How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in a Mattress

Bed bugs, those tiny, blood-sucking pests, can be a nightmare to deal with. They often hitchhike into homes on luggage, clothes, or furniture. Once inside, they can quickly infest mattresses, furniture, and other areas, making it difficult to sleep peacefully.

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are tiny, wingless insects that feed on human blood. They have a flat, oval shape and are usually light brown to reddish brown in colour. While they're visible to the naked eye, they measure about 5 millimetres long. They often hide during the day, making them difficult to spot. These nocturnal pests emerge at night to feed on sleeping humans.

What Causes Bedbugs?

Bedbugs are sneaky travellers. You won’t usually see them coming, but once they’re in, they settle in fast. The most common way they get into your home is by hitching a ride on your bags, clothes, or second-hand furniture. If you’ve ever stayed in a hotel or visited a place where bedbugs were hiding, chances are they may have crawled into your luggage without you noticing.

They’re tiny, flat, and excellent at hiding in tight spots like mattress seams, curtain folds, and behind wall hangings. You won’t find them strolling across your living room floor in broad daylight. They come out at night, which makes it harder to spot them before it's too late. If you've recently been to any of these places, it's a good idea to check your belongings when you get home:

• Budget hotels or motels 

• Shared apartments and housing complexes

• Public transport, like buses and trains

• College dormitories and hostels

• Homeless shelters or group housing

• Cruise ships and overnight coaches

Even clean, high-end places can have them. Bedbugs don’t care how tidy a place looks. They just want a warm spot and a host to feed on.

A Quick Tip

If you’re returning from travel, leave your bags outside or in a dry area and inspect them before bringing them inside. Wash your clothes in hot water if you suspect anything. Also, be cautious when buying used furniture, especially beds and sofas.

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?

Bed bugs are masters of disguise, capable of squeezing into the tiniest of cracks. Because they’re about the size of a melon seed, they can easily hide in the smallest spaces. You’ll often find them clustered together in mattresses, box springs, and bed frames, where they have easy access to their human hosts during the night.

But don’t limit your search to just the bed. These pests can also hide in other places around your sleeping area. Look for them in loose wallpaper, bedside tables, or any other hidden spots near your bed.

Signs of Bed Bugs on a Mattress

1. Tiny reddish-brown or dark specks

Small spots on mattresses, sheets, or nearby surfaces can indicate bedbug activity. These marks are often left behind where the insects rest or feed.

2. Unusual stains or traces

You may notice small dark marks or patchy residue on bedding or furniture. These can include eggs, shed material, or other signs left behind as bedbugs grow.

3. Live insects or eggs

Spotting small, flat insects around the edges of mattresses, seams, bed frames, or furniture joints is a strong indication. You may also find tiny, pale-coloured eggs or empty shells hidden in fabric folds or tight corners.

4. Shed skins

As bedbugs grow, they shed their outer layers. These discarded skins are light in colour and often found near sleeping areas, indicating ongoing activity.

5. Unpleasant or musty odour

A persistent, slightly sweet or damp smell around sleeping areas can be an early indicator of a bedbug presence, especially when it cannot be linked to any other cause.

6. Itchy red bite marks

Clusters or lines of itchy red bites on exposed skin are commonly associated with bedbugs, though similar reactions can occur from other insects.

Do I Have to Throw My Mattress Away If I Have Bed Bugs?

Don't panic! You don't have to toss your mattress in the trash just because you've got bed bugs. While it might seem like the easiest solution, it's not always the most budget-friendly one.

If you're looking for a DIY approach, there are a few things you can try to get rid of those pesky bed bugs yourself. But be warned, they can be pretty stubborn. If you're feeling overwhelmed or want a more thorough job, calling in a professional pest control agent might be the best option.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in a Mattress? 

1. Strip and Wash Bedding

Remove all bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, mattress covers, and blankets, and place them directly into a sealed laundry bag to prevent spreading. Wash everything in hot water and dry on the highest heat for at least 30 minutes to kill bedbugs and their eggs.

