How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in a Mattress?

Dealing with an infested mattress bed bugs can be stressful, but the good news is you don’t always need to throw your mattress away.

The best way to get rid of bed bugs in a mattress is by thoroughly vacuuming, using mattress-safe steam treatments, sealing the bed in an encasement, and combining these steps with professional pest control if needed.

With the right approach, you can eliminate the infestation and make your mattress safe to sleep on again.

Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

Please note: completely removing bed bugs can be a difficult task. We highly recommend disposing of the mattress. If removing the bed is not within your means, taking these steps may help remove the problem.

Getting rid of bed bugs is a multi-step process that requires persistence and a combination of different methods. While some DIY treatments can help reduce infestations, complete eradication often requires professional intervention.

Here’s an in-depth approach to eliminating bed bugs from your mattress and home.

1. Wash Bug-Infested Clothes and Bedding

Remove bedding, including pillowcases, and any clothing on the floor and place in the washing machine to clean in hot water, before placing in the dryer on the highest possible setting. Items that can’t be washed, like shoes and stuffed animals, can be run through the dryer for 30 minutes to kill any possible bed bugs.

2. Dry Scrub and Vacuum

Apply a stiff brush to the mattress seams to displace bed bugs and eggs. Immediately use a vacuum cleaner on the sleep surface to remove displaced bugs and eggs, then vacuum the area around the bed. Empty vacuum contents or vacuum bag into plastic bags before sealing and tossing into outdoor trash cans. Please note: dry scrubbing and vacuuming only removes visible bed bugs and bed bug eggs on the surface of the mattress, not bed bugs that are burrowed deeper inside the bed.

To ensure bed bugs are completely eradicated from your fabrics, wash all infested items at 120°F (49°C) or higher—this is the temperature required to kill bed bugs and their eggs. If possible, use a steam setting on your washing machine for added effectiveness. 

Additionally, for delicate items that can’t handle high heat, seal them in plastic bags and place them in a freezer at 0°F (-18°C) for at least four days to eliminate any hidden bed bugs.

Consider using bed bug laundry additives designed to kill bed bugs and their eggs during washing. After laundering, store clean items in sealed plastic bags to prevent reinfestation while you continue treatment.

3. Steam Clean

Using dry, high heat steamers are a good DIY method to get rid of bed bugs. High temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit kill bed bugs on contact.

Steaming is a good alternative to using chemicals, and it also gets rid of bacteria and allergens. As a word of caution, steam is not ideal for memory foam mattresses— heat and liquid can cause memory foam to quickly deteriorate.

For maximum effectiveness, use a high-powered vacuum with a HEPA filter, as standard vacuums may not trap all bed bugs. Focus on areas where bed bugs commonly hide, such as mattress seams, headboards, baseboards, cracks in furniture, and carpet edges.

After vacuuming, immediately dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister into an outdoor trash bin to prevent any surviving bugs from escaping. If using a bagless vacuum, rinse the canister with hot, soapy water to kill any remaining bed bugs or eggs.

For better results, vacuum daily while treating an infestation. To prevent re-infestation, continue vacuuming at least once a week even after the visible bed bugs are gone.

When using a steam cleaner, set it to at least 200°F (93°C) with a low-moisture output to prevent excessive dampness. Direct the steam slowly over infested areas, ensuring the heat penetrates deep into fabric folds, mattress seams, and furniture crevices where bed bugs hide.

For non-washable items like sofas, chairs, curtains, and carpets, steaming is an effective way to kill bed bugs without using chemicals. However, allow items to dry completely before use to prevent mold or mildew buildup.

For extra effectiveness, combine steam cleaning with other treatments, such as vacuuming and diatomaceous earth. If treating a large infestation, repeat steaming every few days to target newly hatched bed bugs before they can reproduce.

4. Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a natural health supplement made of tiny fossilized diatoms, or plankton that are mined and ground into a fine powder. It contains high levels of silica which helps to improve hair, skin, and nail growth in humans.

For bed bugs, diatomaceous earth absorbs oils and fats inside the bed bug, drying it out. To apply, sprinkle an even coating of diatomaceous earth over the surface of your mattress. Do this only if the mattress is dry, otherwise, it will be less effective. Cover the mattress with an encasement sealed with a zipper, and keep the mattress sealed for 4 to 6 weeks to make sure all bed bugs and eggs are destroyed.

5. Pesticides

Pesticides can be an effective treatment method for severe infestations. However, it’s crucial to use the right products and follow safety guidelines.

