How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs
Discovering bed bugs in your home can be alarming, but acting quickly can help prevent a small problem from developing into a much larger infestation.
Bed bugs are small, blood feeding insects that hide in mattresses, bed frames, furniture and small cracks around sleeping areas. They are extremely good at remaining hidden and can be transported between properties in luggage, clothing, furniture and other belongings.
Getting rid of bed bugs usually requires more than simply treating your mattress. You need to identify where they are hiding, reduce their ability to spread and treat all affected areas properly.
This guide explains how to get rid of bed bugs, what you can safely do yourself and when it is time to bring in a professional pest controller.
Key Takeaways
- Confirm you actually have bed bugs: Look for live insects, dark faecal spots, blood marks, shed skins and eggs around your mattress, bed frame and nearby furniture.
- Wash affected bedding and clothing at 60°C: The NHS recommends washing affected items at 60°C and tumble drying them on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes.
- Do not rely on bites alone: Bites can resemble those caused by other insects and some people have little or no visible reaction.
- Vacuuming and cleaning can help but may not eliminate an infestation: Bed bugs can hide deep inside cracks, furniture and other difficult to reach areas.
- Established infestations often require professional treatment: Bed bugs can be difficult to locate and may be resistant to some insecticides.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on blood. The species most commonly associated with people is Cimex lectularius.
Adult bed bugs are generally around 5mm long, although their appearance changes depending on whether they have recently fed. They can appear dark yellow, brown or reddish brown. The NHS provides photographs and identification advice for bed bugs if you are unsure what you have found.
Despite their name, bed bugs do not live exclusively in beds. They can hide in:
- Mattress seams
- Bed frames
- Headboards
- Bedside furniture
- Sofas and upholstered furniture
- Skirting boards
- Cracks and crevices
- Behind pictures
- Under loose wallpaper
- Clothing and luggage
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Adult bed bugs have flat, oval bodies and are commonly compared in size and shape to an apple seed.
They do not have wings and cannot fly. Instead, they move by crawling and are extremely good at concealing themselves in narrow gaps.
You may also find young bed bugs, known as nymphs, which are smaller and harder to see, along with pale eggs or shed skins.
Finding an actual bed bug is strong evidence of an infestation, but they can be difficult to spot, particularly when numbers are still low.
What Are the Signs of Bed Bugs?
Before deciding how to treat the problem, you should first establish whether bed bugs are actually present.
Bed Bug Bites
Bed bug bites can appear as itchy, raised marks and are sometimes grouped together or arranged in a line.
They commonly occur on areas of skin exposed while sleeping, including the face, neck and arms. However, bites alone are not enough to confirm an infestation.
Some people react strongly to bites while others may show very little reaction.
Blood Spots on Bedding
Small spots or smears of blood on sheets, pillowcases or other bedding can be another indication.
These can appear after a feeding bed bug has been accidentally crushed.
Dark Brown or Black Spots
Look closely around mattress seams, bed frames and furniture for small dark spots.
These can be bed bug faeces and are an important physical sign when determining whether bed bugs are present.
Shed Skins and Eggs
As immature bed bugs develop, they moult and leave behind shed skins.
You may also discover small pale eggs or empty eggshells in areas where the insects are hiding.
Live Bed Bugs
Finding live insects around the bed, mattress seams, headboard or furniture is the clearest indication that you have an active infestation.
How Do Bed Bugs Get Into Your Home?
Bed bugs do not appear because a property is dirty.
They are exceptionally effective hitchhikers and are commonly transported from one location to another on personal belongings.
They can enter homes through:
- Luggage
- Clothing
- Bags
- Second hand furniture
- Mattresses
- Upholstered furniture
- Visitors’ belongings
They can also spread between rooms and potentially between neighbouring properties in buildings containing multiple homes.
This is one reason hotels, hostels, flats and other properties with frequent movement of people can be particularly vulnerable.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs
Once you have identified evidence of bed bugs, you should act quickly.
There are several measures you can take immediately, although an established infestation is difficult to eliminate completely without professional treatment.
1. Wash Affected Bedding and Clothing
Remove affected bedding, clothing and washable fabrics carefully.
