How to Get Rid of Bedbugs from Mattresses

Ingredients/Materials:

• Vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment
• Mattress encasement (bedbug-proof)
• Bedbug spray (safe for mattresses)
• Laundry detergent
• High-heat dryer
• Plastic bags
• Diatomaceous earth (food-grade)
• Stiff brush
• Steam cleaner (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preparation:
   • Strip your bed of all bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, and blankets.
   • Immediately place all bedding into plastic bags to prevent spreading the bedbugs to other areas of your home.
2. Washing:
   • Wash all bedding in hot water (at least 120°F/49°C) to kill any bedbugs and their eggs.
   • Dry the bedding on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes.
3. Vacuuming:
   • Use the hose attachment of your vacuum cleaner to thoroughly vacuum the mattress, paying special attention to seams, edges, and crevices where bedbugs might hide.
   • Immediately empty the vacuum cleaner bag or canister into a plastic bag, seal it tightly, and dispose of it outside your home.
4. Brushing:
   • Use a stiff brush to scrub the mattress seams. This helps dislodge any bedbugs and eggs that the vacuum may have missed.
5. Treating the Mattress:
   • Apply a bedbug spray that is safe for use on mattresses, following the product’s instructions carefully.
   • Allow the mattress to dry completely.
6. Encasing the Mattress:
   • Once the mattress is dry, encase it in a bedbug-proof mattress cover. This prevents any remaining bedbugs from escaping and helps starve them over time.
7. Treating the Room:
   • Sprinkle diatomaceous earth (food-grade) around the bed, under furniture, and along baseboards. This natural powder is harmless to humans and pets but deadly to bedbugs.
8. Steam Cleaning (Optional):
   • If you have a steam cleaner, use it to steam the mattress and any surrounding areas. The heat will kill bedbugs on contact.
9. Monitoring:
   • Leave the mattress encased for at least one year. This ensures that any bedbugs trapped inside will eventually die.
10. Final Steps:

• Reassemble your bed with clean bedding.
• Regularly inspect the mattress and surrounding areas for signs of bedbugs.

This method is effective but requires diligence and patience. Regular inspections and maintaining a clean, clutter-free environment will help prevent future infestations.