Have you ever thought about how you will handle a bed beg situation? Bed bugs are prevalent and can enter the poshest homes as well. Even though they can give most people chills, knowing how to get rid of bed bugs isn’t enough; you should also be aware of why they attack your bed?
Here’s more, bed bugs can live anywhere! About 89% of pest professionals report treating bed bugs in single homes. Now that’s a large number of singles with a bed bug problem.
You can try a few things like keeping your room clean and maintaining your room’s hygiene, but that won’t be enough. Read on to know how to get bed bugs out of a mattress, understand the signs of bed bugs, and what else you can do to prevent them once and for all.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small brown, oval-shaped insects that survive on human or animal blood. These might look like apple seeds and usually have a flat body. Their body swells as they grow in size and look more reddish.
Having a bed bug issue is pretty standard. 1 out of 5 Americans has had a bed bug issue at home or in a hotel. Now that is a high number.
Most people do not understand what bed bugs look like and how to get rid of them. You should know that they do not fly but can multiply fast, which is another strong reason to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
Bed bugs usually hide in the mattress as there is an apparent reason why they have been named ‘bed bugs’. Apart from that, any dark, empty, and compact bed parts make bed bugs a good hiding spot. For example, bed bugs usually go for bed frames below the mattress and quickly infest your side table.
These bugs enter your home undetected with your luggage, dogs, on your clothes, or anything old and rusty. As they have lean bodies, they are hardly visible to the naked eyes. For that reason, you’ll find them under loose wallpaper and hangings, in drawer joints, at the wall as well as ceiling junctions, and such small places.
Bed bugs in a bed are common, not because of hygiene issues. These bugs feed on blood; hence, it has very little to do with personal hygiene.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like On a Mattress?
When looking for bed bugs on mattresses, one should have a detailed vision as you might not see them in one scan. If you notice red spots on your mattress and see them moving, then you know they are not old mattress spots.
You can confuse bed bugs with old mattress spots as when the mattress gets old, it becomes a habitable space for them. Bed bugs like to burrow inside the mattresses, so chances are they are more likely to be found under the mattress.
They look like red or brown specks and will have golden spots. The golden marks are the eggs, and brown or red specks would be bed bugs.
How to Check for Bed Bugs?
While getting rid of bed bugs from your mattress won’t be easy, finding them will also be a task. Most people do not know how to identify bed bugs. They think their mattress is getting old, so the stains will remain.
Once you are uncomfortable sleeping on your mattress, you’ll get suspicious. Here are a few ways through which you can check for bed bugs. Let’s dive deeper, shall we?
- If you have skin problems more than ever and those leave red bite marks, you can be sure that these are bed bug bites.
- If you find bloodstains on your pillowcases, bedsheets in minimal quantities regularly.
- If your mattress starts smelling or has a strong odor, then you know it can be bed bugs for sure.
- If you constantly find dead or live bugs on your mattress, it is a clear sign that your bed is infested with bed bugs.
- If you see shredded skin or golden scales on your mattress.
The golden or yellow flakes you’ll find on your mattresses are the hatched eggs. If you’ve had unpleasant experiences after waking up like red itchy marks on the body, any foul odors, and feel like your bed is giving you skin issues, then you can blame the bed bugs for sure.
Many people report increased skin issues and find the bed to be uncomfortable and unhygienic irrespective of cleaning the mattress. These are all possible signs of bed bugs that no one should avoid.
7 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Getting bed bugs out of a mattress won’t be easy, but this does not mean that there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. Whenever you find yourself in a bed bug situation, you can follow the below-mentioned tips and tricks to keep them at bay.
- Vacuum your bed regularly
The best way to get rid of bed bugs would be to vacuum the mattress. Most people find it suitable to clean the bed bugs first. If you have found the infected area, you can easily vacuum. Ensure you vacuum the tiny spaces to get rid of bugs.
Be thorough and repeat the process several times to ensure the bugs are not on the bed. Once done, wear rubber gloves and throw the vacuum contents outside the house immediately as the bugs can travel back to bed.
- Launder Your Linens
After you’ve vacuumed your mattress, the next best thing would be to launder it as soon as possible. It would be advisable to wash your bed bug-infested sheets at home. You can use gloves while cleaning your sheets and pillowcases.
Another helpful tip would be to wash your bedding in a disinfectant solution as it will quickly get rid of the bed bugs. You can also wash your bedding in hot water, as this is considered the next best option to treat bed bugs.
- Clean the bedframe regularly
As you are aware by now, bed bugs are primarily found in small and deep corners. Cleaning your bedframe seems like a great option. These bed bugs may have travelled into the nooks and corners of the bed frame.
Use a flashlight to see clearly and clean the bedframe thoroughly. Once you are done, you can spray it with an anti-termite disinfectant to avoid future encounters with bed bugs.
- Chemically treat the bed
As both bed and mattress are affected by bed bugs, it would be wise to disinfect the mattress and bed for safety purposes. You can buy an insecticide spray for the mattress, and aerosol spray usually works the best.
The best way to remove bed bugs would be to spray the insecticides directly on them. It would kill them on contact, making it easier to get rid of them. Since you’ll be using an insecticide to kill them, chances are these will be harmful to you as well.
Therefore, read the instructions properly and follow them religiously as some sprays might tell you to leave the room for 15 minutes.
- Steam the mattress
Once you have vacuumed the mattress and cleaned it with chemicals, the next best thing would be to steam it. Steaming will effectively get rid of bed bugs. Steaming the mattress raises the temperature and takes it up to 120 degrees. This would immediately kill the bed bugs and their eggs too.
Ideally, you should steam the mattress for 10-15 minutes to get rid of the bed bugs. People who have steamers at home can use this method.
- Cover it up
If you want to protect your mattress better and are willing to go beyond lengths, then you should invest in a mattress cover for sure. Many manufacturers provide mattress covers that will help you increase the lifespan of your mattress and keep insects, dust and other things at bay.
Most people invest in mattress toppers, but you know what, investing in a mattress cover is a wise choice. You, too, can choose to buy a mattress cover for better mattress security.
- Hire Professional Cleaners
Last but not least, when you cannot do it, hire someone who can. Plenty of professional cleaning companies offers you help in this department. Some companies provide bug removal services at friendly prices and flexible timings.
Many pest control companies also provide help in this department. These professionals ensure the bed bugs are eliminated adequately as they would clean all the surrounding areas like a bedframe, box spring, nightstand, and nearby drawers. These services make it hiring professional helpers worth it.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs?
Now that you know what nuisance bed bugs can make, once you’ve cleared them, you won’t wish for another encounter. For that reason, you’ll be more intrigued to know ways through which you can keep bed bugs at bay.
While these things might not guarantee the permanent prevention of bed bugs, here are some tips and tricks you can do to prevent bed bug infestation.
- Clean your mattress regularly
- Dust & clean the room from time to time
- Use disinfectants regularly
- Say no to second-hand furniture and mattress
- Buy a mattress protector
- Wash your pillows and linens regularly
- Chemically treat your house once in a while
The Final Word
Bed bugs are common, and they can infest your home no matter how clean you keep it. If you get them, it doesn’t mean that you live in unhygienic conditions.
Bed bugs aren’t dangerous, but they can easily create a mess. No one would like to live with bed bugs, and there are various ways through which they can enter your home. An old mattress, for instance, can attract bed bugs easily. The ultimate solution to get rid of them would be to get rid of your mattress.
The tips mentioned above can help you get rid of them in a hassle-free way. In the end, it is always your choice; you can get rid of bed bugs yourself or hire professional helpers.
