Prevention

The best strategy for dealing with bed bugs is to prevent infestations in the first place. Avoid buying used furniture or picking up abandoned furniture. It is important to take precautions when traveling to avoid bringing home these unwelcome guests. For individuals who travel frequently, there is a greater chance of introducing bed bugs into the home. Whenever you travel, it is always a good idea to assess the bed and furniture in the hotel or guest room for signs of an infestation before unpacking and getting settled. Consider bringing a bright flashlight to help inspect small spaces and crevices and make spotting bed bugs easier.

When looking for bed bugs examine the headboard, bedding, mattress, and box springs. In hotels, the bedding is changed regularly so it should be removed for a full examination. Look for liquid feces on fabric or other hard surfaces, which appear as dark spots. Check for bed bugs and dark spots on the mattress by examining the rounded corners and mattress tag if one is still present. One common hiding place for bed bugs is in the box spring, especially the plastic guards on the corners. Even if there are no signs of bed bugs, it is still recommended that you place luggage, electronics, and clothing on a dresser, table, or bathroom away from the bed and any carpet.

When returning home from a trip, luggage should be unpacked outside of your home. Examine toiletries carefully for bed bugs. Place clothing in a garbage bag and use a twist tie to seal it. Take the bagged clothes directly into the laundry room or laundromat. After removing clothes from the bag, immediately wash them with detergent and discard the bag in a trashcan outside of the home. Remove the clothes you are wearing and wash immediately or place in the dryer for 30 minutes. Items that cannot be washed should be placed in the dryer for 30 minutes at medium-high heat.

There are luggage sprays and patches marketed as bed bug control agents. However, most bed bug populations are resistant to the active ingredient in these sprays. Therefore, the use of these sprays is not recommended.

Non-chemical management

When a bed bug infestation is confirmed, all bedding should be washed and dried thoroughly with high heat to kill all life stages. All areas should be vacuumed thoroughly, especially carpeted areas near the bed and where the carpet meets the wall. The vacuum bag should be moved to the trash immediately after. Worn mattresses should be thrown away, or if the mattress is newer and in good condition, it can be wrapped in a plastic case. Keep the mattress in the cover for a year or longer to kill any remaining bed bugs. Any clutter should also be reduced, which will reduce the number of hiding places and makes chemical treatments more effective.

Chemical management

The non-chemical control methods highlighted above are helpful, but alone they are not likely to eradicate all bed bugs in a home. Insecticides should be applied to areas that can harbor bed bugs. It is extremely important to read all insecticide labels carefully, as some may exert a degree of toxicity toward humans. Therefore, avoid applying pesticides to areas in the bedroom unless the insecticide label says it is safe to do so.

Lastly, hiring an experienced exterminator is recommended as it can be difficult to treat all possible areas where bed bugs hide. Certified professionals will also have more pesticide options at their disposal, increasing the likelihood of eradicating the bed bug population.