Waking up with itchy red bites can be alarming. If you suspect you’ve been bitten by bed bugs, don’t panic. Bed bugs are a nuisance, but their bites are not known to spread disease. With some diligence and patience, you can eliminate bed bugs from your home.
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
The best way to confirm you have bed bugs is to find evidence of them in your sleeping environment. Adult bed bugs are oval, wingless, rusty red-colored insects that grow up to 5 mm long. Newly hatched bed bugs are nearly colorless. Look along mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and in cracks and crevices near beds for spots of blood from crushed bugs or dark fecal stains. Shedded skins and white, sticky eggs may also be present.
Bed bugs typically bite at night while people sleep. Bites often occur in rows or clusters. Most bites result in red, itchy welts on exposed skin. However, some people have no reaction, while others experience severe itching that can last for days. Anti-itch creams, oral antihistamines, or corticosteroid creams may help relieve itching and swelling from bites.
Where do bed bugs come from?
Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers and can move from an infested site to new areas on luggage, furniture, bedding, or clothing. They can also travel between apartments through tiny crevices and cracks. Infestations commonly occur when bringing in used beds, couches, or other furniture. Travelers may also unknowingly pick up bed bugs in hotels, motels, or dorms and transport them home.
How can I get rid of bed bugs?
Eliminating bed bugs requires a systematic approach. Here are some key steps:
Inspect and monitor
Inspect mattresses, bed frames, headboards, furniture, and cracks and crevices near beds. Use a flashlight to aid your search. Install bed bug monitors or interceptors under furniture legs to trap bugs and monitor infestations.
Clean and reduce clutter
Vacuum floors, mattresses, and upholstered furniture thoroughly. Use the crevice tool along baseboards, bed frames, and other tight areas. Encase mattresses and box springs in bed bug proof encasements. Wash and dry bedding on the hottest settings items can stand. Reduce clutter to limit hiding spots.
Apply pesticides
Use EPA-registered sprays, dusts, or aerosols labelled for bed bug treatment and apply strictly according to label directions. Target mattresses, bed frames, baseboards, and cracks and crevices. Multiple treatments are typically needed to control infestations.
Heat treatment
Heating rooms to temperatures over 113°F kills all bed bug life stages. Professionals can apply targeted heat treatment using portable heaters. Pack items in black plastic bags and set out in the sun to bake bugs, if weather permits.
Cold treatment
Exposing items to temperatures below 32°F for at least 4 days will kill bed bugs and eggs. Rent specialty freezers to quickly and effectively freeze infested items.
Discard items
Dispose of heavily infested mattresses, box springs, furniture and clutter. Place items in sealed plastic bags before removing them from your home to prevent spread.
Tips for preventing bed bugs
After eliminating bed bugs, take steps to reduce the chances of another infestation:
- Inspect secondhand furniture before bringing it inside.
- Check luggage after traveling and wash clothing immediately.
- Seal cracks and crevices in walls and baseboards.
- Keep clutter to a minimum.
- Protect beds with encasements and interceptors.
- Inspect beds and furniture regularly for signs of bugs.
Can bed bugs spread disease?
There is no evidence that bed bugs transmit infectious diseases. They have not been shown to spread health issues like malaria, MRSA, or hepatitis. The biggest risk from bed bugs is from excessive scratching, which can increase the chance of skin infection. Keep bites clean and use anti-itch medications to prevent infection.
When should I call an exterminator?
If home treatment efforts don’t eliminate bed bugs within a couple weeks, contact a licensed pest control professional. Experts have specialized tools, treatments, and expertise to handle persistent infestations. However, hiring a bed bug exterminator costs several hundred dollars on average.
How much does bed bug treatment cost?
The total cost to eliminate bed bugs averages $2,000 for more severe infestations, according to a 2022 survey conducted by Pest Control Economics. However, costs can exceed $4,000 for extensive infestations or complex treatments. Typical costs include:
| Treatment | Cost |
|---|---|
| Inspection | $50 – $75 |
| Mattress encasement | $80 – $120 per mattress |
| Pesticide treatment | $250 – $750+ per visit |
| Clutter removal and disposal | $100 – $300 |
| Bed bug heat treatment | $1,500+ for average home |
| Canine inspection | $250 – $500 |
| Follow up visits | $200 – $500 each |
Multiple chemical treatments or heat treatments are usually required over weeks or months to fully eliminate infestations. Ongoing inspection and monitoring costs may also be incurred.
What if I can’t afford bed bug treatment?
Try these more affordable bed bug treatment options if hiring a professional is not within your budget:
- Thoroughly clean, vacuum, and declutter infested rooms yourself.
- Apply over-the-counter pesticide sprays or dusts strictly according to label instructions.
- Raise mattresses off the floor and isolate them with interceptors.
- Seal cracks and crevices to reduce hiding places.
- Heat treat small items in a clothes dryer on the hottest setting.
- Dispose of heavily infested mattresses, furniture, and clutter.
Eliminating bed bugs yourself takes diligence and patience. Preventative steps like clutter reduction, regular inspection, and isolating beds can also help avoid recurring infestations without professional services.
Should I throw out my mattress with bed bugs?
Replacing a mattress is expensive, but sometimes necessary. Here are guidelines on when to throw out a mattress due to bed bugs:
- Severe infestations – Deeply infested mattresses are difficult to treat. Removing them eliminates a major bed bug harbor.
- Heavy staining – Dark brown or rust colored stains indicate a heavy infestation. Eggs and feces may be too deep to remove.
- Structural damage – Torn fabric, split seams, and cushioning damage makes treatment and elimination difficult.
- Allergies – Those with severe allergies to bites may need to replace their mattress to avoid reactions.
- Peace of mind – Eliminating a mattress can provide comfort even after bed bugs are killed.
Covering a lightly infested mattress with a bed bug proof encasement can often eliminate bugs without replacement. But a new mattress may be the best solution for heavier infestations or peace of mind.
Conclusion
Bed bugs can be frustrating and difficult to eliminate, but taking proactive steps can help resolve infestations and avoid them in the future. Inspecting and monitoring for bed bugs, reducing clutter, encasing mattresses, applying targeted pesticide treatments, and heating rooms can help kill bed bugs in your home. With diligence and patience, you can successfully get rid of bed bugs and prevent their return.