2. Vacuum Thoroughly

Vacuum the mattress, focusing on seams, edges, and folds. Also clean the box spring, bed frame, headboard, and floor around the bed. Empty the vacuum into a sealed bag and dispose of it outside.

3. Use Heat Treatment or Steam the Mattress

Use a steamer on seams, tufts, and folds to kill bed bugs and eggs with high heat (around 120°F/49°C). Move the steamer slowly and also treat the box spring, bed frame, and headboard. High heat is effective against bed bugs at all life stages.

4. Apply Dusts (Optional)

You can use bed bug powders like diatomaceous earth as an extra step. Lightly sprinkle into seams and crevices, allowing it to dry out and kill bugs over time. Just remember to use it safely and avoid applying it directly to the mattress surface where you sleep.

5. Encase the Mattress

Once your mattress is cleaned and dried, cover it with a high-quality bed bug-proof encasement. These zippered covers trap any remaining bugs inside and stop new ones from getting in. Keep the encasement on for at least a year. This gives time for any trapped bugs to die off completely.

6. Treat the Bed Frame and Room

Don’t forget to treat the rest of the bedroom. Treat cracks, furniture, and baseboards with safe bed bug solutions. Reduce clutter, clean regularly, and monitor for signs. For severe cases, consider professional pest control.

Treatment Options:

1. Mattress Encasement

Mattress encasement is a great method for controlling bed bugs. It involves covering your mattress with a special fabric that traps bed bugs and prevents them from getting out or into the mattress. This is especially useful for new mattresses because it keeps them free from any bed bug infestations right from the start.

The special fabric used in these encasements is typically made from tightly woven, durable materials like polyester or a blend of synthetic fibers. These materials are designed to be breathable yet impenetrable to bed bugs and dust mites. 

2. Use Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a home remedy option you can try for getting rid of bed bugs. It's well-known for its antifungal, antiseptic, and antibacterial qualities, but it also has properties that can target parasites like bed bugs. By applying tea tree oil to areas where bed bugs might be present, you can help get rid of these pests.

3. Baking Soda

Baking soda is another effective home remedy for bed bugs. It works by drying out the bugs, as it absorbs moisture. Simply sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda in areas where you suspect bed bugs are hiding. This can help dehydrate and eliminate them over time.

4. Borax

Sprinkling borax powder on your bare mattress, in cracks of furniture, or along wall edges and corners can help reduce an infestation. Another method is to mix borax with water in a spray bottle and apply it to your mattress, which will suffocate and kill bed bugs. Additionally, washing your clothes and bedding in hot water with borax is an effective way to eliminate any remaining traces of bed bugs.

5. Use a Steam Cleaner

If you have a steam cleaner, you can use it to tackle bed bugs on your mattress and box spring. The high temperature of the steam can help kill the bugs and their eggs. 

6. Sprays and Repellents

You can use bed bug sprays that are safe for mattresses, cracks, and furniture. Look for products with proven ingredients like pyrethroids or essential oils. These sprays kill bugs on contact and can help prevent new ones from settling in.

7. Call Professional Exterminators

If the infestation is large or keeps coming back, it's best to hire licensed pest control experts. They have access to advanced treatments and can fully inspect and treat your home.

Preventing Future Bed Bug Infestations

1. Regularly Inspect Your Mattress

Check your mattress, seams, and bed frame every few weeks for signs of bed bugs or tiny black spots. Early detection can help you act before it turns into a full infestation.

2. Keep Your Bedroom Clean and Clutter-Free

A clean space makes it harder for bed bugs to hide. Vacuum floors, wash bedding often, and reduce clutter around the bed to keep your room unwelcoming to pests.

3. Seal Gaps

Seal up cracks in walls, baseboards, or furniture joints where bed bugs might sneak in or hide. Use caulk or filler to block these entry points completely.

4. Isolate the Bed

Make sure your bed doesn't touch the walls, and avoid storing items under it. You can also use bed bug interceptor cups under bed legs to catch bugs before they climb up.

