How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Updated 2026-06-07

Honest truth first: bed bugs are one of the hardest pests to eliminate yourself. They hide in tiny cracks, resist many over-the-counter sprays, and a handful of survivors restarts the whole infestation. DIY can help you catch it early and contain it — but for an established infestation, professional heat or chemical treatment is usually what actually clears it. Here’s what genuinely helps, and how to know where you stand.

1. Confirm it’s bed bugs

Look in mattress seams, the headboard, and the box spring for small reddish-brown bugs (apple-seed sized), tiny dark spots (droppings), pale shed skins, and bites that often appear in lines. Confirming early — before they spread room to room — makes everything easier.

2. Contain it

Encase the mattress and box spring in bed-bug-proof covers (this traps any bugs inside and stops new ones harboring there), and put interceptor traps under the bed and furniture legs to catch and monitor bugs trying to climb up. Containment stops the spread and shows whether you’re winning.

3. Knock down the population

Wash and HOT-dry all bedding and clothing (heat kills bed bugs at every stage), vacuum seams, cracks and crevices thoroughly then bag and discard the contents, and declutter to remove hiding spots. Do NOT throw out the mattress — it spreads bugs through the home and is expensive; encase it instead.

4. Be realistic about DIY sprays

Many over-the-counter bed bug sprays have limited effect, bed bugs have developed resistance to common ones, and sprays don’t reach deep into the cracks where bugs hide. Treat them as a minor supporting measure — not a cure.

When to call a pro (usually)

For anything beyond a just-caught, isolated case, professional heat treatment or a pro chemical program is the reliable fix — DIY rarely fully clears an established infestation, and partial efforts let it rebound. Getting a free quote early almost always costs less than letting bed bugs spread through the home.

Dealing with a bigger pest problem than fruit flies? Get free quotes from licensed local pest pros — no obligation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?

You can contain and slow a just-caught case with encasements, interceptors, heat-washing and vacuuming. But an established infestation almost always needs a professional — DIY usually leaves survivors that restart it.

What actually kills bed bugs?

Heat is the most reliable — hot drying clothes/bedding, and professional whole-room heat treatment. Many OTC sprays are weakened by resistance and don’t reach hiding spots.

Should I throw out my mattress?

No. It spreads bugs as you carry it out, it’s costly, and bugs are elsewhere too. Encase the mattress instead — it traps them and lets you keep using it.

How did I get bed bugs?

They hitchhike on luggage, used furniture and between adjoining units — not from being dirty. Anyone can get them, which is why early detection matters more than blame.