How to Get Rid Of Bed Bugs in a Mattress

Most homeowners all over the globe dread bedbugs, especially if they’ve ever suffered a past bed bug infestation. Essentially, bed bugs are among the worst pests to ever enter your home as they can wreak a lot of havoc in your space. They are not only a nuisance but also are very stressful and can easily hinder you from enjoying the comfort of your cozy home. The worst part is when these blood suckers get into your mattress mauling your body leaving red, itchy welts and depriving you of sleep.

The good news is that you can get rid of bed bugs in your mattress. However, it takes some time and effort and you therefore have to be patient. The first step in removing bed bugs in your mattress is to stop them from breeding basically by removing their food source i.e. your blood. The next step is to kill the bedbugs by washing the beddings with hot water and drying them on high heat. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to eliminate bed bugs’ bodies, shells, fecal droppings, or eggs embedded on spaces of your mattress, pillows, box spring or along the cracks in the bed frame, footboard and headboard.

Next is to make your bed bite proof by moving it to a different position away from points of contact such as walls, nightstands or other furniture. Also attach “ClimbUp” on each leg of the bed to prevent the bed bugs from climbing up the bed. This guide will delve on why bed bugs hide in mattresses and how you can easily eliminate them to regain the comfort of your bed. 

Why are bed bugs a problem?

Bed bugs are undoubtedly the most troublesome pest and can quickly grow out of control causing an unimagined mayhem in a household. They are small (only 5 millimeters horizontally), intelligent, tough and reproduce quickly with a single female laying up to 500 eggs in her lifetime. These bugs hide in many places and easily avoid detection. While they cannot fly away when detected, they quickly run over walls, floors and ceiling making it difficult to contain them. Additionally, they are quite resistant to insecticides and are time consuming to eradicate 

Another reason why bedbugs are a problem is that they feed on human blood leaving a red, puffy and itch mark on the skin. While they do not transmit disease, their bite is a nuisance and causes discomfort. Thus, they are among the most problematic pests to enter your home with the capability to cause a number of negative mental health, physical health and economic consequences.  

Why do bed bugs hide in mattresses?

Bed Bugs are mostly nocturnal, they don’t go out into the light that often and they mostly bite humans while they are sleeping.They therefore hide in mattresses to be as close as possible to their source of food (human blood). Humans spend a lot of time sleeping, thus bedbugs can easily get access to food while in mattresses. Their miniature, flattened bodies enable them to fit into tiny spaces such as in mattresses.

How can I find out if I find bed bugs?

There are some signs you might notice that could let you know you have bed bugs, such as bite marks or blood stains from dead bed bugs.  If you want to make sure though you can follow our thorough step by step guide for how to check for bed bugs.  

Once noticed, don’t wait to take care of a bed bug problem.

What can I do to get rid of the bed bugs in my mattress?

There are up to 5 different effective methods of getting rid of bed bugs in your mattress as explained below.

• Laundering and Encasements– Extreme heat treatment kills bed bugs plus their eggs. Therefore, washing all bedding in hot water and drying them at the highest heat kills these bugs. On putting the sheets back to the mattress, you should use a bed bug encasement for the mattress as it prevents both new bed bugs from getting into the mattress and cause those bed bugs entrapped on your mattress to starve and die in few days.
• Steam and Thermal Treatment– As mentioned earlier, heat kills bed bugs. However, it’s almost impossible to spin bulky household items such carpets, mattresses or curtains in a hot washing machine. To achieve effective and safe heat and steam treatment, pest experts use large heaters and air circulators which can raise the temperature in houses up to 135-degree Fahrenheit for 90 minutes to kill the bugs plus their unhatched eggs.    
• Chemical Treatment– There are a wide range of chemicals used to eradicate bed bugs even on your mattress. These chemical products are safe to use around humans and offer amazing results. However, you should talk to a pest expert for their advice or recommendation.
• Freeze them out– Just like extreme heat, extreme heat can as well as be effective in killing bed bugs. Pest experts usually use liquid nitrogen to freeze bugs on mattresses to death. If you have a large chest freezer, you can use this method.
• Use Dryer Sheets– Scented dryer sheets are effective in killing bed bugs on mattresses. They also deter the bugs from sucking your blood. 

If none of the above mentioned methods seem to have worked, you can look at a full list of DIY home remedies that we have compiled and detailed.

Is hiring a professional exterminator worth it?

Hiring a professional exterminator is usually worth it. They are usually well trained and experienced, and so they can make sure that they not only kill all of the bed bugs in your mattress, but they can also identify any other spots they might be hiding.

FAQs

What causes bed bugs?

A common misconception about bed bugs is that they are usually caused by filth. Bed bugs are small, blood-eating insects and therefore dwell in close proximity to humans to easily access food. The major cause of bed bugs is lack of awareness. Since they are hitchhiking bugs, they can easily get into your home via someone else or you. They are mostly assumed to come from hotels and motels. 

Will bed bugs get in your hair?

No! Bed bugs cannot live in human hair or on the skin. Their bodies aren’t adapted to live or crawl through human hair like head lice. However, they still bite you on your forehead, scalp, neck and cheeks. 

Can someone who has bed bugs bring them to your house?

Yes! It’s possible for someone with bed bugs in their home to transfer them to your house. However, the chances are very low since it takes a single pregnant female for your home to become infested. Nonetheless, you can still avoid hosting your friend complaining of bed bugs until they are eliminated.