Bed bugs are tiny insects; but they’re not so tiny that you can’t see them. If you know where to look, you might be able to treat these insects directly. Bed bugs hide in tight spaces, creases, cracks, crevices, and voids. Some of the places they hide in are impossible to directly treat, but here are a few that aren’t.

• Look between your mattress and your box spring. If you see these insects huddled together amidst shed skins, black and brown stains, and white eggs, you’ve found a bed bug infestation. Keep in mind that the entire infestation can be in a spot the size of your thumbnail. If you spray every insect with a desiccant agent, such as rubbing alcohol, you can dry them out and kill them. Be sure to have this spray available before you do your inspection so the bugs can’t get away before you spray.

• Inspect the cracks and crevices in your bed. If you detect movement or dislodge evidence, such as skins, eggs, or bugs, you can pour rubbing alcohol into the crevice. This liquid will dry up and eliminate the bugs.

• Inspect bookbags, duffel bags, backpacks, pocketbooks, luggage, and other carriable items that bed bugs use to get into homes. If you find eggs, skins, or bugs, you can treat these items with rubbing alcohol or put an item into the dryer for 30 minutes. Heat is one of the best ways to kill bed bugs in all stages of development.

Keep in mind that bed bugs can avoid desiccant sprays. They can also avoid many other products that are topical, even insecticides. If you don’t give them a liberal dose, they could survive to continue to plague you. This step is not the end-all for bed bug control. Far from it. It is only useful when you catch bed bugs early and they are concentrated in one spot.