Quick answer
To get rid of bed bugs, confirm what you found, keep everything in the infested room, then kill and remove the bugs with heat and cleaning: wash and dry bedding and clothes on the hottest setting, vacuum seams and cracks, steam mattress seams, seal the mattress and box spring in bed bug encasements and put interceptor cups under the bed legs. Then monitor for several weeks. This can clear a very small, early infestation. Anything bigger, or anything in an apartment, usually needs a licensed pro and at least 2 visits. Skip foggers, rubbing alcohol and outdoor sprays, which do not work well and can start fires.
Finding bed bugs is stressful, and the urge to get rid of them tonight leads to the most common mistakes: bug bombs, rubbing alcohol, dumping the mattress or moving to the couch. This guide covers what actually works, based on the EPA, the University of California and other university experts.
We treat bed bugs for Californians every day. Here is what you can safely do yourself, what kills bed bugs, how long it takes and when to call a professional.
Key takeaways
- Confirm it is bed bugs first. Many bites and bugs get mistaken for them.
- Do not move items to other rooms or start sleeping somewhere else. Bed bugs follow you and spread.
- Heat is your best DIY tool. Dry bedding and clothes on the hottest setting for 30 minutes.
- Encasements and interceptor cups trap bugs and show whether things are improving.
- Foggers, rubbing alcohol, gasoline and outdoor pesticides are dangerous and do not solve bed bug problems.
- Most infestations need a licensed pro. Treatment usually takes at least 2 visits over several weeks.
First, Confirm It Is Really Bed Bugs
The EPA lists “identify the problem” as step 1. Fleas, bat bugs and other pests can look similar, and each needs a different fix. Look for these signs around beds and couches:
- Live bugs. Adults are flat, oval, reddish brown and about the size of an apple seed. See what a bed bug looks like.
- Eggs and empty shells. Tiny pearly white ovals about 1 mm long, glued into seams and cracks. See what bed bug eggs look like.
- Dark spots. Black or rusty dots on sheets and seams.
- Shed skins. Pale, hollow, bug-shaped husks.
- Bites. Bites alone cannot prove bed bugs. Compare with what bed bug bites look like.
Save a bug on clear tape or take a sharp photo so a licensed inspector can confirm it.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs: 10 Steps
This plan follows the EPA’s do-it-yourself steps and the University of California (UC IPM) bed bug guide. No single method kills every bed bug, so it combines several.
- Keep everything in the room. Do not carry unbagged items through the home or start sleeping on the couch. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension warns that if you move to another room to sleep, the bed bugs will eventually follow.
- Bag and declutter. Seal clothes, linens and small items in plastic bags right in the room. The University of Kentucky notes clutter gives bed bugs places to hide and gets in the way of treatment.
- Wash and dry on high heat. Wash bedding and clothes in hot water, then dry them on the hottest setting. UC IPM says at least 10 to 15 minutes at the highest heat is needed, and Texas A&M says 30 minutes on high kills all stages. Shoes, backpacks and toys can often go straight into the dryer, as the University of Kentucky suggests.
- Vacuum slowly and often. Use a crevice tool on seams, the bed frame, baseboards and couch seams. UC IPM notes a single vacuuming rarely gets all bugs, so repeat it. Seal the contents in a bag and put it in an outdoor trash bin.
- Steam the hiding spots. UC IPM says steam can kill all life stages, eggs included. The EPA says it should be at least 130°F without forceful airflow, which can scatter bugs. Move slowly along seams.
- Encase the mattress and box spring. Zippered covers made for bed bugs trap bugs inside until they die. UC IPM notes adults have survived more than 400 days without a meal in the lab, so leave them on for well over a year.
- Isolate the bed. Pull the bed from the wall, keep bedding off the floor and put interceptor cups under each leg. UC IPM cites research where interceptors caught six times more bed bugs than people found by looking.
- Close up hiding spots. Caulk cracks along baseboards, glue down loose wallpaper and tighten outlet covers to remove hiding spots.
- Use products only if they are labeled for bed bugs. The EPA says to buy only EPA-registered products labeled for bed bugs and follow the label exactly. Desiccant dusts like diatomaceous earth work slowly, and only registered pesticide products should be used, not pool-grade dust.
- Monitor for weeks, not days. Check interceptors weekly, as the EPA suggests. Eggs hatch in about 1 to 2 weeks, so a quiet first week does not mean you are done. New bugs or bites after 2 weeks mean it is time for a professional.
