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How to get Bed Bugs out of a Mattress

By: Christina Davies
Updated on: January 29, 2025
FAST FACTS

  • Bed bugs are small, blood-feeding insects that infest mattresses and can be challenging to eliminate. Signs of a bed bug infestation include itchy red bites, bloodstains, dark spots, tiny eggs, and a musty odor.
  • DIY methods to remove bed bugs from a mattress include washing bedding, dry scrubbing, vacuuming, and using steam cleaners. Natural remedies like diatomaceous earth and lavender essential oil can also help.
  • After treatment, seal your mattress with a protective cover to prevent re-infestation. If DIY efforts fail, consider professional pest control. Proper disposal of an infested mattress may be necessary if the problem persists.
  • Preventive measures include using mattress protectors, changing bedding regularly, and maintaining a clean sleeping environment.

Bed bugs are a common issue many households face, affecting approximately one in five homes. These nocturnal insects feed on human blood and leave behind itchy red bites. Once they infest a mattress, they can quickly spread throughout your home, making elimination challenging. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to get bed bugs out of a mattress, providing expert insights and practical tips for a bed bug-free night’s sleep.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small blood-feeding insects. Adult bed bugs are about 5 to 6.5 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide. They have an oval shape, are reddish-brown, and possess six legs and antennae. These critters can’t fly, but they are fast crawlers.

Bed bugs are attracted to the warmth and scent of humans. They like to hide in the seams of your mattress, under your bed, and in the cracks and joints of bed frames, headboards, and footboards. They prefer hiding spots near where they can easily access their food source. That’s where bed bugs hide. That’s why you often find them in mattresses, earning them the name “bed bugs.”

Bed bug eggs are small and hard to see, resembling specks of dust. They hatch in about ten days, giving birth to baby bed bugs known as nymphs. These nymphs feed on your blood and shed their skin after each meal. After shedding their skin about five times, they mature in about six weeks and can lay more eggs in your bed.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Identifying the indications of a bed bug infestation is crucial for prompt action. Some common signs of bed bug spray may include:

  • Small, itchy red bites on your skin are often mistaken for mosquito bites.
  • Bloodstains on your bedding or pajamas.
  • Dark or reddish-brown spots on your mattress or sheets indicate bed bug excrement.
  • Tiny eggs, eggshells, or shed skin in the seams or crevices of your mattress.
  • A musty odor in the vicinity of your bed.

DIY Methods to Remove Bed Bugs

While professional pest control services are typically the most efficient solution for removing bed bugs, you can try several methods to eliminate bed bugs from your mattress. These methods may not completely eradicate the infestation but can help reduce the problem.

Washing Bug-Infested Clothes and Bedding

Remove all bedding on the bed frame floor, including pillowcases and any clothing, and wash them in hot water. High temperatures are a highly effective method for killing bed bugs and their eggs. After washing, dry them on the highest possible setting. Items that cannot be washed, like shoes and stuffed animals, can be placed in the dryer for a 30-minute cycle.

Dry Scrubbing and Vacuuming

Use a firm brush to clean the edges and surfaces of your mattress to remove bed bugs and their eggs. Immediately vacuum the mattress, focusing on the areas where bed bugs are likely to hide. Empty the vacuum’s contents into airtight plastic bags and discard them in outdoor garbage bins. However, it’s important to note that dry scrubbing and vacuuming may only remove visible adult bed bug bugs and eggs on the surface, not those hidden deeper within the mattress.

Using Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaning is another effective method to kill bed bugs. High temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit can eliminate bed bugs on contact. Use a dry, high-heat steamer to treat your mattress, paying close attention to crevices, seams, and other hiding spots. Steam not only kills bed bugs but also eliminates bacteria and allergens. However, avoid using steam on memory foam mattresses, as heat and liquid can damage them.

Natural Remedies to Combat Bed Bugs

In addition to DIY methods, natural remedies can help combat bed bugs.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a natural product created from fossilized diatoms. It contains high levels of silica, which can dehydrate and kill bed bugs. Sprinkle an even coating of diatomaceous earth over your mattress surface, focusing on areas where bed bugs are likely to hide. Leave it on for 4 to 6 weeks, destroying all bed bugs and eggs. Then, encase your mattress in a tightly woven, zippered mattress protector.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is known to repel bed bugs. Put 20-30 drops of lavender oil into baking soda and spread it evenly on your mattress’s surface. Let it sit for a couple of hours before vacuuming with an upholstery brush. Baking soda helps to deodorize your mattress and enhances the effectiveness of lavender oil in repelling bed bugs.

