Bed Bugs in Seattle
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Seattle's housing includes older low-rise apartment buildings, converted houses split into units, newer mid-rise towers and a lot of short-term and shared housing. Bed bugs do not care about the weather, but the mild climate means there is no off-season for treatment.
Your first week
- Identify the bug. A sealed bag with a specimen, plus photos of droppings along mattress seams, gives a professional something to confirm.
- Report it to whoever manages your building, in writing, and keep a copy. In a small building the owner may be close by; in a larger one, go through the management office.
- Contain your own belongings. Wash and dry bedding on high heat, and keep clean items in sealed bags away from the infested room.
- Tell the units next to yours if you have good relations with them, or ask the landlord to. Early notice limits the spread.
Low-rise buildings and converted houses
In older low-rise buildings and houses split into several units, households often share hallways, laundry rooms and storage. Bugs can move through shared walls and plumbing chases, and a shared laundry or storage space can become a second site. Treatment usually goes best when neighboring units are inspected at the same time as yours.
Newer mid-rise towers have more units and more tenant turnover, and management often has a standard vendor. In either type of building, the owner or manager is the one who can authorize a coordinated treatment.
Travel and a mild climate
Seattle is a busy airport and cruise hub, and heavy travel is one way bed bugs reach homes in any city. When you return from a trip, unpack on a hard surface and wash and dry clothes on high heat. The mild climate means you should not count on cold weather to solve the problem, and heat treatment works year-round.
What to ask a local exterminator
- Are you licensed to do structural pest control in Washington?
- How will you treat shared laundry or storage areas in my building?
- What is the written guarantee, and what do I need to do to keep it valid?
- What preparation do you need from me, and can I get it in writing?
Official resources
For help with a rental, start with your city or county's housing or code enforcement office, and check your state's pest control licensing agency to confirm an exterminator's license. A local legal aid group can tell you what your lease and local rules say about pest problems. This site is not legal advice.
Related guides
- How to tell if you have bed bugs
- What bed bug bites look like
- How to prepare for treatment
- How heat treatment works
- How much treatment costs
- DIY versus a professional
- Where bed bugs come from
- Checking a hotel room
- Bed bug guides for other cities
Request a match with pest control companies serving Seattle and compare quotes before you commit.