How to get rid of bed bugs

Quick facts about removing bed bugs

• Check bedding, pillows, and duvets for signs of bugs
• Bed bugs commonly hide in mattress seams and bed frames
• Inspect nearby furniture (nightstands, wardrobes, dressers, etc.)
• Wash infested bedding at 140°F (60°C) to kill bugs
• Home remedies may help briefly, but rarely solve infestations in the long-term.

When you're dealing with a possible bed bug infestation, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. These pests are known for being difficult to control and even harder to spot. When bed bugs bite, they can leave their victims sore and itchy. Getting rid of them is a must.

In this guide, we’ll cover the warning signs to look for and explain why professional support is the most effective route when treating bed bugs.

Fully inspect your home

Bed bugs earned their name for their fondness for beds and bedding. However, they infest many other areas, too. These opportunistic insects hide in close proximity to their human hosts so they can sneak out to draw a blood meal without being noticed. Fully inspect the following areas:

• Mattress: Be it your bedroom or hotel room, the first thing you should check is the mattress. Apart from live insects found along mattress seams and tags, you may also notice red marks from where bed bugs have been accidentally crushed.
• Bed frame: Bed bugs are often found in crevices in between bed frames and mattresses. Look out for small cracks in the frame where bed bugs could live.
• Bedding: Closely inspect the bedding for signs of bed bugs, including pillows, sheets, duvets,  and blankets.
• Bedside cabinets: The items closest to the bed are most likely to be infested.
• Wardrobes & dressers: Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers and can be found on clothes.
• Pictures: Live bed bug insects have been found on picture frames and other wall adornments.
• Furniture: All furniture in the room should be inspected. When inspecting, remove any furniture covers and pay particular attention to the seams and cushions of couches, sofas, and chairs.

Wash infested bedding

If your manufacturer's instructions allow, wash infested bedding at a temperature of at least 140°F for 90 minutes. A typical household washing machine and dryer settings should manage this. Bed bugs cannot survive in a hot dryer longer than 20 to 30 minutes, so dry all bedding on your dryer’s highest heat setting.

Be careful moving infested bedding to and from the laundry room, and do so in a dedicated laundry basket to prevent cross-contamination of clothing, towels, and other laundered items.

Vacuum and seal

Vacuum across your mattress, inside the bed frame, under your bed, along headboards, and baseboards. Use the hose attachments to clean thoroughly along walls, around edges, and in all cracks and crevices where live insects, nymphs, and eggs may be hiding.

Dispose of your vacuum bag outside your home. Wrap your mattress and box spring in specially designed bed bug encasements. These help prevent bed bugs from being able to hide and make nests in your mattress.

Check used furniture

It happens to everyone: you’ve fallen in love with a piece of vintage or secondhand furniture. But how do you make sure it doesn’t have bed bugs? To protect yourself from bed bugs, thoroughly check your items:

1. Look for tiny stains that are red or brown. This is a top indicator of bed bug activity as it is a result of their feeding or feces.
2. Always check the undersides and cracks of tables, shelves, bed frames, and other furnishings for bed bugs.
3. Inspect furniture joints, seams, creases, crevices, cracks, voids, and more. Bed bugs can even hide in screw holes, meaning no spot is safe.

It’s not a common occurrence that used furniture is ridden with bed bugs. People nationwide buy secondhand furniture every day that is safe and bed bug-free. However, it’s still better to be safe than sorry when purchasing items. A lot of people will donate furniture after pest infestations or even in the midst of one. It’s simply best practice to be extra cautious and thoroughly inspect items before bringing them into your home.

Why professional bed bug control is essential

Compared to other pests, bed bugs are likely to cause the largest number of compensation claims. The consequences are significant for brand reputation, customer reviews, employee morale, operational efficiency, and ultimately revenue and profits.

Bed bug problems at home can be just as stressful. These pests can cause discomfort, disrupt sleep, and are notoriously hard to get rid of once they spread.

For protection and complete peace of mind, you can count on the qualified pest control technicians at Western Exterminator for expert bed bug control for your home or commercial property. We offer leading bed bug solutions and control methods such as heat treatments, conventional material applications, and fumigation, as well as staff training to identify early signs of pests. For any issue related to bed bugs, Western Exterminator has your home or business covered. 

At Western Exterminator, we understand the distress a bed bug infestation can cause. For your peace of mind, we offer a bed bug warranty. The bed bug warranty is dependent upon the business and the type of treatment being performed, and generally ranges between 30-90 days. Please contact us for more details.