Bed bugs can hide in cracks the width of a fingernail. Look around your bedroom. You will probably see many such cracks. For example, a crack in the plaster in the wall, or between the baseboards and the floor is enough for a bed bug to hide in.
First, vacuum along the wall and baseboards (tops and bottoms). Be sure to get behind any furniture. Then, seal any cracks in the floor or gaps between the floor and baseboards with caulk. Not sure what kind? Go to your hardware store, and tell to the salesperson that you want to seal your room for protection from an insect infestation. Describe the kind of boards you have, the gap width that you need to fill, and follow the salesperson’s instructions. Some people swear by the acrylic caulk, others by the foaming kind that expands when you apply it. Depends on your room. If there are cracks in the wall, get some spackling paste from the hardware store, and fill them in. If you have any loose or torn wallpaper, vacuum it, then glue it down securely and completely. Anything hanging on the walls (posters, paintings, photos, anything in a frame) is a potential hiding place for bugs and a location for them to lay their eggs. If you want to be completely safe, I would recommend bagging and storing these items for 18 months. If you want to keep them, brush them front and back with a stiff brush, and vacuum them. Put a dusting of DE along the frame and backs.
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