How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

If the thought of a bed bug makes you say "blech," it's no wonder. This small, brownish pest the size of an apple seed is, quite literally, a blood-sucking biter with a high ick factor. It's no wonder that getting rid of bed bugs becomes priority number one for anyone who discovers they have them. That's a good thing, too, because, given the chance, a bed bug will go right to work, making a meal of your blood.

Once fed, that same bed bug will creep back into an out-of-the-way place of your home, most often where you sleep. That's because bed bugs like to nestle their flat, little bodies near their food source—in other words, into the tiny crevices found in and around your mattress, box springs, bed frame, and headboard.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

The good news is that you can take action when you have—or suspect you have—a bed bug problem. Here's some steps to take to get rid of bed bugs:

Start with a Bed Bug Inspection. 

You may be tempted to start spraying everything the minute you suspect you have a bed bug problem, but hold on! First, make sure the problem is really bed bugs. Otherwise, you'll be doing a whole lot of work for nothing. Learn more about how to identify bed bugs and signs of an infestation here. Once you've confirmed that bed bugs are the problem, move on to the next step.

Clean to Remove Bed Bugs. 

Cleaning alone isn't enough to kill bed bugs. It is, however, remarkably effective at removing some of them, along with shed skin and eggs. 

• Gently brush furniture, including the inside of drawers, and bed frames, then use hot, soapy water to scrub hard surfaces (except wood). 
• Vacuum bedding, furniture, drawers, draperies, suitcases, rugs, and any other items that could be hiding bed bugs. Dump the contents of your vacuum into a sealable plastic bag, close it tightly, and dispose of it in an outside trash receptable. If you'd rather not have bed bugs in your vacuum bag or canister, secure a thin sock or stocking over the vacuum tube, then attach a crevice tool. Vacuum, then carefully remove the stocking and seal it in a plastic bag before putting it in the trash.

Use Hot and Cold to Kill Bed Bugs. 

Extreme heat and cold are known bed bug killers. Keep in mind, too, that high heat and freezing temperatures will kill some bed bugs, but probably won't get rid of all of them. If an item can't be cleaned or treated and is infested, you may have to throw it out.

• Launder clothes, bedding, and other washables in hot (122 °F+) water for at least 20 minutes. Tumble-dry items that cannot be washed, such as draperies, backpacks, and stuffed toys, on high heat for 30 minutes. The dryer must be loosely filled to ensure that the internal temperature is adequate to kill bed bugs and their eggs.
• For items too delicate to wash, dry, or otherwise expose to high heat, try freezing them instead. Place bed bug-infested objects like books and shoes in a sealed plastic bag, then place in a 0 °F freezer for at least 4 days minimum. 
• If you have a handheld steamer that reaches 212 ºF and can be used on an item, by all means, go ahead. Steam at that temperature kills bed bugs on contact. Just be careful, because steam can damage delicate fabrics and wood furniture. 

Spray to Kill Bed Bugs. 

Because bed bug infestations escalate quickly, you have to act fast. Even if you've removed some bed bugs using the steps above, you likely have more hiding in places you can't see or reach. To kill bed bugs where they hide, use bed bug spray: 

• For fast-acting, long-lasting control, use Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug Killer, which kills bed bugs and their eggs (including tough, pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs) for up to 16 weeks on non-porous (ceramic) surfaces. Apply to bed frames, headboards, floors, and mattress tufts, folds, edges, sides, and seams.
• Treat large areas like carpets, closets, and baseboards with non-staining Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug, Flea & Tick Killer, which also kills pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs and controls bed bugs for up to 2 weeks on carpeted surfaces.

Treat Cracks and Crevices. 

Bed bugs can live in the unexpected, out-of-the-way places of your home, including behind wall plates, along baseboards, and around window frames. To kill hard-to-reach bed bugs on contact, apply Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug & Flea Killer Powder. Dust product in empty dressers and clothes closets, around wallpaper edges, and where wall-to-wall carpeting meets wall edges and baseboards. It kills bed bugs by contact and controls them for up to 8 months.