5. Be Cautious When Travelling

Always inspect hotel mattresses and headboards before settling in. When returning home, wash all travel clothes in hot water and avoid placing luggage on your bed.

Types of Mattresses That Prevent Bed Bugs

1. Latex Mattress

Latex mattresses are a great option if you're looking to avoid bed bugs naturally. Because of their dense structure and minimal seams, they don't offer many hiding spots for bed bugs to sneak into. Plus, natural latex is resistant to allergens and pests, making it a hygienic and safer choice.

If you’re looking for a reliable option, check out the Flo Latex Mattress. It’s made with 100% natural latex and is designed to be breathable and hypoallergenic. The tightly knit outer cover also makes it tougher for bugs to find a way in.

2. Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam is another smart choice when it comes to keeping bed bugs at bay. The foam has very few crevices or layers, so there are fewer spaces for bugs to hide. Since memory foam mattresses are usually made from one solid block, they don’t have the inner springs or pockets where pests like to settle.

You can explore the Flo Ergo Memory Foam Mattress for this. It combines high-quality foam and a zipped, removable cover that’s easy to clean, giving you a cleaner, safer sleeping surface.

3. Air Mattress

Air mattresses can be a temporary way to avoid bed bugs. They’re made of plastic or rubber, which gives bugs less surface to grip or hide inside. Since they don’t have foam or inner springs, there are fewer nesting spots.

However, be cautious with frequent use. Some cheaper air mattresses may develop seams or tears that could collect dust and possibly attract pests. Use them occasionally and keep them clean.

4. Innerspring Mattress with Mattress Protector

On their own, innerspring mattresses can attract bed bugs because of all the open spaces inside the coils. But when paired with a tightly fitted, high-quality mattress protector, they become much safer.

Look for a zippered encasement that’s designed to block even the tiniest bugs. The protector acts like a shield between you and any unwanted pests that might be lurking.

5. Hybrid Mattress

Hybrid mattresses mix memory foam with innerspring coils. While the foam part helps reduce hiding spots, the coil layers can still attract bugs if not properly sealed.

That’s why using a protective encasement is extra important with hybrids. If you like the feel of both support and softness, hybrids are a solid choice, but make sure the outer material is tight-knit and easy to clean.

6. Organic Cotton Mattress

Organic cotton mattresses are made without harsh chemicals, so they’re better for you and the environment. When tightly woven, organic cotton fabric can act as a barrier against bed bugs.

To improve their resistance, always use a zippered cover and avoid fabric types that allow bugs to slip through. These mattresses are a good pick if you want a natural and chemical-free sleep surface.

7. Bamboo Mattress

Bamboo fabric is naturally resistant to bacteria, moisture, and dust mites. Some bamboo mattresses also include memory foam or latex layers, which adds to their resistance against bed bugs.

They’re usually breathable, temperature-regulating, and great for sensitive skin. Again, using a good cover will make this type of mattress even more secure.

Upgrading to a Mattress Bedbugs Hate

Upgrading to a Flo Anti-Gravity™ Latex Mattress can be a smart move in preventing bed bugs. The dense, firm nature of latex makes it difficult for these pests to burrow and establish a home in your mattress. Unlike traditional mattresses that can have soft, porous materials, latex creates a barrier that bed bugs find challenging to penetrate. Additionally, 100% natural latex is hypoallergenic, reducing the risk of allergens and irritants that can affect your health. This natural resistance helps reduce the likelihood of an infestation, providing you with a cleaner and more comfortable sleeping environment.

Closing Thoughts

Dealing with bed bugs can be stressful, but with the right approach, you can reclaim your mattress and your sleep. By taking preventive measures, using effective treatment methods, and maintaining a clean and bug-free mattress, you can manage and eventually eliminate these pests. If needed, consider upgrading to a mattress with natural bed bug resistance, like the Flo Latex Mattress, to make your sleep environment even more secure.