Bed Bug Sprays: Certain pesticides, such as pyrethroids and pyrethrins, are specifically designed to kill bed bugs. These insecticides target their nervous system, causing paralysis and death. However, some bed bugs have developed resistance, so it’s best to combine sprays with other methods.

Desiccant Dusts: Desiccants, such as silica gel and boric acid, work by drying out bed bugs’ protective outer layers. Unlike chemical pesticides, bed bugs cannot develop resistance to desiccants, making them a long-term solution.

Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs): IGRs disrupt the bed bug life cycle, preventing eggs and nymphs from developing into adults. These chemicals, like hydroprene and methoprene, don’t kill bed bugs immediately but significantly reduce populations over time.

6. Seal the Mattress

After treatment, encase the mattress and box spring in a special, tightly woven, zippered mattress protector to avoid further intrusions and prevent bed bugs from escaping.

Make sure the mattress protector shields against bed bugs, since many brands only guard against liquid spills and stains. Since bed bugs can survive up to a year with no food, it’s important to keep these encased covers on for a year to make sure the bed bugs are dead.

Placing interceptor traps under the legs of your bed can help catch bed bugs attempting to climb onto the mattress.

If Bed Bugs Don’t Go Away

Bed bugs are highly persistent pests, and DIY methods may not always be enough, especially in severe infestations. If bed bugs continue to reappear despite washing, vacuuming, steaming, and using pesticides, it likely means they have spread to other areas of your home, such as furniture, walls, carpets, or electrical outlets. At this stage, taking more aggressive action is necessary to fully eliminate the infestation before it worsens.

If the bed bugs are still present after following these steps, you have two options: 1) Contact an exterminator or 2) Dispose of the mattress.

1. Call in the Experts

Calling in pest management services or a pest control company is one of the most effective ways to get rid of bed bugs. Exterminators use special chemical treatments to kill bed bugs and bed bug eggs.

It can be expensive, depending on the situation, but it might be worth it if it means saving your bed and furniture from being destroyed. Also, if the issue is severe, you may have to vacate for a few days while your home is treated and sealed.

2. Dispose off the Mattress

The best course of action to take in light of a bed bug infestation is to remove the mattress. Removing the bed can drastically reduce an infestation and save you a lot of time and discomfort.

We understand that you may feel it’s not in your best interest to buy a new mattress, but if following the previous steps doesn’t help, you may be left with no choice.

Types of Professional Bed Bug Treatments:

1. Heat Treatment (Thermal Remediation): This method involves raising the temperature of your home to 135°F to 145°F (57°C to 62°C) to kill bed bugs at all life stages. It’s a chemical-free solution, making it ideal for homes with children or pets.
2. Insecticide Treatment: Pest control experts use a combination of residual insecticides, growth regulators, and contact sprays to eliminate bed bugs. Multiple visits may be required for complete eradication.
3. Fumigation (For Severe Cases): In extreme infestations, whole-home fumigation using gas treatments can be performed, though this requires temporary evacuation of your home for a few days.

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Precautions

To prevent or reduce the likelihood of a bed bug infestation, follow healthy practices like using a mattress protector and regularly switching out your bedding. These precautions could save you the headache of dealing with bed bugs.

1. Regular Inspection

Frequent inspections and cleaning routines can help detect and eliminate bed bugs before they spread. Carefully check the seams, edges, and underside of your mattress and bed frame for any signs of bed bugs, such as tiny reddish-brown stains, shed skins, or live insects.

Since bed bugs are small and good at hiding, they can often go unnoticed until the infestation is widespread. To catch an infestation early, regularly check for small blood stains on your sheets, shed skins around your mattress, and any unusual itching or bite marks on your skin. 

Placing interceptor cups under bed and furniture legs can help identify bed bug activity before it becomes a major problem.

2. Bedroom Tidiness 

Frequent cleaning and inspections can help detect bed bugs before they become a full-blown infestation.

A cluttered home provides numerous hiding spots for bed bugs, making it harder to detect an infestation early. Keep the floor around your bed clear of unnecessary items, and avoid storing personal belongings under the bed where bugs could hide. 

Use sealed plastic storage bins instead of cardboard boxes, as bed bugs can easily burrow into paper-based materials. Regularly dusting, vacuuming, and organizing your space will make it less appealing for bed bugs to settle in.

• Vacuum your mattress, bed frame, and surrounding areas at least once a week, making sure to empty the vacuum bag immediately into a sealed plastic bag.
• Wash and heat-dry your Floor carpeting on the highest heat setting to kill any lingering bed bugs.