A simple toolkit for these steps, with no pesticide needed:
What Kills Bed Bugs? Heat, Cold and Products Compared
Bed bugs hide in cracks, survive long periods without food, and UC IPM notes some populations resist common pyrethroid insecticides. But heat kills every life stage, eggs included. These are the temperatures experts use.
| Method | What it does | Kills eggs? | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes dryer, high heat | Kills bugs in fabric items | Yes | Best DIY tool |
| Steam | Kills bugs in seams on contact | Yes, on contact | Works |
| Vacuum | Removes many bugs and some eggs | Removes some | Works, repeat often |
| Freezer at 0°F | Small sealed items, at least 3 days | Yes | Small items only |
| Encasements | Trap bugs so they starve | Over time | Works |
| Registered desiccant dust | Dries out bugs that crawl through it | Slow | Slow, label only |
| Store-bought sprays | Kill only bugs they hit. Some resist them | Often not | Limited |
| Rubbing alcohol | Partly effective, flammable | No | Avoid |
| Foggers or bug bombs | Miss hidden bugs. Fire risk | No | Avoid |
What kills bed bugs instantly? Direct steam, and a hot dryer for items that fit. Contact sprays only kill the bugs you hit, and most are hiding.
How to Get Rid of a Small or Mild Bed Bug Infestation
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says that if you catch an infestation early, you may not need to do much more than treat and isolate your bed. A small infestation usually means:
- Only a few bugs or signs, all in or right next to one bed
- Nothing found in couches, other bedrooms or the walls
- A single-family home, not a shared building
- Bites started recently and are few
Focus on the bed: launder the bedding on high heat, vacuum and steam the mattress, box spring and frame, encase both and set out interceptors. If the cups stay empty and no new bites appear for several weeks, you are on track. Not sure how big it is? A professional or K9 inspection can tell you.
How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
Expect weeks, not days, because eggs hatch after about 1 to 2 weeks and bugs hide in hard-to-reach places. In a field study of apartment treatments led by entomologist Changlu Wang, now at Rutgers University, the units that were cleared needed an average of 2 visits, with follow-up checks every 2 weeks over 8 weeks. The researchers concluded that success requires at least 2 visits and a mix of tools.
Professional heat treatment can often clear a home in 1 day, per the University of Kentucky, but monitoring still matters. Tap each stage for a typical plan.
Confirm the bugs, keep sleeping in your bed and bag items in the room. Start the dryer loads. Renters should tell the landlord in writing.
Vacuum, steam, encase and set out interceptors. With a pro, this is usually the first treatment visit.
Eggs laid before treatment may hatch now, so a few young bugs are common. Chemical treatment plans usually include a follow-up visit. Keep checking cups weekly.
Fewer bugs each week is a good sign. Bugs that keep showing up mean a spot was missed and you need another visit or a different method.
Keep encasements and interceptors in place for months, and check used furniture and luggage before they come inside.
Do not judge success by bites alone, since reactions can show up days later. Our guide on how long bed bug bites last explains the difference between old bites that are healing and new ones.
Bed bug inspection and treatment in California
Want it done right the first time?
Our licensed technicians come to you for a bed bug inspection and give you a written treatment quote. It costs nothing to call.
DIY or Call a Pro?
DIY steps always help, and they make professional treatment work better. But the University of Kentucky says bed bug eradication is difficult and it is wise to hire a professional when you can. The CDC also advises calling a pest control company experienced with bed bugs.
| Question | DIY steps | Licensed professional |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A very small catch in or near 1 bed | Any spread beyond the bed, or any doubt |
| Reaches hidden bugs | Only what you can reach and see | Trained to find bugs in walls, outlets and furniture |
| Kills eggs | Heat and steam do, where they reach | Whole-room heat reaches eggs everywhere in the room |
| Products | Only consumer products labeled for bed bugs | Professional products and equipment, applied by trained, licensed staff |
| Apartments and shared buildings | Not enough alone | Needed, often with nearby units checked |
| Cost | Encasements, cups and laundry | Often several hundred dollars, per the University of Kentucky |
| Bottom line | A good start and a must for prep | The most reliable way to finish the job |
Not sure? Tick every statement that is true for your home. Nothing is saved.
This checklist is a quick guide, not an inspection. When in doubt, have a licensed pro take a look.
What NOT to Do When Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
The EPA warns that some of these shortcuts have caused house fires and made homes unsafe to live in:
UC IPM says they have been shown to be ineffective. Too many at once can cause a fire or explosion.
The EPA says rubbing alcohol has caused numerous house fires. Never use gasoline or other fuels.
Products made for outdoor use can make your home dangerous and unlivable, the EPA warns.
Raising the thermostat or using space heaters or a fireplace does not work and is dangerous, per the EPA.
