The bad news is that most people are likely to be unaware of the presence of bedbugs until the infestation is quite severe. The good news is that armed with the right information, in most cases you can get rid of them yourself but it does involve a little bit of effort.

What do bedbugs look like?

Adult bedbugs are flattish, brown coloured wingless insects that are visible to the naked eye. The main difficulty in getting rid of bedbugs is that they are incredibly adept at finding places to hide. Don't be under the illusion that they are only present in the bed, they can hide just about anywhere that is small enough to harbour them. This means they can be present in the carpets, in cracks and crevices in the walls, floors, ceilings, pipes and skirting boards, and in the seams of material such as clothing, curtains and tablecloths. To get rid of them effectively, you have to consider and treat all these places too.

Another challenge when dealing with bedbugs is that they are nocturnal creatures that tend to feed mostly just before dawn when you are likely to be fast asleep. So although they are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, you are unlikely to spot them, particularly as when they bite, the effects of the bite are not felt straight away and will arise anything from a few minutes to a few hours later by which time the bug has long since scarpered from the scene of the crime.

The only evidence you might have of their presence at all is the bite marks they leave behind, which of course you may also attribute to mosquitoes or other insects. This doesn't mean that if you do have bites they are definitely from bedbugs, it's just that they might be and this fact shouldn't be overlooked.

How do I get rid of them?

If you suspect the presence of bedbugs, or even if you don't, there are certain measures you can take which will be highly effective in controlling them or preventing them from establishing themselves in the first place.

- Make sure that you wash all your bedding and curtains and vacuum the carpets and indeed all mattresses on a regular basis.

- If you know you have an infestation of bedbugs then wash all clothing and materials in the hottest water they can stand.

- If you have a severe infestation of bedbugs then it may be better to dispose of the mattress altogether and buy a new one.

- Be careful to thoroughly wash and clean any second hand items of furniture or clothing you acquire as bedbugs can enter your home in this way.

- Similarly, if you have been travelling, take special care to inspect and if necessary treat everything you carried home with you, including suitcases, rucksacks and backpacks.

Remember that bedbugs can travel; even though they cannot fly they can move quickly and effectively throughout the entire house in their search for a suitable host. Buy a good insecticide/pesticide that is suitable for treating bedbugs; it will also get rid of other undesirable insects too. Follow the instructions for use and make sure that you apply/spray it everywhere that bedbugs could be lurking.