Search guides

Fix bed bugs

We'll help you confirm identification, contain the infestation, wash and encase, reduce clutter—and when to call a professional, which most infestations require.

Troubleshooting · Home care
1–2 hours initial setup; professional treatment if needed
What you'll need
  • Bed-bug-proof mattress and box spring encasements
  • Laundry access (washer and dryer with high heat)
  • Vacuum with crevice tool
  • Bed-bug interceptors (climb-up traps)
Step 1 of 6

Quick triage — pick your path

Get started

Choose the option that matches what you see. You can jump straight to that section.

Show full guide

Steps

Goal: Confirm identification, contain the infestation, wash and encase, then decide whether to call a professional.

  • Check mattress seams, headboard, and baseboards for small, flat, reddish-brown bugs, dark fecal spots, or shed skins.
  • Good: You have confirmed bed bugs. Proceed to Contain path.
  • Bad: Only bites with no other signs—may be fleas or other insects. Confirm before treating.

Confirm identification

Goal: Confirm it is bed bugs before treating.

  • Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown. Look in mattress seams, headboard crevices, and baseboards. Check for dark fecal spots on sheets, shed skins, or live bugs. Bites in a line or cluster can indicate bed bugs but are not enough alone—fleas and other insects also bite.
  • Good: You see bugs, spots, or skins. Proceed to Contain path.
  • Bad: Only bites—consider other causes or wait for more evidence.

Contain path

Goal: Contain the infestation and wash bedding.

  • Do not move infested bedding, furniture, or clothing to other rooms. Wash all bedding on the hottest setting the fabric allows. Dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Encase the mattress and box spring in bed-bug encasements. Seal zippers fully.
  • Good: Bedding is washed and dried; mattress and box spring are encased. Proceed to Vacuum and interceptors.
  • Bad: Items were moved to clean areas—spread may have occurred. Still proceed with washing and encasement.

Vacuum path

Goal: Vacuum hiding spots and place interceptors.

  • Vacuum mattress seams, baseboards, headboard, and furniture near the bed. Empty the vacuum into a sealed bag and dispose of it outside immediately. Place interceptors under each bed leg. Isolate the bed from the wall and other furniture. Reduce clutter.
  • Good: Vacuuming done; interceptors in place. Monitor for two weeks.
  • Bad: Bugs appear in multiple rooms—call an exterminator.

When to get help

Call a professional exterminator if:

  • Bugs appear in multiple rooms.
  • Bites or sightings continue after two weeks of DIY treatment.
  • You want guaranteed elimination.

Do not use bug bombs—they scatter bed bugs and make professional treatment harder.

Verification

  • Bedding washed and dried on high heat.
  • Mattress and box spring encased with bed-bug-proof covers.
  • Clutter reduced; vacuuming done; vacuum emptied outside.
  • Interceptors under bed legs; bed isolated.
  • No new bites or sightings for two weeks, or professional treatment scheduled.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Confirm identification Check for bugs, fecal spots, shed skins.
  2. Contain and wash Do not move items; wash and dry bedding on hot.
  3. Encase and vacuum Encase mattress and box spring; vacuum seams and baseboards.
  4. Interceptors Place interceptors under bed legs; isolate bed.
  5. Call exterminator Multiple rooms, persists after DIY, or for guaranteed elimination.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Where bugs were seen
  • Whether encasements were installed
  • Steps already tried

Have you confirmed it is bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown. Look for fecal spots, shed skins, or live bugs in mattress seams.

Check mattress seams, headboard, baseboards. Look for dark fecal spots, shed skins, or live bugs. Yes: proceed to contain and wash. No: bites alone may be fleas or other insects—confirm before treating.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Confirm identification

Bites in a line or cluster, fecal spots, shed skins, or live bugs indicate bed bugs.

Look for bugs in mattress seams, headboard, baseboards. Check for fecal spots on sheets. If you find evidence, proceed to contain. If only bites, consider fleas or other causes.

Done

Contain and wash bedding

Do not move infested items. Wash and dry on hottest setting.

Do not move items to other rooms. Wash all bedding on hot; dry on high heat 30+ minutes. Encase mattress and box spring. Good: containment done. Bad: items moved—spread may have occurred.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Vacuum and use interceptors

Vacuum seams and baseboards. Place interceptors under bed legs.

Vacuum mattress seams, baseboards, headboard. Empty vacuum outside. Place interceptors under bed legs. Reduce clutter. Good: setup complete. Bad: bugs in multiple rooms—call exterminator.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Monitor for two weeks

Check interceptors weekly. Bites should stop if treatment worked.

Check interceptors weekly. If bites stop and no new bugs appear, DIY may have worked. If bites continue or you see bugs, call an exterminator. Most infestations need professional treatment.

Done

Call an exterminator

Call a professional exterminator if bugs are in multiple rooms, DIY has not worked after two weeks, or you want guaranteed elimination. Do not use bug bombs—they scatter bed bugs.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I have bed bugs?
Look for small, flat, reddish-brown bugs in mattress seams, headboards, or baseboards. Signs include bites in a line or cluster, dark fecal spots on sheets, or shed skins. Bites alone are not enough—confirm with visual evidence.
Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?
Early, single-room infestations may respond to thorough washing, encasement, vacuuming, and interceptors. Most established infestations require professional treatment—heat or pesticide. DIY often fails because bed bugs hide in many places.
When should I call an exterminator for bed bugs?
Call an exterminator if you see bugs in multiple rooms, the infestation persists after DIY steps, or you are not sure you have eliminated all hiding spots. Professionals use heat treatment or targeted pesticides that DIY products cannot match.

Rate this guide

Was this helpful?

Continue to