Dust mites

These little critters make unwelcome bedfellows, but still insist on squatting in your mattress, sheets and pillows. It's rent free for them, and food is thrown in too, in the form of sweat and the skin you shed during sleep. An average single bed is thought to contain a million mites, all of whom leave microscopic droppings that can go on to cause some respiratory problems.

Dealing with it: Wrap your mattress in an airtight bag, to suffocate the buggers, and regularly boil wash sheets and pillows. Dust mites thrive in warm, humid temperatures, so keep the bedroom as cool and airy as you can.

Body lice

A head louse is about the size of the comma sign on your keyboard. Body lice go large, however, up to 20 per cent bigger, and don't restrict themselves to your scalp. The less clean among us most risk infestation, as eggs tend to 'glue' themselves to unwashed clothes and body hair. Once hatched, body lice feed on the 'host' (i.e. you), generally at night when you're festering in bed. They tend to feed in clusters too, sniffing each other out by the smell of their own excrement, and going on to leave itchy 'bite' like traces all over the skin. Adult lice usually live for about a month, but an infestation may last as long as you remain untreated. Lice are reluctant to leave your body voluntarily, in fact, unless you a) die b) run a temperature c) hang out in a hot sauna.

Dealing with it: Over the counter and prescription lotions will effectively rid you of these anti-social pests, but you'll also have to hot wash all clothing, bed linen, brushes and combs to prevent re-infestation.

Moths

A.K.A. the clothes moth, and not because it looks good in a size 10. Measuring up to an inch long, with pale gold wings, they might sound pretty but if you let your bedroom turn into a hovel they'll punish you. Unlike you're average moth, they don't like light and tend to hide away, namely in your wardrobe, where they set about devouring your clothes. They have a particular penchant for wool and unwashed clothes, especially garments soaked in sweat, alcohol and/or urine.

Dealing with it: Protect your clothes by washing them regularly and inspecting your wardrobe or storage area for signs of infestation.

Updated: 06/03/2009