3. Mattress Protector

The best type of mattress protector is a fully encased one. Special fabric prevents bed bugs and dust mites from entering your mattress, and can also protect against stains and spills. Mattress protectors are also a great way of prolonging the life of your bed.

4. Cautions while Travelling

Hotels, public transportation, and even airplanes can be hotspots for bed bug infestations. Before settling into a hotel room, inspect the bed, headboard, and nearby furniture for any signs of bed bugs.

Keep your luggage elevated on a rack instead of placing it on the bed or floor, and store worn clothes in sealed plastic bags to prevent bed bugs from hitching a ride home. Upon returning from a trip, wash and heat-dry all clothing immediately and vacuum out your suitcase before storing it away.

5. Change Bedding Regularly

Regularly switching out and laundering your bedding can reduce the risk of bed bugs and destroy any that are present on the mattress surface. By washing bed sheets at least once a week and washing comforters, pillows, and blankets once a month, you can help reduce the risk of bed bug infestations and improve sleep health.

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped insects with a brownish hue. Bed bugs live off blood meals from animals and humans, with their flat bodies swelling and turning red after each meal. While they can’t fly, bed bugs are surprisingly agile, moving quickly across surfaces.

Once hatched, bed bugs shed their skin five times before reaching adulthood— they need a full meal before each shedding and are fully developed within a month.

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?

Bed bugs can travel undetected through luggage, used furniture, and clothing because their flattened bodies (about as thick as a credit card) makes it easy to hide in small spaces, like crevices in nightstands or baseboards. This is why it’s crucial to machine wash clothing after a long trip— to eliminate the pests before they become a problem.

Over time, bed bugs can spread out from their hiding spots, traveling to other parts of a room, even to other parts of the house or apartment. They live in groups rather than forming nests and like to live in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards (hence their name) for easy access to their food source— us.

Signs of Bed Bugs

If you start to notice small and itchy red bites on your skin, you could have bed bugs. Bed bug bites are commonly mistaken for mosquito bites; however, if you notice these bite marks after sleeping on a used mattress, after a long trip, or after moving used furniture into your home, there’s a good chance you have bed bugs.

Bed bugs are most active at night— while we’re sleeping in our beds. Bed bugs pierce the skin with their elongated beaks and feed until they are roughly 7 times their normal size. The bites are painless at first, but within a day they develop into itchy red welts on areas of the body left exposed at night.

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, check the bedding and mattress for bloodstains, dark or reddish-brown spots, eggs (about 1mm in size), eggshells, translucent and slightly orange shed skin, and a musty odor.

Health issues; a mattress infested with Bed Bugs 

Bed bug prevention is crucial because these tiny pests are notoriously difficult to eliminate once they infest a home. They spread quickly, hiding in mattresses, furniture, clothing, and even electrical outlets. Unlike other household pests, bed bugs are resilient to many common insecticides, making extermination costly and time-consuming. 

Preventing an infestation saves money, protects your home, and ensures a good night’s sleep without the constant worry of bites or the need for extreme pest control measures.

While bed bugs do not transmit diseases, they can cause several health issues, including:

• Skin Irritation & Allergic Reactions: Their bites can lead to itchy, red welts that may develop into rashes or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
• Infections: Excessive scratching of bites can break the skin, increasing the risk of bacterial infections.
• Sleep Disturbances: Knowing bed bugs are present can cause anxiety and sleep deprivation, leading to fatigue and stress.
• Mental Health Issues: Persistent infestations have been linked to increased stress, anxiety, and even insomnia.
• Anemia (Rare Cases): Severe infestations with frequent bites may lead to low blood levels (anemia), particularly in vulnerable individuals like children or the elderly.

By taking preventive measures—such as regularly inspecting bedding, using mattress protectors, and avoiding second-hand furniture without thorough checks—you can minimize the risk of bed bug infestations and their negative impact on health.

Other Things to Consider

How do you check a mattress for bed bugs?

Keep an eye out for reddish stains on bed sheets, tiny eggs or eggshells (about 1 mm), and, of course, live bed bugs in and around your mattress.

Can I sleep in my bed after bed bug treatment?

Yes, but only after the treatment has dried and taken effect. If your home has been treated with chemical insecticides, you may need to wait a few hours to a full day before using your bed, depending on the exterminator’s recommendations. 

If a heat treatment was used, it is safe to sleep in your bed immediately, but it’s important to keep the mattress encased in a bed bug-proof cover to trap any lingering pests. To avoid reinfestation, ensure that all bedding and surrounding areas have been cleaned and inspected before resuming normal use.

Is there a specific scent to keep bed bugs away?

