How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs for Good (and Avoid Them in the First Place)

It’s a nightmare infestation no one wants to think about, but bed bugs can stay hidden for up to eight weeks—which means you need to be prepared for a long-haul battle.

Below, our bed bug experts detail how to recognize the earliest signs of a pest problem, the different types of available treatments, and top tips for preventing bed bugs from ever crossing your bedroom's threshold.

Recognizing the Common Signs of Bedbugs

Smooth, bite-free skin and clean sheets don't necessarily mean that you're not at risk for bed bugs, warns pest control professional Nicole Carpenter. Here are the most common indications that bedbugs are already present in your home.

• Small, black spots: These are the bedbugs’ droppings, composed of dried blood. “As the bedbugs grow, they must molt, or shed their exoskeleton,” explains associate certified entomologist James Agardy. “These cast skins are often observed near harborage locations and confirm the presence of an infestation.” 
• A musty odor: This is often described as a sweet, but—unpleasant—smell in your bedroom or other infested area, explains Nikki Torgerson, owner of Advanced Bed Bug Preparation. “Smelling this may indicate a more advanced infestation.”
• Live Insects: Once you see live bedbugs, Agardy warns there is more likely a well-established bedbug population.
• Empty Shells and Eggs: These will likely be found in tight spaces in your mattress, notes Carpenter.

Carefully inspect the areas bedbugs are usually drawn toward for any of the above. These include mattress seams, box spring edges, and bed frame joints.

"Take a flashlight and slowly inspect every seam, fold, screw hole and joint around the bed, pulling fabric back and checking cracks rather than just surfaces," says Carpenter. "Look for live bed bugs, tiny ink-like spots, pale empty shells and rice-like eggs specifically in the cracks."

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Effectively

There are many working sprays and powders on the market that can technically kill bed bugs, says Carpenter. But the problem is that they only kill the ones they touch. “Bed bugs hide extremely well, and even one or two hidden bed bugs can restart the infestation,” she warns.

In most cases, DIY methods can only reduce the current live pest population. The only reliable way to get rid of bed bugs completely is to call in the professionals. “This is because bed bugs hide deep in cracks, voids and furniture that homeowners can’t fully access or treat effectively,” Carpenter says. 

Professional pest-control specialists use a combination of treatments, with many of the most effective residual insecticides are restricted-use and homeowners can’t purchase them. Below are some of the most common treatment methods.

Heat Treatment

While bed bugs are attracted to body heat, they will die when exposed to temperatures reaching 112 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. A professional heat treatment will eradicate bugs using space heaters to heat a home or apartment to above this temperature for around one to three hours. 

While this treatment is extremely effective and chemical-free, it requires a knowledgeable bed-bug prevention company to ensure that all your personal belongings and space is well-protected.

Insecticide

This method usually follows the heat treatment method and is optional. Insecticides come in the form of a powder, liquid, or aerosol and are used around bed frames, mattresses, and box springs where bed bugs typically gather.

Heat and insecticide together may require several rounds of treatment in order to completely eradicate a bed bug infestation, especially more severe ones.

Freezing Treatment

Bed bugs also die when exposed to temperatures of around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but this requires several days of treatment. This method is typically recommended to treat smaller, individual items rather than larger furniture pieces or entire living spaces.

Steam Treatment 

An extermination team can also use hot steam or steam foam at temperatures of around 200 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to kill bed bugs. This method can target smaller areas in each room of your home or apartment—but is less than ideal for addressing any bed bugs taking refuge in your walls.

Fumigation

If you are dealing with a widespread bed bug infestation, Torgerson suggests opting for the fumigation treatment. Any residents living in the apartment or home will need to vacate for 24 hours while the extermination team tents the space to release a fumigant gas. This is the most invasive, most expensive, and least discrete option—but it is very effective at killing all living bugs and eggs.

The Best Bed-Bug Prevention Strategies

"Treatment for bed bugs is complex," warns pest control expert Morgan Wilson. That's why your best strategy is most often prevention.

• Get a Box Spring Encasement: If you have ever had bed bugs, then a box spring encasement should now be part of your permanent set-up, Carpenter says. It cuts off a major hiding place from future pests.
• Utilize Interceptor Traps: Keep interceptor traps under bed legs for six months after treatment, Carpenter says. They'll allow you to catch any eggs and bugs that could hatch and emerge later.
• Take Precautions When Traveling: Try to keep your bags and suitcases from sitting on public transit floors for extended periods of time. Before your trip, Torgerson recommends bagging your clothing and other items inside of your luggage as an extra precaution. Upon return, unpack away from the bedroom, heat treat your luggage, and run safe-to-dry items through the machine. Lint rollers are also an excellent tool at at removing hitchhiking bed bugs from your person or belongings, adds Wilson.
• Keep Clutter to a Minimum: A less cluttered home means that there are fewer places for bed bugs hide and they will be much easier to spot.
• Inspect Thrifted Items: Before bringing thrifted items into your home (especially upholstered furniture, curtains, clothing or rugs) be sure to inspect for signs of bed bugs. It's always best to exercise caution, Torgerson says.