Quick answer: Confirm the pest, contain belongings and start a coordinated treatment plan. A high-heat dryer can treat suitable fabrics, but a mattress or one spray alone will not eliminate an infestation. Professional help and follow-up are often needed.
Bed bugs can hide in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture and nearby cracks. Finding them is stressful, but an organized plan helps prevent spreading them through your home. Treatment may require repeated inspections and visits; nobody can promise an immediate fix.
First, confirm it is bed bugs
Bites alone do not prove bed bugs. Look for live insects, shed skins, dark spotting and rusty marks. Inspect mattress seams and tags, the box spring, bed frame joints, headboard and nearby furniture with a flashlight. Adult bed bugs are roughly apple-seed sized, but young bugs are smaller and harder to see.
Save a specimen in a sealed container or take clear photos for a qualified pest professional or local extension office. The EPA identification guide shows where to look and what signs to check.
Contain belongings and prepare
- Contact the right people. Renters should notify the landlord or property manager promptly; neighboring units may need inspection. Arrange a licensed pest professional when possible.
- Bag items before moving them. Keep potentially infested laundry and loose items in sealed bags until they can be treated. Avoid moving unbagged items between rooms.
- Use a dryer for suitable fabrics. The EPA recommends 30 minutes on high heat for items that can withstand it. Washing alone might not kill all bugs and eggs. Follow garment and dryer instructions.
- Protect clean items. Put treated items in fresh, sealed bags or clean containers until they are needed.
- Reduce clutter. Make hiding places easier to inspect without discarding everything or carrying pests through the building.
Treatment options
Vacuum carefully. Vacuum accessible seams, frame joints and floor edges. Afterward, seal and discard the vacuum bag or collected debris outdoors; clean the vacuum according to the equipment instructions. Vacuuming removes some bugs but does not reliably remove every egg.
Use encasements and interceptors. Bed-bug-rated zippered encasements for mattress and box spring can trap bugs inside and make inspection easier. Keep them intact and follow product and professional guidance on duration. Interceptor traps beneath bed legs can help monitor activity; keep the bed away from walls and bedding off the floor.
Coordinate professional treatment. An experienced, licensed operator may use a combination of inspection, heat or carefully selected pesticides. Follow preparation and reentry instructions and plan for follow-up. A mattress cover or consumer spray is not a complete treatment plan.
What not to do
- Do not use rubbing alcohol, gasoline, kerosene or other flammable liquids to kill pests.
- Do not apply outdoor pesticides indoors or use a product on a mattress unless its label specifically permits that use. Follow the label.
- Do not rely on bug bombs alone. The EPA warns against using foggers as the sole control method.
- Do not try to heat a room with an oven, space heater or improvised equipment. Whole-room heat treatment requires appropriate professional equipment and monitoring.
- Do not move untreated belongings or furniture into other rooms; ask your pest professional how to avoid spreading the infestation.
Do you need a new mattress?
Not always. A sound mattress may be treatable or suitable for an encasement. Replacing it before addressing the room can expose the new mattress to the same infestation. If disposal is necessary, coordinate with your pest professional and local waste service, wrap the item before moving it and clearly mark it so it is not reused.
Frequently asked questions
How long does treatment take?
It varies with the extent of the infestation, treatment method and follow-up findings. Ask for a written plan and monitoring schedule.
Can I get rid of bed bugs by washing sheets?
Laundering treats suitable fabrics, especially with the EPA’s high-heat dryer guidance, but bugs can remain elsewhere in the room.
Should I sleep in another room?
Moving bedding or belongings can spread bugs. Ask your pest professional for guidance specific to your home rather than moving items without containment.
Related: Signs of bed bugs on pillows.