Don't Try to Trick Bed Bugs.

Bed bugs are sneaky. Changing where you sleep, putting mothballs or dryer sheets under the bed, or using an ultrasonic pest repellent are just a few of the many home remedies that are not effective against bed bugs. Leaving bedroom lights on while you sleep won't work, either. Yes, bed bugs like the night, but they're not clock-watchers, so if they're hungry, light or time of day won't stop them. Also, there's no evidence that spraying yourself with mosquito repellent or dousing yourself with essential oils is effective against bed bugs. Unless a product or spray specifically lists bed bugs on its label, it's not worth your time or money.

Call in the Professionals.

Bed bugs can get even the most careful and thorough of us. If the steps above aren't getting rid of your bed bug problem (use Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug Traps to see if any bed bugs are still hanging out), then it's time to call in your local pest control service and leverage their expertise.

How to Prevent Future Bed Bug Infestations

Protect Your Mattress. 

Protect your mattress and box spring from a bed bug infestation by enveloping them in "encasements," specially designed shields that completely cover your bed. Sold online and in retail stores, encasements are different from mattress pads and protectors, so choose carefully.

Protect Clothing and Other Items with Plastic. 

Bed bugs don't do well climbing on smooth plastic items. There are two ways to use this knowledge to your advantage: 

• Store household items, including seasonal clothing and bedding, in plastic totes or bags rather than cardboard
• Consider making or buying plastic bed bug "interceptors," which are small dishes with a deep well or moat. Place interceptors under bed posts or chair legs so when bed bugs crawl, they fall into the moat.

Keep your home tidy. 

Another way to hinder bed bugs is to keep your home neat and tidy. Your regular cleaning chores like washing linens, vacuuming floors, and clearing up clutter make your home less hospitable to bed bugs. Fewer loose items also mean fewer places for bed bugs to hide. In addition, keep things like laundry, bedspreads, and blankets off the floor and away from walls.

Seal Cracks and Crevices.

Again, the fewer places bed bugs have to hide, the better. Do a check for any cracks along baseboards, decorative molding, light sockets, electrical outlets, and switches where bed bugs (or other insects) might be hiding, and use caulk to seal them up good and tight. 

Bug-Check and Clean Second-Hand or Thrifted Items.

Bed bugs don't fly or jump. They do, however, hitchhike in on your stuff, including clothing, luggage, used furniture, and electronics, such as TVs and smoke detectors. So, always launder and clean any item you purchase from a yard sale or thrift store, and avoid trash-picking items, including furniture. You can treat most used second-hand furniture with Ortho® Home Defense Max® Bed Bug Killer before bringing it inside. Remember to read and follow all label directions.

Take Precautions at the Laundromat. 

Clothes and linens make great hiding spots for bed bugs, so it's no surprise that they can catch a ride to the laundromat. Even though they can be killed when washing clothes in hot water and drying them on high heat, they can survive a cold cycle and spread to surfaces throughout the facility. If you're concerned about bringing bed bugs home from the laundromat, here are some steps you can take:

• Avoid setting laundry baskets on the floor or near seats.
• Avoid using shared laundry baskets.
• Visually inspect machines for bed bugs before using them.
• If possible, wash and dry clothes on the highest settings that your garments allow for.
• Check folding tables before placing clothes on them or fold clothes at home.

Watch for Bed Bugs When You Travel. 

Another place you might pick up bed bugs is hotels. Not to worry, though. We have plenty of tips to Avoiding Bed Bugs When Traveling.

How Long Will It Take to Get Rid of Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are tough little buggers, so getting rid of them won't happen overnight. While having to deal with bed bugs may make you want to cringe, just remember there's no shame or blame in it. With a little know-how and some diligent effort, you can regain control of your home faster than you think.