What to Do and What Not to Do When You Got Bedbugs Infestation

Dos and Don'ts

Think you have bed bugs? Here are some dos and don’ts.

1. DO NOT throw away your mattresses and/or furniture.
Do not throw away a mattress infested with bedbugs

Doing so will result in only two things:

  • You will waste a lot of money.
  • You will make the problem worse because bed bugs and their eggs will spread throughout your home as the furniture is carried out.
2. DO NOT move yourself or your furniture from room to room.

Bed bugs will not go away if you sleep in another room. Instead, they will follow you and create new colonies wherever you move. Remember:

  • Always stay in the same room while your home is being treated for bed bugs.
  • If you must move a small item such as a child’s stuffed toy, run it through the dryer at 120 degrees prior to moving it to another room.
3. DO NOT attempt to treat bed bugs yourself.

Do-it-yourself treatments for bed bugs are ineffective at best, and dangerous at worst.

  • Many products that are advertised for home use and sold in hardware stores are not actually safe. Many contain chemicals which can cause physical harm to you and your family members.
  • Insecticide sprays and “bombs” WILL NOT kill bed bugs. All they do is cause the bed bugs to relocate. If sprayed, bed bugs will flee the immediate area, meaning they will resettle elsewhere – all over the rest of your home.
  • At the very least, always research the effects of a particular chemical before using it in your home. A good resource for this is www.pesticideinfo.org.
4. DO NOT assume you are the only one being bitten.

People often rule out the possibility of bed bugs because they think no one else in the household is being bitten. Unfortunately, this is faulty logic. If a housemate or family member is not visibly experiencing bites, by no means should you rule out bed bugs. According to the research:

  • About 30% of people do not display ANY symptoms when bitten by bed bugs.
  • The other 70% exhibit symptoms that range anywhere from barely noticeable, mildly itchy spots to large, painful red welts.
5. DO clean and de-clutter infested rooms.
Clean and de-clutter infested rooms

Clutter and dirtiness are a bed bug’s best friends.

  • Bed bugs like clutter because it gives them places to hide. Clearing open spaces in your home will make the treatment process smoother. Just remember: when throwing ANY ITEM out of a potentially infested space, it must be bagged and sealed prior to disposal in order to prevent bed bugs and eggs from spreading.
  • Wash all sheets in the hottest water possible (120° F). A Laundromat with large wasters and dryers is the best place to wash your pillows and blankets. Again, remember to bag and seal all clothing and sheets prior to transporting them anywhere.
  • Use isopropyl alcohol on all mattresses and furniture (where possible). Alcohol acts as a dehydrating agent. It will kill all bed bugs on contact. Make sure you to a spot test on a non-visible area prior to application, as some vinyl and stained surfaces may be damaged.
6. DO use bed bug encasements for mattresses and pillows.

Doing so will prevent bed bugs from entering and breeding in your mattress, pillow, or box spring. Conversely, bed bugs that are already inside will be unable to escape and bite you at night.

  • You can purchase these at our online store or a local retailer.
  • Visit www.saferest.com to learn more about our line of effective sleep protection products.