Do you suspect your mattress may be infested with bed bugs? How can you tell if there are bed bugs inside of your mattress? And how do you get rid of them? You are about to find out. If you don’t want these little parasites disrupting your good night’s sleep or you’re afraid of bed bug bites, stay with us till the end of this article.
Don’t get alarmed if you find bed bugs in your house, it is estimated that 3 out of 5 mattresses will present a bed bug issue at some point in their lifespan, depending on the local environment.
Bedbugs tend to be fairly harmless, but their bite can lead to rashes and itching. Also, some people might be allergic and a bite can cause a serious anaphylactic episode. So at the end of the day, it’s better to get rid of them.
- Does your memory foam mattress have any other residents?
- Do bed bugs hide in mattress foam or wood?
- How do you tell if there are bed bugs hiding in your memory foam mattress?
- Ways to prevent or get rid of bed bugs
- 1. Make sure to have some sort of cover on the other side of your memory foam mattress
- 2. Seal your memory foam mattress
- 3. Wash your bedding on high heat
- 4. Vacuum your mattress every once in a while
- 5. Clean your bedroom regularly
- 6. Spray your mattress with baking soda solution
- 6. Use sticky tape
- 7. Get some mattress covers
- 8. Hire a pest control expert
- 9. Replace your mattress
- References
Does your memory foam mattress have any other residents?
So, you’re worried that your memory foam mattress is infested with bed bugs? These parasites are amongst the most hated insects, and they’re very hard to get rid of. And they don’t even pay rent. Your memory foam mattress, although it’s very comfortable, isn’t immune to bed bug infestations. Bed bugs can survive on virtually any surface. It doesn’t matter if you buy the most expensive mattress in the world. Memory foam mattresses can be a breeding ground for bed bugs and they actually love them even more.
Bed bug infestations can occur with any mattress, so make sure to do your research before making a mattress purchase. You won’t be able to appreciate your mattress to its full potential until you remove those annoying bed bugs.
Yes, memory foam is specially attractive to bedbugs because it provides more movement freedom than regular mattresses. These little creatures get into your home thanks to infested furniture that gets too close to your bedroom.
Because the memory foam mattress’s composition is very stable, the insect is able to move more freely. Bed bugs will be free to roam the surface, complicating your use of the product. To get rid of bedbugs, you should first try home remedies or hire a professional to do so.
Do bed bugs hide in mattress foam or wood?
Most of these pests are drawn to your mattress because it is close to a source of food that they can readily access. While you don’t even suspect that they are feasting on you, bedbugs bite into your skin and suck up blood clots.
Bedbugs are parasites, just like ticks or fleas, they need to be close to their food source to thrive, in this case, we are the food source.
Memory foam mattresses are a favorite breeding ground for bed bugs due to their ease of access. Because memory foam mattresses are impenetrable, the bug can hide in the mattress’s base. They love regular mattresses as well. But it’s safe to say that memory foam may even improve the bed bugs’ range of motion.
Bed bugs thrive in your bedroom because you can’t see or disturb them. Bedbugs can breed and sleep on your mattress until the sun goes down because of the ideal conditions. They don’t like heat that much. So if you want to stop them from entering your room, you may want to open your curtains and your window and let some heat in. Bedbugs will die to sunlight if they are exposed to a 50°C temperature for at least 30 minutes.
How do you tell if there are bed bugs hiding in your memory foam mattress?
Bed bugs can’t be spotted with the naked eye. Bed bugs hide around your house in various spots. But what they love the most are your memory foam mattresses. If you wake up in the morning with itchy red spots on your skin, some bed bugs live in your mattress probably. You should be aware of the following warning signs:
- Bedbug bites mimic mosquito bites, so check if you have those.
- Small blood streaks
- Bedbug excrement (small dark stains)
- Bedbug shells
If you notice small brown bloodstains (fecal spots) on your sheets and pillowcases, inspect the mattress for live insects and bloodstains.
Bed bugs may be found in a variety of areas, including mattress seams, the inside and outside of headboards and footboards, and beneath and around carpet edges. They can, however, hide behind pictures, door and window casings, loose wallpaper, and any wall cracks.
Bed bugs may be difficult to detect since they like to hide throughout the day. If you don’t see any bed bugs, search for rust-colored discoloration on mattress tags and seams, the ceiling, seat cushions, or behind headboards.
Look for indicators of a bed bug infestation, such as crumbling wallpaper or carpet, as well as factors that encourage their development, such as high temperatures or standing water.