Bed bugs follow you to the new spot, and now 2 places are infested.
Never put pesticides on people, pets or bedding unless the label says it is allowed.
- Throwing furniture out unbagged. The University of Kentucky advises bagging or wrapping discarded items. UC IPM says not to leave them on the curb, and to take them to the dump or clearly mark them as infested.
- Using pool-grade diatomaceous earth. The EPA says to use only desiccants registered as pesticides.
- Moving belongings between rooms. The University of Minnesota lists this as a thing not to do.
- Stopping after a quiet week. Eggs hatch later, so keep monitoring.
Safety first: if anyone feels dizzy, sick or has trouble breathing after a pesticide was used, get them to fresh air and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 in an emergency. Bring the product label with you.
How Professionals Get Rid of Bed Bugs
A pro starts with an inspection, then picks one method or a mix. UC IPM notes the most effective bed bug pesticides are available only to commercial applicators.
K9 inspectionTrained dogs sniff out live bugs and eggs, useful for apartments and early infestations.
Heat treatmentRooms are heated to at least 130°F to 140°F for hours, killing all life stages, often in 1 day.
Chemical treatmentTargeted products in cracks, seams and voids, with follow-up visits to catch bugs that hatch later.
For severe infestations, another option is fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride gas. UC IPM calls it highly effective but highly specialized and regulated, and you must leave the building while it is done.
In California, only licensed pest control operators may do this work. The Structural Pest Control Board licenses pest control operators, and you can verify a license on its website. Ask us how many visits are included and what happens if bugs return.
Getting bitten while you wait for treatment? Our guide on how to treat bed bug bites covers safe ways to calm the itch.
If You Rent in California
California’s bed bug law, AB 551 (California Civil Code sections 1954.600 to 1954.605), covers rentals:
- A landlord cannot show, rent or lease a vacant unit they know has a current bed bug infestation.
- Landlords must give tenants written information about bed bugs and how to report them.
- After a pest control inspection, the landlord must tell affected tenants the findings in writing within 2 business days.
- Tenants must cooperate with inspection and treatment.
Report bed bugs to your landlord in writing, with photos, and keep a copy. In an apartment, DIY alone is not enough because bugs travel between units.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get rid of bed bugs?
Confirm it is bed bugs, keep items in the room, dry bedding and clothes on high heat, vacuum and steam seams, encase the mattress and box spring, and use interceptor cups. Monitor for several weeks. Most infestations also need a licensed pro.
Can you get rid of bed bugs yourself?
Sometimes, if it is very small and caught early, such as a few bugs in one bed. Larger infestations and apartments usually need a licensed professional.
What kills bed bugs instantly?
Heat. Steam of at least 130°F kills bugs and eggs on contact, and a dryer on its hottest setting kills them in fabric items.
How long does it take to get rid of bed bugs?
Usually several weeks, because eggs hatch in about 1 to 2 weeks and need follow-up. Treatment often takes at least 2 visits. Professional heat can often clear a home in 1 day.
Do bug bombs work on bed bugs?
No. UC IPM says over-the-counter foggers have been shown to be ineffective against bed bugs and can harm people. Too many foggers can also cause a fire.
Does rubbing alcohol kill bed bugs?
Not reliably. It does not kill eggs, and the EPA says it has caused numerous house fires when used against bed bugs.
Should I throw away my mattress if I have bed bugs?
Usually not. Most can be treated and sealed in an encasement. If you throw one out, wrap it in plastic, mark it as infested and do not leave it on the curb.
Should I sleep in another room if I have bed bugs?
No. Bed bugs follow people to new sleeping spots, which spreads them. Keep sleeping in your own bed while the room is treated.
Bed Bug Control CA
Done with DIY? Get a licensed pro on it.
Call our team and we will set up a bed bug inspection in your California city, then give you a written quote.
Bed Bug Control CA provides bed bug inspection and treatment. Our licensed technicians perform the treatments.
Sources
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Do-it-yourself Bed Bug Control
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Stay Legal and Safe When Treating Bed Bugs
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bed Bugs
- University of California IPM Program, Bed Bugs Pest Notes
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), About Bed Bugs
- University of Kentucky Entomology, Bed Bugs (ENTFACT-636)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Bed Bugs: Do-it-yourself Control Options
- University of Minnesota Extension, Bed Bug Control for Property Owners and Managers
- Wang, Abou El-Nour and Bennett (2007), Controlling Bed Bugs in Apartments
- California Structural Pest Control Board
- California Civil Code sections 1954.600 to 1954.605 (AB 551)