How to detect, prevent, and treat bed bugs?

Install bed-bug-rated encasements (not just allergen covers) on both the mattress and box spring. These are fabric sacks with specially designed zippers tight enough to trap bed bugs inside and prevent new ones from entering. Leave them on for at least 18 months — bed bugs can survive up to a year…

Pull the bed at least 6 inches away from all walls. Ensure sheets, blankets, and bed skirts do not touch the floor or drape onto nearby furniture. Remove nightstands or create gaps between them and the bed. Install interceptor traps under all bed legs.

Hire a licensed pest control professional to apply targeted chemical treatment using EPA-approved bed bug insecticides. This typically involves 2-3 visits spaced 2 weeks apart, applying residual insecticides to cracks, crevices, bed frames, and baseboards.

Using a bright flashlight, systematically inspect mattress seams, tufts, and piping. Check the box spring (especially the dust cover on the bottom). Examine the headboard — both front and back. Check nightstand drawers, picture frames, electrical outlets near the bed, and baseboards within 5 feet…

Do not use foggers (bug bombs), total-release aerosols, or over-the-counter bed bug sprays as your primary treatment. These products are largely ineffective against bed bugs and can make the problem significantly worse.

Travel is the primary way bed bugs enter homes. University extension services (MSU, UMN, Penn State, Nebraska) all recommend this protocol because catching an introduction before bugs establish is far easier and cheaper than treating an infestation.

Vacuum all mattress seams, box spring folds, bed frame joints, headboard crevices, baseboards, carpet edges, and upholstered furniture seams using a crevice attachment. Immediately seal the vacuum bag or canister contents in a plastic bag and dispose in an outdoor trash bin.

Gather all bedding, clothing, curtains, and fabric items from the infested area. Place them directly into the dryer on high heat (140°F/60°C) for at least 30 minutes. Then wash and dry normally. Items that cannot be washed can be dried on high heat alone.

Hire a licensed pest control company that specializes in bed bug heat treatment. They use industrial heaters to raise room temperature to 120-135°F, killing bed bugs at every life stage — eggs, nymphs, and adults — in a single 6-8 hour session.

Place bed bug interceptor traps under all four legs of the bed and under furniture legs near sleeping areas. These are shallow moat-like devices with a rough outer surface that bed bugs can climb into but a smooth inner surface they cannot escape from. Check traps weekly.