Bed bugs are treated with heat, targeted products labeled for bed bugs, or a combination, usually by a licensed pest control company. Signs include dark spots on mattress seams, rust-colored stains on sheets, shed skins, and live bugs. Don't sleep in another room or use foggers, which can spread the problem. Follow the company's prep list closely.
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Bed bugs don't mean a home is dirty. They hitchhike in luggage, used furniture, and clothing, and can turn up anywhere people sleep, from single-family homes to apartments, dorms, and hotels. They're stressful, but they are treatable, and bed bugs are not known to spread disease. Professional treatment is usually the most reliable way to get rid of them.
Signs of bed bugs
- Bites in lines or clusters, often on the arms, shoulders, or legs. Not everyone reacts to bites, so bites alone aren't proof.
- Small dark spots of excrement on mattress seams, box springs, and headboards.
- Rust-colored stains on sheets.
- Shed skins and eggs along seams and in cracks near the bed.
- Live bugs: flat, oval, reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed as adults.
Common treatment approaches
- Heat treatment. Specialized equipment raises room temperatures high enough, long enough, to kill bed bugs and eggs. It can treat a room in one visit but requires careful preparation.
- Targeted chemical treatment. Products labeled for bed bugs are applied to seams, cracks, furniture joints, and baseboards, usually over two or more visits.
- Combined approaches using heat, steam, vacuuming, mattress encasements, and targeted products.
Ask the company to explain its method, how many visits it expects, and how it confirms the infestation is gone.
What not to do
- Don't move to another room or a couch to sleep. Bed bugs can follow you and spread the infestation.
- Don't use foggers or bug bombs. The EPA notes they are not effective against bed bugs, which hide in cracks the fog doesn't reach.
- Don't throw out furniture before talking to a professional. If you do discard items, wrap them and mark them so no one else takes them home.
- Don't apply outdoor products indoors or use any pesticide not labeled for bed bugs.
How to prepare
Your pest control company will give you a prep list specific to its method. Common steps include:
- Washing bedding and clothing and drying on high heat, then storing in sealed bags.
- Reducing clutter around beds and sofas.
- Vacuuming mattress seams and floors, then sealing and discarding the vacuum bag outdoors.
- Pulling beds a few inches away from the wall.
Renters and travelers
If you rent, notify your landlord or property manager in writing promptly. When traveling, check hotel mattress seams and headboards, keep luggage off the bed and floor, and wash clothes on hot when you get home.
Seeing signs of bed bugs? Request a pest control company for an inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?
Small, early infestations are sometimes managed with careful vacuuming, laundering, and encasements, but bed bugs hide well and reproduce quickly. Professional treatment is usually the most reliable approach.
Do bed bugs mean my home is dirty?
No. Bed bugs are spread by travel and moving belongings, not by dirt. Clutter can give them more places to hide, which makes treatment harder.
Is heat treatment better than chemical treatment?
Each has trade-offs. Heat can treat a room in a single visit but requires careful preparation and equipment. Chemical treatments usually take multiple visits. Many companies combine methods. Ask which fits your home and why.