finding small bed bug eggs or shell casings on your bed.

Bed bugs are creepy, but they're mostly harmless, and there are effective ways to get rid of them. Remembering that can help you stay calm if you notice the signs of a bed bug infestation in your home. 

"You never need to panic if you have bed bugs," Young says. "There are qualified people and correct methods of safely exterminating your problem."

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