Finding bed bugs in your home can feel overwhelming. You don’t expect them. You might not see them straight away. But they make themselves known in other ways — itchy bites, tiny stains on your sheets, and that growing unease every time you get into bed. You want it dealt with. You want them gone. And not just temporarily. You want to get rid of bed bugs properly, for good.
This guide walks you through everything — from spotting the signs early to clearing your home safely and thoroughly. Because once you understand what you’re dealing with, you can act fast and stop the infestation before it spreads any further.
How do you know if you have bed bugs?
Before you try to get rid of them, you need to be sure they’re actually there. Bed bugs hide well. They don’t crawl across your floors in plain sight. Instead, they wedge themselves into seams, corners, and cracks close to where you sleep.
You might not see a live one at first, but there are signs to look for:
- Bites, often in clusters or lines, usually on exposed skin
- Tiny black spots on your mattress or bed frame (this is their droppings)
- Small blood smears on your sheets or pillowcases
- Shed skins, which are pale and papery
- A musty, unpleasant smell if the infestation is bad enough
If you spot one or more of these, especially near your bed or sofa, there’s a good chance bed bugs are around. The sooner you start dealing with it, the easier it’ll be to take control.
Where do bed bugs hide?
They stick close to their food source, which means you. They come out at night to feed and return to hiding before morning. Most often, you’ll find them:
- Along the seams and edges of your mattress
- Under the bed frame, especially in screw holes or joints
- Behind headboards
- In the corners of bedside tables or inside drawers
- Behind skirting boards or loose wallpaper
- Inside the folds of curtains or around plug sockets
They don’t need a lot of space to hide — even a crack the width of a credit card is enough. That’s why you have to be thorough when checking.
Can you get rid of bed bugs yourself?
Yes, in some cases — especially if you catch the problem early. But it takes effort, attention to detail, and patience. You can’t just spray something once and expect them all to vanish. It needs a layered approach.
If the infestation is light and you’re committed to tackling it properly, you can try these steps before calling in a professional.
What’s the first thing you should do?
Start by clearing the space around your bed. You don’t need to empty your whole house, but you do need access to all the places bed bugs could hide. Move your bed slightly away from the wall if you can. Pull out nearby furniture. Get everything you need out in the open.
Then begin with the bedding. Strip your sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, and mattress protector. Put them straight into a sealed plastic bag, so you don’t risk spreading bugs to other rooms. Wash them on the highest temperature they can take — ideally 60°C or higher. Dry them completely on high heat. Heat is one of the most effective ways to kill bed bugs and their eggs.
Do the same with any clothes that were on or near the bed. If you’ve used travel bags recently, especially from a hotel or train, treat them the same way.
How should you clean your mattress and bed frame?
Vacuum everything slowly and thoroughly. Use the hose attachment to reach into corners and seams. Focus on:
- Mattress seams, folds, and corners
- Bed frame joints and screw holes
- Headboards, especially behind and underneath
- Floor edges, especially where carpet meets wall
Empty the vacuum outside once you’re done and seal the contents in a bin bag.
After vacuuming, use a steam cleaner if you have one. High heat kills bed bugs instantly. Aim the steam into the same areas you vacuumed. Go slowly — bed bugs don’t die from a quick blast of heat. You want the surface to stay hot for a few seconds.
If you don’t have a steam cleaner, you can use a hairdryer on its hottest setting, but it won’t reach as deep or be as effective.
Should you use sprays or powders?
You can, but choose carefully. Some products only repel bed bugs, which can actually make the problem worse by pushing them deeper into hiding. What you want are insecticides that are marked as effective against bed bugs and safe for use in bedrooms.
Use sprays along baseboards, bed frames, and the outer edge of your mattress — never directly on your bedding or where your skin touches. Powders can be useful too, especially in cracks or under furniture where sprays can’t reach.
If you use any chemical treatments, follow the instructions exactly. And keep pets or children away from treated areas until it’s safe.
What about mattress encasements?
Encasing your mattress and box spring can help cut off the bugs’ hiding spots. A proper bed bug encasement seals the mattress completely with no gaps or tears. Once it’s on, leave it in place for at least a year. That sounds long, but it’s necessary. Bed bugs can live for months without feeding, so if any are trapped inside, you want them to die off over time.
Encasements won’t remove an infestation on their own, but they help break the cycle and protect your mattress from future attacks.
Can natural remedies get rid of bed bugs?
There’s a lot of advice online about natural bed bug treatments. Some people try essential oils like lavender or tea tree. Others try baking soda or vinegar. While some of these might repel bed bugs slightly, they won’t solve the problem. They won’t kill the bugs or their eggs.
You can use natural methods alongside other steps — like vacuuming, steam, and washing on high heat — but you shouldn’t rely on them alone.
When should you call a professional?
If the infestation has spread to more than one room, if you’re seeing bites every night, or if you’ve already tried treatments that haven’t worked, it’s time to call in help.
Professional pest control companies have access to stronger insecticides and heat treatments that reach deeper into walls, furniture, and floorboards. They know how to find the bugs, even when you can’t. And they’ll help reduce the risk of the infestation coming back.
The cost might seem high at first, but it’s often cheaper in the long run than buying lots of sprays and replacements that don’t work.
Can you stop bed bugs from coming back?
Yes — but it takes a bit of vigilance. Once you’ve cleared an infestation, you want to make sure it doesn’t return.
Here’s what helps:
- Avoid bringing second-hand mattresses or sofas into your home unless you’ve inspected and treated them
- When travelling, check hotel beds and headboards for signs of bed bugs before unpacking
- Keep your luggage off hotel floors and wash your clothes on high heat when you return home
- Use mattress encasements to make it harder for bugs to hide
- Check your bed and furniture regularly for signs — early detection is the key
If you live in a flat or terrace where bed bugs could spread between properties, speak to your landlord or neighbours if you’ve had an issue. A joined-up response works better than treating just one space.
What’s the long-term impact of ignoring bed bugs?
Leaving them alone won’t make them go away. The longer bed bugs are in your home, the more they spread. They reproduce quickly and hide well, so an early infestation can turn into a major problem in weeks.
Aside from the bites and skin irritation, bed bugs affect your sleep, your mood, and your wellbeing. You might start to feel anxious about going to bed or embarrassed to have people over. Some people even develop insomnia or long-term stress.
Getting rid of them not only protects your home — it gives you back your peace of mind.
Final thoughts — act early, stay consistent
Bed bugs are one of those problems that don’t get better on their own. But with a bit of know-how and a clear plan, you can get rid of them. You don’t have to throw everything out or panic. You just need to start — and follow through.
Check your space. Clean and treat it. Don’t rely on one quick fix. And if the problem feels too big to handle alone, don’t wait — get the right help in early. The sooner you act, the easier it’ll be to reclaim your space and sleep without worry.
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