Sealing and Protecting Your Mattress

After treating your mattress for bed bugs, it’s crucial to seal and protect it to prevent further infestations. Use a specially designed, fully encased mattress protector that is tightly woven and features a zipper closure. This will create a barrier against bed bugs and prevent them from entering or escaping your mattress. Keep the mattress protector on for at least a year to eradicate all remaining bed bugs in a mattress.

Calling in Pest Control Experts

If DIY methods fail to eliminate the bed bug infestation or if the problem is severe, it is advisable to seek professional help. Pest control experts have specialized knowledge of young bed bugs and access to effective chemical treatments that can eradicate bed bugs and their eggs. Though expensive, professional intervention can save your mattress and furniture from further damage.

Disposing of the Infested Mattress

If all else fails and the bed bug infestation persists, the best course of action to identify bed bugs is to dispose of the infested mattress. Taking out the mattress will greatly lessen the bug problem and keep it from spreading to other parts of your home. Make sure to ask your local waste disposal group about the right way to get rid of it because throwing away a bug-infested mattress in a regular trash bin might not be allowed.

Precautions to Prevent Bed Bug Infestations

Taking preventative measures is essential to avoid future bed bug infestations. Here are some precautions you can take to prevent bed bug infestation now:

Using a Mattress Protector

Invest in a high-quality, fully encased mattress protector that is specifically designed to guard your mattress seams against bed bugs. This will create a physical barrier, preventing bed bugs from entering your mattress.

Regularly Changing Bedding.

Frequently change and launder your bedding to reduce the risk of bed bugs. Wash bed sheets at least once a week in hot water and clean comforters, pillows, and blankets monthly. This practice will help eliminate bed bugs on the mattress surface and maintain a hygienic sleeping environment.

Keeping a Clean Sleeping Environment

Dust and vacuum your bedroom regularly to minimize hiding places for bed bugs. Pay attention to cracks, crevices, and baseboards where bed bugs may hide. Keeping your sleeping environment clean and clutter-free will make it less appealing for bed bugs to infest.

FAQs about How to get Bed Bugs out of a Mattress

Do I need to get rid of my mattress if it has bed bugs?

No, you don’t necessarily need to toss out your mattress if it has bed bugs. If the bed bug problem isn’t too severe, you can try to get rid of the bed bugs by vacuuming your mattress and then covering it with a special bedbug-proof cover.

Getting a new mattress might not be a good idea if your room still has bed bugs. Those pesky bed bugs will infest your new mattress. Only buy a new mattress if all your attempts to remove bed bugs fail. But make sure your home is completely free of bed bugs before getting a new mattress. To prevent bed bugs from escaping your infested mattress, wrap it in heavy-duty plastic and seal it with duct tape before disposing of it.

Can bed bugs return?

Yes, bed bugs can come back. Even one pregnant bed bug left behind can lead to 300 g own-up bed bugs and 1000 new eggs in just three months. You need to stay watchful after treating for bed bugs. Don’t take off the cover on your mattress for at least a year. Also, to notice bed bugs again, keep vacuuming your whole bedroom regularly, including your bed.

Can hair dryers kill bed bugs effectively?

Yes, using a hair dryer can kill bed bugs when you blow hot air on them. But you need to keep the heat on each few bed bug bites for a few minutes to ensure they die. It’s less effective than special bed bug steamers, which get hotter.

Is it safe to sleep in bed after a bed bug treatment?

You can still sleep on your mattress after vacuuming and covering it with a special bed bug cover. If live bed bugs are inside the cover, they can’t bite, and you’ll eventually die. If you use insecticides to treat bed bugs, check the instructions; some might require you to leave the room for a few hours.

Can I use essential oils to deal with bed bugs?

You can use essential oils like clove, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, thyme, and cinnamon mixed with water to help prevent bed bug problems. Bed bugs don’t like the strong smell of these oils. But remember essential oils alone may not completely get rid of bed bugs.

Conclusion

Bed bugs can be a real pain, especially when they get into your mattress. By following the instructions in this detailed guide, you can get rid of bed bugs on your mattress and make sure they don’t come back. Remember to use a combination of DIY methods, natural remedies, and professional assistance when necessary. Taking preventative measures, such as using a mattress protector and regularly changing bedding, will help keep your sleep environment bed bug-free. Don’t let bed bugs disrupt your sleep any longer—take action today.

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