Avoid carrying loose contaminated items through other rooms because this could potentially spread bed bugs elsewhere in the property.
Follow the care instructions for individual items to avoid damaging them.
2. Vacuum the Affected Areas
Carefully vacuum around:
- Mattress seams
- Bed frames
- Headboards
- Skirting boards
- Carpets around the bed
- Cracks and crevices
- Upholstered furniture
Vacuuming can physically remove some insects and debris but should not be considered a complete treatment on its own.
Dispose of the vacuum contents carefully after cleaning so that captured insects cannot escape back into the property.
3. Reduce Clutter Around the Bed
Bed bugs benefit from having plenty of small, dark places in which to hide.
Reducing clutter around the affected area makes inspection and treatment easier.
Do not simply move potentially infested belongings into another bedroom. Moving untreated items around the property risks spreading the infestation.
4. Inspect the Entire Sleeping Area
One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming the problem is limited to the mattress.
Check the entire bed and surrounding area carefully.
Pay particular attention to joints in the bed frame, screw holes, headboards, bedside furniture and other small gaps.
According to the NHS bed bug guidance, bed bugs can also hide on clothing or luggage and behind pictures and loose wallpaper.
5. Arrange Professional Bed Bug Treatment
If you find clear evidence of an infestation, professional treatment is usually the most reliable next step.
The NHS advises that getting rid of bed bugs yourself can be very difficult because they can be difficult to find and may be resistant to some insecticides.
The British Pest Control Association also recommends contacting a professional pest control company when a bed bug infestation is suspected.
Can You Get Rid of Bed Bugs Yourself?
You can certainly take steps to reduce bed bug numbers and prevent them spreading, particularly if the problem has been identified very early.
However, there is an important distinction between reducing bed bug activity and eliminating an infestation.
Bed bugs are particularly challenging because they hide extremely well. Treating the insects you can see does not necessarily mean you have reached the insects and eggs hidden elsewhere.
The NHS recommends contacting your local council or a pest control service if you believe you have bed bugs.
DIY measures should generally be viewed as part of controlling the situation rather than an automatic replacement for professional treatment.
What Kills Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs can be controlled using several methods, but the appropriate approach depends on the severity and location of the infestation.
Professional treatment may involve a combination of physical removal, heat, steam, approved insecticides and other control methods.
The BPCA’s Code of Best Practice for Bed Bug Management and Control discusses combining appropriate control methods as part of an integrated approach to bed bug management.
Professional Heat Treatment
Heat treatment involves raising temperatures within the affected environment sufficiently to kill bed bugs.
Unlike washing bedding or using a domestic steamer on individual surfaces, professional heat treatment is designed to expose insects hiding throughout an affected area to controlled temperatures.
The BPCA has published a detailed guide explaining how professional heat treatments for bed bugs work.
Because specialist equipment and temperature monitoring are required, whole room heat treatment should be carried out by appropriately trained professionals.
Chemical Bed Bug Treatment
Professional insecticidal treatments are another method used to control bed bugs.
These treatments target areas where the insects hide and travel. Depending on the circumstances, repeat visits and a combination of treatment methods may be required.
Insecticide resistance is also an important consideration when treating bed bugs, which is another reason simply applying an amateur insecticide may not resolve an established infestation.
Steam Treatment
Steam can kill bed bugs exposed to sufficiently high temperatures and may be incorporated into a wider treatment programme.
However, steam treatment is not the same as professional whole room heat treatment.
It should generally be considered one potential component of a wider bed bug control strategy rather than a guarantee of complete eradication by itself.
Does Diatomaceous Earth Kill Bed Bugs?
Diatomaceous earth is frequently mentioned as a DIY treatment for bed bugs.
It works differently from conventional insecticides by damaging the protective outer layer of insects, contributing to moisture loss.
However, it should not be treated as a guaranteed solution to an established infestation.
Using one product alone also fails to address the wider challenge of locating every bed bug harbourage throughout an infested property.
Do You Need to Throw Away Your Mattress?
Not necessarily.
Discovering bed bugs does not automatically mean your mattress or furniture has to be thrown away.
Whether something needs replacing depends on its condition, the severity of the infestation and whether it can be treated successfully.
