How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Safely

Bed bugs are a stubborn household pest, but you can tackle them yourself with a combination of heat, cold, cleaning and careful monitoring. Treating them is complex and can take weeks to months, depending on how many there are and how much clutter gives them somewhere to hide. You will need to repeat the steps below more than once to kill all the bugs and their eggs.

• A hot wash cycle and a tumble dryer on a hot setting
• A freezer that reaches 0°F (about -18°C) and a thermometer to check it
• Sealable plastic bags or storage containers
• Silicon caulk for sealing cracks and crevices
• A vacuum cleaner
• Protective covers that seal mattresses and box springs
• A steam cleaner (optional), able to reach at least 130°F (about 54°C)
• A pest controller if you need professional help

1. Identify the pest. Collect a sample to show an extension agent or other insect expert, who can identify it at no cost to you.
2. If an expert confirms bed bugs and you live in a flat, notify your landlord. The units near yours should be inspected, and landlords may have a responsibility to take part in treatment.
3. Inspect all areas that may have bed bugs, plus surrounding living spaces, to work out how far the infestation has spread.
4. Make a schedule for completing these steps, including any personal plans such as holidays, and keep records of the dates and exact locations where you find pests.
5. Seal any small hiding areas with silicon caulk to close cracks and crevices and force the bugs out into the open.
6. Remove infested items and place them in a sealed plastic bag before treating them.
7. Put items that cannot be treated in a sealed plastic bag or storage container and leave them there for up to a year to ensure any active bugs are dead.
8. Wash contaminated bedding and clothing on a hot wash, then tumble dry on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes.
9. Alternatively, put the clothing or bedding in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for three or four days. For cold treatment to work at home, the freezer must be set to 0°F and items left in a sealed bag for three days; check the temperature with a thermometer, as home freezers are not always cold enough.
10. Use a steam cleaner on carpets, baseboards, bed frames and other furniture. The steam must be at least 130°F, but should not have a forceful airflow or it may cause bed bugs to scatter, so use a diffuser.
11. Vacuum after each use, seal the bag as tightly as possible and throw it out immediately in an outdoor bin.
12. Buy protective covers that seal mattresses and box springs, so any bed bugs get trapped inside and die.
13. Clean the house regularly. Bed bugs can be found in both clean and dirty places, but regular cleaning helps you spot them.
14. Avoid clutter around beds, and check second hand furniture before taking it indoors.
15. If you cannot safely eliminate bed bugs from a piece of furniture, discard it responsibly. Destroy it so someone else will not be tempted to bring it home, for example by ripping covers and removing stuffing, and mark it with spray paint reading "Bed Bugs". Have it picked up as soon as possible by the trash collection agency.
16. If needed, hire a pest management professional or use pesticides carefully according to the label directions. Look for pesticides that have bed bugs listed on the label.
17. Check carefully for any evidence of bed bugs every few days after your initial cleanup and control. If you see bed bugs, either the cleanup missed some bugs or eggs have hatched, so retreatment may be needed. Consider using different types of pesticides if repeated treatments are needed.
18. Keep checking for at least a year after you are done to make sure all the bed bugs are gone.

Bed bugs are small, with adults reaching about 5mm in length, and are oval-shaped with six legs. They can be dark yellow, red or brown. As well as mattresses, they can be found on clothing, furniture, bed frames or behind loose wallpaper.

Bites are the main thing to look out for, and they are usually raised and itchy, often in a line or grouped together. On white skin the bites usually look red, while on black or brown skin they could be purple and harder to see. Other signs are spots of blood on bedding, or small brown spots on bedding or furniture which could be their faeces.

Bedbug bites are not typically dangerous. They can be very itchy and there may be some painful swelling, but they usually clear up on their own in about a week. You can put something cool, like a damp cloth, on the area, keep it clean and avoid scratching. Antihistamines can help if bites are very itchy, while a mild steroid cream like hydrocortisone might be useful. A severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, is possible but rare. Seek a GP appointment if the bites remain painful, swollen or itchy after trying treatments from a pharmacist, or if the pain or swelling is spreading.

Bedbugs have been an issue in the UK for many years and are a public health pest that is notoriously difficult to treat. They can be found all over the UK, but are a bigger issue in major cities. There was a dip during Covid-19 due to the lack of global travel, so any increase now could just be trends getting back to normal. Seasonal increases, particularly as more people travel during the summer months, are nothing unusual. Not every call out for bedbugs results in a positive identification, as increased media attention or public awareness can lead to false alarms.

It is important not to be ashamed of having bedbugs in the home. Call in an expert pest controller if you need to. They are not proven to transmit disease, but the psychological effect on someone who has them in their home can be significant.

Some treatments do not work and can be dangerous. Rubbing alcohol, kerosene and gasoline could harm you and your family and can easily ignite with a spark or cigarette. Sticky traps are not for bed bugs, though they may catch spiders, cockroaches and other insects. Do not try to kill bed bugs by increasing your indoor temperature with a thermostat, propane space heater or fireplace, as this does not work and is dangerous. If you use foggers (bug bombs), do so only with extreme care and only if bed bugs are listed on the label; improper use can harm your health or cause a fire or explosion, and foggers should not be your only method of control because the spray will not reach the cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide.

If you are travelling, checking for the insects is crucial, and prevention is always better than cure. If you feel you are in an area with an outbreak, check all your items, as they may travel in suitcases. Check any luggage you may have put in the room, because a lot of the time we put our suitcases or bags on the bed.

Can I get rid of bed bugs on my own? Yes, but treating them is complex and can take weeks to months depending on the extent of the infestation. Your likelihood of success depends on how many bed bugs you have, how much clutter is available for hiding places, whether your neighbours have bed bugs, and whether all residents of the house or building will take part.

Do I need to treat the whole home? To be successful, everyone in the home will need to cooperate and do their part. You may have to follow the steps more than once to kill all the bugs and their eggs.

How long do I need to keep checking after treatment? Keep checking for at least a year after you are done to make sure all the bed bugs are gone. Check carefully every few days after your initial cleanup and control, and retreat if you see bed bugs.

Are bedbug bites dangerous? They are not typically dangerous. They can be very itchy and there may be some painful swelling, but they usually clear up on their own in about a week. A severe allergic reaction is possible but rare.

Should I be embarrassed about having bedbugs? No. It is important not to be ashamed of having bedbugs in the home, and you should call in an expert pest controller if you need to.