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How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs: The Step-by-Step Guide (DIY & Professional)
By Jeffrey Grill |
Last Updated: January 4, 2026 |
✓ Medical Review: Referenced against EPA & National Pest Management Association standards.
Quick Summary: Effective Bed Bug Elimination
- Identification: Confirm infestation via fecal spots, blood smears, or live bugs (apple-seed size) in mattress seams.
- Preparation: Bag and wash all linens on High Heat (120°F+) for 30 minutes. Declutter floors immediately.
- Treatment (DIY): Apply contact sprays (Sterifab) for instant kill and residual sprays (Crossfire/Bedlam) for long-term control.
- Mechanical Kill: Use a steamer on mattresses/furniture (160°F+) and apply Diatomaceous Earth (dust) behind outlets.
- Prevention: Install mattress encasements and place ClimbUp Interceptors under bed legs to monitor activity.
Inspect these High-Risk Zones before treating.
Why Bed Bugs are Hard to Eliminate
Bed bugs are among the most difficult pests to eliminate because they can survive for months without feeding and hide in cracks as thin as a credit card. A single treatment is rarely enough. Successful eradication requires an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach: combining chemical sprays, heat treatment, and mechanical cleaning. You must inspect adjacent rooms (above, below, and beside) as bed bugs can travel up to 20 feet to find a new host.
Identify and Confirm You Have Bed Bugs
The first signs of a bed bug infestation are often bite marks on the arms or legs. However, bites are an allergic reaction, so sensitivity varies. You must find physical evidence to confirm the pest.
Bite Pattern on Arm
Physical Signs of Infestation
Fecal Spots: Look for brown or black specks on mattress seams, sheets, and the headboard. These are fecal stains (digested blood).
Early Signs: Fecal Spots on Mattress
Live Bugs: Adult bed bugs are the size of an apple seed (approx. 1/4 inch). They are reddish-brown, wingless, and flat.
Heavy Infestation: Live Bugs on Mattress
Eggs: White, pearly specks the size of a pinhead (1mm). They are glued to surfaces and resist vacuuming.
Click here to see more Bed Bug Pictures to verify your pest.
Understand the Enemy: Bed Bug Lifecycle
To permanently get rid of bed bugs, you must break their lifecycle. You must kill the adults to stop egg production and kill the eggs to prevent a new generation.
Required Products for Treatment
We recommend buying a Bed Bug Kit to save money, or purchasing these specific items individually:
| Product Type |
Recommendation & Function |
| Contact Spray |
Sterifab. Kills bed bugs and eggs on contact. Use on mattresses and furniture. |
| Residual Spray |
Bedlam Plus or Phantom. Kills bugs that cross treated surfaces for weeks. Essential for preventing return. |
| Desiccant Dust |
CimeXa or Diatomaceous Earth. Dehydrates bugs physically. Place behind outlets and baseboards. |
| Steamer |
Any Handheld Steamer capable of reaching 160°F+ to kill eggs instantly. |
| Monitors |
ClimbUp Interceptors. Place under bed legs to trap bugs and confirm when infestation is gone. |
| Encasements |
Zippered Mattress Covers. Traps surviving bugs inside and prevents new ones from nesting in the mattress. |
Bed Bug Treatment Requires a Contact Spray, Residual Spray and Mattress Encasement
Preparation: Before You Treat
Important: Do not move items out of the infested room unless they are in a sealed plastic bag. This prevents spreading the infestation.
- Bag and Wash: Place all bedding, linens, and clothing in heavy-duty Ziploc bags. Wash on hot and dry on High Heat for 30 minutes.
- Declutter: Remove all items from the floor. Throw away magazines and newspapers where bugs may hide.
- Vacuum: Vacuum the mattress, box spring, and carpet perimeter. Immediately dispose of the vacuum bag in an outside trash can.
- Electrical: Loosen outlet faceplates to inspect behind them (a common hiding spot).
- Furniture: Pull the bed frame away from the wall.
Step-by-Step DIY Elimination Guide
Step 1: The Mechanical Kill (Steam & Vacuum)
Vacuuming reduces the population, but steam kills the eggs. Use a steamer on the mattress seams, bed frame, and furniture. You must move slowly (1 inch per second) to ensure the heat penetrates deep enough to kill.
Step 2: Treat the Mattress and Box Spring
Spray the mattress seams, tufts, and folds with a contact killer like Sterifab. Do not soak the mattress; a light mist is sufficient. Turn the box spring over, remove the dust cover (gauze), and treat the inside wood frame. This is a primary hiding spot.
Once dry, encase both the mattress and box spring in bed bug proof covers. Do not remove these for at least one year.
Step 3: Treat Furniture and Baseboards
Remove drawers from nightstands and dressers. Spray the inside tracks and corners with a residual spray like Bedlam or Phantom. These products leave a residue that kills bed bugs for weeks.
Step 4: Apply Dust (Long Term Protection)
Apply a fine layer of CimeXa or Diatomaceous Earth into cracks, behind baseboards, and behind electrical outlets. If a bed bug walks through this dust, it will dehydrate and die.
Step 5: Monitor
Place ClimbUp Interceptors under the legs of your bed. Check them weekly. If you see no bugs for 21 days, you have likely succeeded.
Video: How to Kill Bed Bugs (Visual Guide)
Professional Treatment vs. DIY Costs
If the infestation is large or inside the walls, you may need a professional. Here is what to expect in terms of cost:
- DIY Treatment: $50 - $150 (Cost of Kit and Covers).
- Professional Chemical Treatment: $300 - $500 per room. Usually requires 2 visits.
- Whole Home Heat Treatment: $2,000 - $4,000. This involves heating the entire home to 140°F. It is the most effective method but the most expensive.
Tip: Always ask if the exterminator offers a warranty. Bed bugs often require a follow-up treatment.
Brochures
Review and even print these brochures for more information on how to get rid of bed bugs in your home or apartment.
What to Expect From Bed Bug Treatment
What to do when you find a bed bug in your home or apartment.
Written by: Dini M. Miller, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech
Available in a free Ebook
Bed Bug Do's and Don'ts
Advice on how to control bed bugs at home and when you travel..
Written by: Contra Costa County
Available in a free Ebook
Ask a Question or Share Your Bed Bug Experience With Others
Do you have a question or great story about bed bugs? Share it!
