5 Ways To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Your Mattress

Do you have bed bugs in your mattress? Here is how to get rid of them the easy way!

Bed bugs are blood-sucking pests that significantly disrupt rest and sleep. You’ve probably been awakened by itchy bites of these nuisance-causing insects! Identifying bed bugs is crucial for ensuring that appropriate eradication methods are used to get rid of the problem. Bed bugs usually hide in the mattress, bed frame, headboard, or along floorboards. In this article, you’ll learn the different ways to eradicate bed bugs from your mattress.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bat bugs, fleas, and spider beetles are usually mistaken for bed bugs. Bed bugs are tiny, white- or reddish-colored insects with six legs and antennae. They don’t have wings. Fed bed bugs have a more reddish appearance and their bodies elongate and become thicker. While professional Bed Bug Treatment is highly recommended, there are things you can do to help resolve the problem.

Here are the telltale signs of a bed bug infestation in your mattress:

• Bed bug feces or specks of blood in your mattress or pillows
• Small rust-like spots in your bed frame
• Foul-smelling mattress
• Bed bug bites in straight lines that may become itchy and inflamed

Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

1. Wash Everything

Because bed bugs dig deep into mattress fabrics and bed linens, they lay eggs everywhere. The best way to start your bed bug eradication is washing everything as much as possible. However, you must use high-temperature water at 120 °F for washing and dry the fabrics using high heat. Remember that bed bugs are resilient and water alone won’t kill them.

Here are some useful washing tips to help get rid of bed bugs:

• Start with your bedsheets and comforter. Transport them immediately to your laundry area in a sealed large bin or plastic bag to avoid transferring bed bugs or their eggs to other areas of the house.
• If you have a modern washing machine, you can use the sanitize setting feature that uses hot steam to kill bed bugs.
• It’s also important to wash all clothes, fabric curtains, stuffed toys, pet beds, and other fabric materials inside the bedroom where bed bugs are found. You won’t control bed bugs by only washing selected items. So, wash everything to avoid having to start the process all over again.

2. Vacuum All Bugs and Eggs

Vacuuming as many bugs and eggs as possible can help eradicate them easier and faster. Using a HEPA filter vacuum is a good idea to ensure that the bed bugs don’t escape. Remove the bag of the bagged vacuum outside once you’re done. Bagless canister vacuums should be emptied into a sealed container to prevent bed bugs from escaping.

Check out these vacuum tips to get rid of bed bugs:

• Before vacuuming, scrub the seams of the mattresses using a stiff brush.
• Spend time vacuuming creases.
• Pay special attention to your mattress and areas around the bed.
• Vacuum around floorboards because these areas are attractive breeding places for bed bugs.
• Check your sofa or couch for signs of bed bug infestation.

3. Use Steamer to Control Bed Bugs

Steamers are amazingly effective in controlling bed bugs, even up to ¾ inch deep into fabric surfaces. Steaming can kill bed bugs in crevices and cracks. Monitor the affected areas’ surface temperature using an infrared thermometer. Kill bed bugs using steam heat of at least 160 to 180°F via a steam brush.

Here are some steaming tips to kill bed bugs:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure proper steamer usage.
• When steaming, fabrics may get damp but not wet. Decreasing the amount of steam can be done by setting the switch or dial properly.
• Steam all surfaces and areas where the bed bugs normally hide.
• Once steaming is finished, use a fan to circulate air and dry the steamed items.
• Don’t use a pin-point steam nozzle because it won’t distribute the steam.

4. Cover Your Mattress

Encase your mattress and box springs using a sealed cover. It’ll prevent bed bugs from coming in or going out of the mattress. Keep the cover for minimum one year to kill all bed bugs in your mattress.

5. Change Your Mattress

If you have a heavily infested mattress, you may want to get a new one. This is because bed bugs may cause several problems leading to health issues. But before bringing the new mattress into your home, make sure to get rid of all bed bugs and their eggs to avoid infesting your new mattress.

Conclusion

You can eradicate bed bugs in your mattress by washing everything as much as possible. Clean and vacuum all areas, particularly creases and cracks where bed bugs breed. You can use a mattress cover to contain the bugs. However, changing your old, infested mattress is a better idea to get rid of this problem. If all else fails, contact a bed bug control service or pest control company right away.