More importantly, simply throwing away the mattress without treating the rest of the affected room may not solve the problem because bed bugs can be hiding elsewhere.
Speak to a pest controller before disposing of expensive furniture unnecessarily.
How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
There is no single timeframe that applies to every infestation.
How long treatment takes depends on factors including:
- The size of the infestation
- How many rooms are affected
- Where the insects are hiding
- The treatment method being used
- Whether neighbouring areas are affected
- How closely preparation and aftercare instructions are followed
Some professional treatment programmes may require more than one visit.
This is why claims that every infestation can be permanently eliminated with one quick DIY treatment should be treated cautiously.
How To Prevent Bed Bugs From Coming Back
Unfortunately, it is impossible to guarantee that bed bugs will never enter your home again.
You can, however, reduce the risk and make future infestations easier to identify.
Check Accommodation When Travelling
Bed bugs can travel home inside luggage and clothing.
When staying away from home, inspect the mattress and surrounding bed area for obvious signs of activity.
Avoid placing luggage directly onto beds where possible.
Check Second Hand Furniture
Carefully inspect second hand furniture before bringing it into your home, particularly mattresses, bed frames, sofas and other upholstered items.
The NHS specifically recommends checking second hand furniture carefully before taking it inside.
Inspect Your Bed Regularly
Occasionally inspect mattress seams, the bed frame and headboard.
Finding an infestation while it is still small can make controlling it considerably easier.
Keep the Area Around Your Bed Clear
Bed bugs can infest clean homes as readily as untidy ones, so an infestation is not evidence of poor hygiene.
Reducing clutter simply gives them fewer places to hide and makes inspection easier.
Are Bed Bugs Dangerous?
For most people, the primary physical problem associated with bed bugs is their bites.
Bites can cause itching and irritation, while some people experience more significant swelling. Scratching can also increase the risk of skin becoming infected.
According to the NHS guidance on bed bug bites, bites usually clear on their own in around a week. A cool, clean damp cloth can help with itching and swelling.
A pharmacist can also advise on treatment if the bites are particularly itchy or uncomfortable.
Seek medical advice if bites remain very painful, swollen or itchy after pharmacy treatment, or if pain or swelling begins spreading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kills Bed Bugs Instantly?
Direct exposure to sufficiently high temperatures can kill bed bugs, but killing an individual insect is very different from eliminating an infestation. Bed bugs hidden inside furniture, cracks and other harbourages also need to be reached.
What Are the First Signs of Bed Bugs?
Common early signs include small blood spots on bedding, dark faecal marks around mattresses or furniture, shed skins, eggs and live insects. Bites can also occur, although bites alone cannot reliably confirm that bed bugs are present.
Are Bed Bugs Caused by Poor Hygiene?
No. Bed bugs can infest clean and dirty properties. Regular cleaning can make infestations easier to detect, but poor hygiene itself does not cause bed bugs.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide During the Day?
Bed bugs commonly hide in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, furniture joints and small cracks close to where people sleep.
They can also be found behind pictures, beneath loose wallpaper and in other concealed areas close to their host.
Can Bed Bugs Live in Carpets?
Bed bugs can hide around carpet edges and other protected areas, although mattresses, bed frames, furniture and cracks close to sleeping areas are particularly important places to inspect.
Can Bed Bugs Spread From Room to Room?
Yes. Bed bugs can crawl between rooms and may spread through a property, particularly when an infestation becomes established.
Moving untreated infested belongings can also help spread them.
Should I Sleep in Another Room if I Have Bed Bugs?
Moving to another room without treating the infestation can potentially complicate the problem.
Rather than simply abandoning the affected bedroom, arrange appropriate treatment and follow the preparation advice given by your pest controller.
Need Help Getting Rid of Bed Bugs in Leicester?
If you have found bed bugs or spotted signs of an infestation, dealing with the problem early can help prevent it spreading further through your property.
At EM Pest Control, we provide professional bed bug treatment in Leicester, identifying affected areas and recommending an appropriate treatment based on the extent of the infestation.
As a local pest control Leicester company, we can also help with rats, mice, fleas, cockroaches, wasps and other pest problems throughout Leicester and the surrounding areas.
Contact our team to discuss the problem and arrange professional treatment.