Do I have to throw out my bed bug infested mattress?

Instead of throwing you bed bug-infested mattress away, there are a few things you should do:

1. Take all bedding off and wash thoroughly in hot water.
2. Keep the mattress and box spring where they are. Moving or removing them can spread the bed bugs.
3. Call a bed bug exterminator to treat it with heat, steam, or another treatment option.

What to do with your mattress after an infestation

When you have a bed bug infestation, simply tossing a few infested items won’t do anything. After all, bed bugs aren’t just hiding in your bed or mattress—they could be all over! If you get rid of your infested mattress and replace it with a new one before having your entire property treated, there’s a bad chance your new one will be infested all the same! For this reason, always get a bed bug exterminator to treat your entire property for the bugs before replacing any items.

Do you need to throw away bedding or other items?

No, you should not need to throw away bedding or other items during or after a bed bug infestation. With proper treatment, all items should be able to be salvaged. Instead of throwing out clothing and bedding, it’s recommended to wash them in a hot water washing machine. High heat will kill bed bugs and their eggs.

Most if not all of your items should be receptive to the best bed bug treatments. Of course, if you already have old furniture in need of replacing, a bed bug infestation would be the perfect excuse. It’s important to remember to only remove infested furniture after it has been treated.

Do bed bugs infest everything in your home?

Bed bugs infest a lot of areas other than just your bed! It makes sense that upholstered furniture would be receptive to bed bugs, but what about wooden pieces? Unfortunately, bed bugs are known to hide in cracks and crevices, even in your wood table or chairs. Just like mattresses, it’s best to leave all infested items in place until your property is professionally treated for bed bugs.