Lavender is the perfect essential oil to guard against bed bugs— it repels bed bugs, keeping them away Add 20-30 drops of lavender oil to baking soda, then evenly coat the mattress surface before letting it sit for a couple of hours. Use the upholstery brush to vacuum the baking soda. Baking soda is a great way to deodorize your mattress.

How do I throw my old mattress away?

If your mattress has bed bugs, do not put it in the nearest dumpster. In some places, you can get fined for doing this, so check with your local waste disposal organization for ways to get rid of your mattress. And of course, do not donate it or give it away to a friend. There are some mattress disposal companies that will come pick up the mattress and dispose of it for you.

How can I prevent bed bugs from getting on my mattress?

As soon as you buy a new mattress, place a mattress protector encasement on it. This will cover all six sides of the mattress and it zips closed, so no bed bugs can get in. Keep your bed and the space around it as clean as possible. Dust frequently and clean the mattress regularly.

Do hair dryers effectively kill bed bugs?

Hair dryers can kill bed bugs on contact, but they are not an effective long-term solution. A standard hair dryer can reach temperatures of 130°F to 160°F, which is enough to kill bed bugs, but only if applied directly for an extended period. 

However, this method is impractical for treating an entire infestation since bed bugs hide deep in mattress seams, furniture cracks, and wall voids, where a hair dryer’s heat cannot penetrate. Instead, a professional-grade steam cleaner or heat treatment is a far more effective way to eliminate bed bugs at all life stages.

Can bed bugs come back?

Yes, bed bugs can come back if even a few survive the initial treatment. Since they reproduce quickly, missing even a small number of eggs can lead to a reinfestation within weeks. Bed bugs can also re-enter your home through travel, second-hand furniture, or neighboring units in apartments. To prevent their return, take preventative measures, such as:

• Using a bed bug-proof mattress encasement to trap any surviving pests.
• Vacuuming and inspecting your home regularly, especially around the bed area.
• Avoiding clutter, which can create more hiding spots.
• Being cautious when traveling by checking hotel beds and washing clothes immediately after returning home.

Should I replace an infested mattress with a new mattress and How?

Replacing your mattress should be a last resort, not the first solution. If the infestation is severe and treatments have failed, then disposing of the mattress may be necessary. However, simply buying a new mattress without properly treating your home will not solve the problem, as bed bugs can hide in bed frames, carpets, furniture, and even wall cracks, quickly infesting the new mattress.

Before replacing your mattress, ensure that:

• All bed bugs in your home have been eliminated through thorough treatment.
• Your bed frame and surrounding areas have been vacuumed, steamed, and treated with insecticides.

You use a bed bug-proof encasement on the new mattress to prevent future infestations.

What should I do with my mattress if I see bed bugs on it?

If you notice bed bugs, you can use bed bug spray or call an exterminator, but sometimes the problem is too far gone and it’s time to buy a new mattress. Other furniture in your room may also be infested, so examine each surface carefully.

Do bedbugs stay on your body?

No, bed bugs do not stay on your body like lice or ticks. They prefer to hide in cracks, crevices, and bedding rather than live on human skin or in hair. Bed bugs only come out at night to feed on blood, and once they are full, they return to their hiding spots. However, they can accidentally hitch a ride on clothing, bags, or personal belongings, which is why infestations can spread easily. If you suspect exposure, wash your clothes in hot water and dry them on high heat to eliminate any potential bed bugs.

How long do bedbugs last?

Bed bugs have a lifespan of about 4 to 6 months, but under certain conditions, they can survive up to a year without feeding. Their lifespan depends on factors like temperature, availability of food (blood), and environmental conditions. In warm environments with easy access to a host, bed bugs reproduce quickly, laying up to 500 eggs in their lifetime, making infestations difficult to control without proper treatment.

Are bedbugs visible to the eye?

Yes, adult bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, though they are small and can be difficult to spot. They are about the size of an apple seed (4-7 mm long), with a flat, oval-shaped, reddish-brown body. Bed bug eggs and nymphs (young bed bugs) are much harder to see because they are tiny (about 1mm) and translucent white. 

To check for bed bugs, inspect mattress seams, furniture cracks, and bedding for small, dark stains (fecal spots), shed skins, or live bugs. Using a flashlight and magnifying glass can help spot them in hidden areas.

Conclusion

Bed bugs can easily turn into a huge problem if not properly treated right away. The best method is to dispose of your current mattress and call in experts to remove any possible trace of bed bugs. Don’t put up with bed bug problems— take the necessary steps to get rid of the pests today.