Ways to prevent or get rid of bed bugs
The fastest and simplest technique to eliminate bedbugs from your memory foam mattress is to go after them at extremely high temperatures. When exposed to extreme temperatures, they may perish. Heat treatment is the best solution.
If you live in a sunny area, like California, for example, you won’t have to do much work to get rid of bed bugs. You can simply put your mattress out in the sun to dry after washing it, and you’ll be good to go. Even if you don’t have the time to wash your mattress, you can still just take it out in the sun for a couple of hours and the little bed bugs will storm out of there as fast as they can.
And if you don’t live in a sunny area or you want a quick solution, here’s what you need to do. To keep bed bugs out of your memory foam mattress, use the following method:
1. Make sure to have some sort of cover on the other side of your memory foam mattress
Memory foam mattresses can harbor bed bugs in the lowermost section, which must be sealed off. Make sure to conceal the area under the mattress if it’s not already and prevent bed bugs from entering. Get some mattress encasements if you don’t have them already.
2. Seal your memory foam mattress
You can keep the infestation at bay while you sleep by sealing your mattress. The cloth that can seal the entire mattress must be purchased. Alternatively, you can use duct tape. You can get these in all different sizes and they’ll help keep the bed bugs out of your bed. Hypoallergenic latex is a great material for this purpose and it is not very expensive.
3. Wash your bedding on high heat
If you have a small infestation, regular hygiene habits and washing the afflicted bedding or clothes in temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius are typically enough to bring it under control. Freezing below -17 degrees Celsius is also an option for products that can’t be cleaned with hot water.
4. Vacuum your mattress every once in a while
Next, vacuum the surface of your mattress with a vacuum cleaner and, if required, disinfect it using approved cleaning agents. Mattress coverings, mattress toppers, and pillows should all be washed.
Make sure to use a vacuum with a water or HEPA filter, so the bed bugs reman trapped for good.
5. Clean your bedroom regularly
You must also carefully clean and vacuum the infested areas to eliminate any dead bed bugs or eggs and prevent them from returning. Make sure to change and wash your sheets at least every two weeks. If you love candles, make sure you get some lavender-scented ones. This is the scent that bed bugs hate the most. A lavender air freshener may also help scare them away.
Then come back and clean the room thoroughly again. This is because bed bug eggs take between one and two weeks to hatch.
6. Spray your mattress with baking soda solution
If you have a spare spray bottle, we suggest mixing up 4 spoons of baking soda, 50% vinegar, 50% water, a quarter of juice from a lemon and spraying that on your mattress and bed frame every time you take off the sheets. This can aid you additionally in your fight to remove bed bugs. At least you will get all the dead bugs on the surface of your mattress.
6. Use sticky tape
Sticky tape at the bottom of your bedposts may help you trap bugs as they travel throughout your room. Keep track of your catch totals to evaluate whether your efforts are paying off if you observe a decrease in the quantity of fish you are capturing. Use double-sided sticky tape for best results.
7. Get some mattress covers
You want to create an extra barrier between the mattress and yourself. A zippered memory foam mattress cover may help keep the bed bugs out of your mattress, we recommend polyester encasements for best results. There are natural latex toppers too. This will stop bed bugs from interrupting your sleep and they won’t be able to come through and leave red bites on your skin.
8. Hire a pest control expert
If the situation is out of control and you suspect that there are bed bugs all over your home, it’s best to call a professional exterminator to help you out. It will be a good decision to spend money on this and get rid of your enemy completely. A professional exterminator will have specialist equipment that will help you get rid of bed bugs and dust mites from your mattresses, your pillow covers, memory foam toppers, and the entire home. This will ensure a better night’s sleep.
Professional treatment prices usually start around $250 per room. We would recommend trying a home remedy first and only call an expert in severe cases.
9. Replace your mattress
You may need to purchase a new mattress depending on the severity of the condition. Bed bugs tend to cause big problems sometimes. A mattress with rips or tears may already be infected with bugs, making it even more difficult to remove bed bugs. Choose a hypoallergenic mattress for the greatest protection.
There is no such thing as the best mattress type for preventing bed bugs. There is no link between the sort of mattress you buy and your ability to keep bedbugs at bay. Some mattresses are better than others when it comes to bed bugs and bed bug examination. However, there is no optimal mattress for bed bugs in general. People who work in places where they are constantly exposed to the weather have a problem with bedbugs.
References
- https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/bedbugs-infestation
- https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/pest-control-tips/bedbugs-how-do-i-get-rid-them.html
I remember having a terrible bedbug infestation in my old apartment; it had me so terrified that I went on a cleaning frenzy for days.