Bed bugs can turn your home into a stressful place fast. These tiny pests hide in mattresses, baseboards, and furniture, making them tricky to get rid of without a solid treatment plan. If you’ve spotted itchy red bites, small blood stains on your sheets, or dark spots on your mattress, you might be dealing with a bed bug infestation.
The good news? There are steps you can take for effective bed bug control to get them out—and keep them out.
Key Takeaways
- Bed bugs often hide in mattresses, linens, and baseboards so early inspection helps stop them from spreading further.
- Heat treatment kills bed bugs at every stage and works best when done by a professional pest control company.
- Washing and freezing items help remove bed bugs while sealing items in plastic bags stops them from spreading.
- Pest control services in Grand Rapids can help homeowners rest easy in a pest-free West Michigan home.
1. Check for Bed Bugs in Key Spots
The first step to bed bug removal is knowing where to look.
Focus your inspection on mattresses, headboards, baseboards, linens, and any small crevices where bed bugs like to hide. You’re looking for small, dark droppings, shed skins, tiny white eggs, or rust-colored stains on sheets and furniture.
Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, and they’re great at hiding in tight spots.
If you spot any of these signs, it’s important to act quickly before the infestation spreads to other parts of your home.
2. Use Heat to Kill Bed Bugs
Heat treatment is one of the most effective treatment options for bed bug control. These pests can’t survive high temperatures, making heat a great way to kill them at every stage—from eggs to adults.
For large infestations, a professional pest control company can perform whole-home heat treatment, raising indoor temperatures high enough to kill bed bugs without the need for harsh sprays.
This method reaches into walls, furniture, and crevices where bed bugs hide, offering a comprehensive solution to your infestation.
3. Vacuum and Steam Regularly
Vacuuming won’t solve a bed bug problem on its own, but it helps reduce their numbers and removes eggs from mattresses, carpets, and baseboards. Use a vacuum with a hose attachment to target crevices, furniture, and floors.
After vacuuming, seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and dispose of it right away to prevent re-infestation.
For deeper cleaning, steam is a powerful bed bug treatment method. A high-temperature steamer can kill the pests hiding in mattresses, upholstery, and cracks in furniture.
4. Wash and Isolate Infested Items
Bed bugs can spread through linens, furniture, and personal belongings, so it’s important to contain the problem early.
You should wash all fabrics—including bedding and clothes—on the hottest heat setting your washer allows, then dry them on high heat for at least 30 minutes to kill hidden bed bugs and eggs.
For items you can’t wash, seal them in a plastic bag for a few weeks to stop bed bugs from spreading. You can also freeze delicate items at 0°F (-18°C) for at least four days.
This method effectively kills both adults and their eggs, helping to prevent re-infestation.
5. Keep Bed Bugs from Coming Back
Once your home is clear, a few simple habits can help keep it that way.
Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers. Whether you’re traveling or commuting, they can hitch a ride on luggage, secondhand furniture, or clothing from public spaces.
Use bed bug-proof covers on your mattress and box spring, check any secondhand furniture before bringing it inside, and vacuum and steam regularly. Placing bed bug traps around bed legs can help catch problems early.
By staying proactive with pest management, you can avoid future infestations and rest easy in a bed bug-free home.
6. Call a Local Pest Control Company
If DIY methods aren’t cutting it, we’re here to help.
At Pest Pros of Michigan, we offer comprehensive bed bug services, including detailed bed bug inspections and proven treatment options. Our licensed bed bug expert in Grand Rapids can identify hidden infestations and create a custom treatment plan for your home.
Whether you need heat treatment, targeted pest control solutions, or ongoing pest control plans, we’ll take care of it.
Our goal? To give you peace of mind and help you enjoy a pest-free home.
Serving Grand Rapids, West Michigan, and surrounding areas, we’re ready to help with all your pest problems—from bed bugs to cockroaches, wasps, and more.
Contact us today for a free quote.
