One in every five Americans has experienced bed bug infestation or knows someone who has. Having bed bugs in your mattress can be highly irritating and harmful to your health; it's even more challenging when you try getting rid of bed bugs in your mattress. You can only depend on a comprehensive guide on how to get rid of bed bugs in your mattress to succeed.
Get rid of bed bugs in your mattress through heat treatment or spraying insecticides. Bed bugs cannot survive extremely high heat for long. Cleaning a mattress and placing it in an encasement is also a trick; this starves and kills the bugs. Hiring a professional pest control is the permanent solution.
Most people respond to a bed bug infestation by disposing of their mattresses. Yes, this is a common option, but it is not always the best idea. With the correct instructions, you can get rid of bed bugs in your mattress quickly. Read this comprehensive guide on how to get rid of bed bugs, and you will be happy to live in a comfy environment.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on blood. They are typically oval, reddish-brown, with six legs and an antenna. Unlike most insects, bed bugs cannot fly. However, they can crawl super-fast. Bed bugs lay tiny eggs that resemble dust. Their eggs are difficult to spot and remove.
Why Do Bed Bugs Love Hiding In Mattresses?
Bed bugs love hiding in mattresses because they get the chance to live near you and feed on your blood for survival. Infesting mattresses is the easiest way for bed bugs to stay close to a host and feed without interruptions at night.
The mattress also provides the perfect hiding place after feeding on a host. There are incredible hiding spots in a mattress, like the seams, joints, cracks, bed frames, and the bottom of the bed. Bed bugs can easily lay their eggs and nest them in mattresses. They are also attracted to body heat, odor, and the carbon dioxide exhaled when sleeping; the mattress provides all these conditions.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in a Mattress: Step by Step Process
Getting rid of bed bugs in a mattress requires a proven approach. Since bugs are hard to notice, getting rid of them as early as possible is critical to avoid proliferation. Below is a step-by-step guide for getting rid of bed bugs in a mattress.
Step 1: Confirm The Presence Of Bed Bugs
Did you know that spotting bed bugs in your mattress is quite difficult? It's because of their size and how they hide during the day. However, below are ways you can tell if your mattress has bed bugs;
- Whenever you wake up with a cluster of irritation or inflammation on your skin from bed bug bites, don't confuse bed bug bites with mosquito bites.
- You can spot them at night using a flashlight and magnifying glass. Ensure to check the sides and under the mattress.
- Look for tiny dark spots from bed bug droppings and yellowish skin shed by young bed bugs.
Step 2: Wash The Bedding In Hot Water
After bed bugs are confirmed, cleaning your bedding is the first thing to do. Begin by removing your bed sheets and covers, blankets, and pillowcases. Ensure to place them in a plastic bag to prevent the bed bugs from crawling outside to other places in your home.
Hot water is the most effective way to clean bedding with bed bugs. Also, dry the bedding in high heat. Exposure to high temperatures above 118 degrees Fahrenheit for more than thirty minutes will kill all the bed bugs and their eggs.
Step 3: Clean Your Mattress With A Vacuum
The next step is vacuuming your mattress with a vacuum hose attachment. Pay attention to the mattress sides, especially the edges. Also, do not forget to clean the bottom parts and the bed frame. We recommend that you dismantle your bed to vacuum clean all its parts thoroughly. After vacuuming the mattress, also clean up the entire bedroom floor. Make sure you dispose of the waste appropriately.
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Step 4: Place The Mattress Inside An Encasement
The next step is placing the mattress inside a bed-bug-proof encasement. Ensure that it is the proper encasement designed for managing bed bugs. The encasement will trap the bed bugs left in the mattress and cut off their food supply. This will cause them to die of starvation. Bed bugs can only survive starvation for ten to twenty days. It would be wise to keep your mattress in an encasement for at least a year to ensure no bed bugs survive and prevent a fresh infestation.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In One Day
The steps above can take a couple of days, and some might give up. Worry not because you can still get rid of bed bugs in a day. Here's how you do it:
Spraying Bug Control Insecticides
Spraying chemical or plant-based bug control insecticides on your mattress can help. More so, spray all the cracks, joints, and crevices to kill the bed bugs. Note that some insecticides are made from harmful chemicals; strictly go organic.
Use A Bed Bug Steamer
Heat treatment can also help kill bed bugs in a day. A good bed bug steamer can deliver up to 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures, killing bed bugs in a couple of minutes. However, this trick will only kill bed bugs that come in contact with the hot steam. The steamer usually comes with a hose for reaching hiding spots.
Cleaning Your Mattress
Cleaning your mattress and beddings with hot water can also help eliminate bed bugs. Use high heat because bed bugs cannot survive extremely high temperatures.
Use DIY Bed Bug Spray
You can also make homemade bug spray to eliminate bed bugs. An effective bed spray will have appropriate quantities of white vinegar, a few drops of lavender essential oil, and a glass spray bottle.
Disposing Of Your Mattress
Getting rid of the mattress gives you an instant solution to the problem. However, a new mattress may only provide comfort for a few days. The infestation may reoccur from the hidden bugs in your bed and bedding. This should be the last resolution you take, and if you do, make sure the bed and surrounding environment is cleaned thoroughly.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs Permanently
While the tricks above may come in handy for getting rid of bed bugs, they may not be a permanent solution at times; these tiny insects are quite relentless. They can hide on furniture and re-infest your mattress after the treatment. Talking to professionals and letting them execute expert bed bug remediation is the best approach.
Professional pest control will ensure that you eliminate bed bugs permanently. Here is why you can depend on professionals:
- Know how to handle infestations in hidden places.
- Provide follow-ups to eradicate the infestation.
- Use safe, proven, and tested chemicals to clear the infestation.
- Handle the infestation comprehensively.
- Have the right equipment.
- Recommend ways to prevent the infestation from reoccurring.
Also read: How to Dispose of a Mattress: 5 Responsible Ways [GUIDE]
Conclusion
Bed bugs are common issues in many households and result in physical and mental harm. Most people assume that they are brought about by poor hygiene, which is not valid. Bed bugs look for places where they can easily access a host for constant feedings, like on the mattresses. You now know how to get rid of bed bugs in mattresses; embrace the solution.
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Feruza is a mom and a blogger. She had a neck pain for 15 years, which made her interested in everything about pillows.
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